How to Prepare for the CCS

Passing a CCS exam can increase your earning potential.

Passing the CCS exam is required to become a certified coding specialist. Certified coding specialists work in hospitals and medical clinics, where their job is to encode and decode medical terminology into numerical codes and vice versa. These codes are then used for insurance or other purposes. The CCS exam is administered by the American Health Information Management Association.

Instructions

1. Study and become familiar with outline of the exam after applying for and scheduling a test date. The exam consists of two parts. The first part contains 50 multiple-choice questions. In the second part, you will have to to code thirteen medical records. Four hours are given to complete the exam.

2. Purchase or borrow the materials recommended by AHIMA for exam preparation (see Resources). The materials mostly include AHIMA Press publications and materials published by the American Medical Association. Certain books are allowed at the testing center.

3. Study the material. Base the preparation process on when you want to take the exam. Think about which books you'll study when to be able to cover all of the questions asked at the exam.

4. Consult people who have recently passed this exam. Ask for advice about how to successfully pass the CCS exam.

References

• Advance Health Information: Steps to Prepare for the CCS and CCS-P Exams

Resources

• AHIMA: CCS Exam Allowable Code Books and Reference materials
• AHIMA: Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)