Association for Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists

The recertification process for the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) ensures that clinical documentation improvement professionals stay abreast of changing government and private-payer regulations, documentation and coding requirements, and important developments in the field of CDI.

Individuals possessing the CCDS must apply for recertification every two years from the date on which they passed the CCDS exam. CCDS certification holders must submit 20 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) relevant to the field of CDI by using the Continuing Education Submission Form. Re-taking the CCDS examination is not necessary. Please review the document CEU Qualifying Activities for examples of acceptable CE activities.

Note that processing of CEU submission forms can take up to 30 days.

Although ACDIS strongly recommends submitting 20 CEUs by the two-year examination anniversary date, CCDS certification holders are extended a 45-day grace period to submit their CEUs. Failure to submit CEUs within this 45-day grace period will result in revocation of the CCDS credential. A former credential holder may recertify by reapplying for and successfully passing the CCDS exam.

Note that only CEU activities completed after a candidate passes the CCDS exam will be counted towards recertification. CEUs must be earned and submitted within your two-year renewal period. Excess CEUs do not carry over to the next renewal period.

A percentage of participants will be audited to ensure that they have met the CEU requirements. We strongly recommend that participants keep a record of participation in all of their CEU qualifying activities in the event of an audit.

Certification maintenance fees

ACDIS members pay a certification maintenance fee of $100 when submitting their Continuing Education Submission Form. The fee for non-ACDIS members is $200.

Recertification via paper form

If you choose to recertify via paper, please download, print, and complete the paper Continuing Education Submission Form. Send your completed form to:

HCPro, Inc.
Attn: Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist Program
75 Sylvan Street, Suite A-101
Danvers, MA 01923

Or fax to 800/738-1553, Attn: Certification Program Manager.

Questions? Call 877/240-6586

Does your facility support your conference attendance?

Yes, it is paying for me and my team to attend.

Yes, it pays for CDI team members to attend on a rotating basis (one or more staff get to go each year).

Yes, it pays for the cost of the conference but does not reimburse us for room and board, travel costs.

Yes, but only in granting us paid time to attend. We pay for conference attendance and travel ourselves.

No, it only supports attendance for manager-level staff.

No, it has cut travel and training budgets due to the economy.

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