Health Information Management

Director’s Note: Change coming for CCDS exam eligibility

CDI Strategies, August 29, 2013

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Effective January 1, 2014, candidates who apply for the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) exam must have a minimum of two years of documentation specialist experience in order to qualify. This is a change from current requirements.

Candidates who apply for the examination must list their CDI experience. Applications may be audited to verify work history and educational background.

  • Candidates must have at least two years of experience as a documentation specialist experience or equivalent.
  • Once a candidate has accumulated the time, it does not expire (for example if an individual changes roles and then comes back to CDI  after a time out of the profession).
  • All work experience must be met by the application deadline.

Candidates must demonstrate that they meet one of the following requirements:

  • An RHIA®, RHIT®, CCS®, CCS-P®, RN, MD, or DO, and two (2) years’ experience as a concurrent documentation specialist.
  • An associate’s degree (or equivalent education) in an allied health field and three (3) years of experience as a concurrent documentation specialist. The education component must include completed coursework in medical terminology and anatomy and physiology.
  • Formal education (accredited, college-level course work) in human anatomy and/or physiology, plus medical terminology, and disease processes, and a minimum three (3) years’ experience as a concurrent documentation specialist.

Applicants who qualify for the exam under current requirements (visit the certification page of the ACDIS website for details) may apply by December 31, 2013.

Applicants have one calendar year from the date their name is submitted to the exam company to schedule and take their exam.

Please direct questions to ACDIS Membership Services Specialist Penny Richards at prichards@cdiassociation.com.



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