How to Get AAHAM Certified
The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) provides professional certification in the areas of certified patient account manager, certified clinical account manager, certified patient account technician and certified compliance technician. To become certified, professionals must take a certification exam, which requires a comprehensive knowledge of health care account management and financial services. The test is offered twice a year in locations throughout the United States.
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Instructions
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Determine if your professional and educational experience in health care administrative management makes you eligible to take the certification exam. To be eligible for certification, you must have four years of professional experience or two years of professional experience and an associate's degree in a related field.
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Go to aaham.org and click on the "Certification" page to view the certification calendar for upcoming test dates. Here you'll find upcoming registration deadlines and testing dates for all the AAHAM certification exams.
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Fill out either the Professional or Technical Exam Application Form, depending on which certification you are seeking. You'll need to supply contact information, work history and information about your AAHAM membership. You'll also need to note the exam and test date you are applying for.
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Include a check or money order with your application to pay for the application fee. The fee will vary depending on whether you are taking the full exam, retaking a section or applying for dual certification. As of 2010, the fee for the full exam was $200. You can also use a credit card to pay the application fee online at aaham.org.
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Prepare for the exam by studying thoroughly to ensure that you have a comprehensive knowledge of the test areas. The Professional exam is an eight-hour online, proctored exam that covers all aspects of patient access, billing, credit/collections and revenue cycle management. The CPAT and CCAT Technical exams are two-hour exams that covers patient access, billing and credit/collections. The one-hour CCT technical exam covers compliance issues such as an understanding of the Office of the Inspector General's compliance recommendations, elements of a health care compliance plan, compliance agencies that oversee the health care industry and noncompliance penalties.
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Contact your local AAHAM chapter to see if they have any upcoming certification study sessions that you can attend to increase your knowledge prior to the exam. Study outlines are also available for download from aaham.org for both the Professional and Technical exams. Study guides are included in the cost of the exam application or can be purchased separately.
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Tips & Warnings
Professionals must be AAHAM members in good standing prior to taking the certification exams. If you are not currently a member, you will find membership information and an application online at aaham.org.
References
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