What Is CCS Certification?

Employment in health information technology occupations will grow by 20 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While job prospects as a whole are quite favorable, the BLS specifically references certification as a preference among many potential employers for these occupations. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is one agency that offers entry and advanced level certifications, including the certified coding specialist or CCS certification for electronic medical records coders.

Identification

• The CCS certification is the more advanced of two available medical records coding certifications. The first certification, the Certified Coding Associate (CCA), covers basic coding terminology and procedures, while the CCS identifies more advanced medical coders. CCS coders possess advanced skills in International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition; Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM); and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding systems and possess advanced knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes, and pharmacology. CCS coding specialists generally work in a hospital setting reviewing patient records and assigning numeric codes to procedures and diagnoses before submitting data to insurance companies or government Medicare or Medicaid specialists. Coders working in a physician's office or medical clinic who have additional experience in Healthcare Common Procedures Coding System (HCPCS) Level II can receive the Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P) certification.

Eligibility

• While you must possess a high school or high school equivalency diploma, a formal post-secondary degree is not a requirement for certification, nor is possession of the entry level CCA certification. The AHIMA recommends, however, that for both the CCS and CCS-P certifications you have a minimum of three years on-the-job experience in addition to coursework in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology. If you have questions regarding eligibility requirements, you can call the AHIMA Certification Department at 800-335-5535.

Scheduling

• The Prometric Co. administers the CCS certification exam as an in-person, proctor-monitored exam at a designated Prometric testing facility. The CCS exam is not available in at-home, online version. Prior to scheduling the exam with Prometric, you must submit an exam application and an application fee to the AHIMA, either online or by postal mail. The AHIMA then confirms (or denies) your application based on whether it finds you meet eligibility requirements, and if appropriate, issues a receipt of authorization, along with information on how to schedule the exam with Prometric.

Content

• The CCS exam concentrates on nine core competencies that include health information documentation; diagnosis coding; procedure coding; regulatory guidelines and reporting requirements for inpatient service; regulatory guidelines and reporting requirements for outpatient service; data quality and management; information and communication technologies; privacy, confidentiality, legal and ethical Issues; and compliance. The exam consists of two parts and takes approximately four hours to complete. Part 1 contains 60 multiple-choice questions, and Part 2 contains 13 coding simulation exercises. Exam regulations permit you to bring the ICD-9-CM volumes one through three and the CPT Code book with you and use them for reference during the exam.

Scoring

• While Part 1 contains 60 questions, only 50 count for scoring. The remaining 10 questions are being "tested" for use in a future exam. You need a minimum of 32 correct responses to pass the first section. In Part 2, you can receive a total of 300 points and must score a minimum of 216 points to pass. Even though each part of the exam is a separate score, if you fail either part, you must retake the entire exam. You will receive results, in the form of a score report, as soon as you finish the exam.