Accreditation and Certification

Updated 1/3/2010

Click on one of the following to learn more about national certification examinations to obtain recognized credentials. Also included in each is information about program accreditation or approval requirements as well as continuing education requirements to keep these credentials.

Required Program Knowledge Cluster Content

Domains, Subdomains and Tasks covered on National Exams

Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
Coding and Reimbursement
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) - AHIMA
- Certified Coding Specialist - Physician Office Based (CCS-P) - AHIMA
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA) - AHIMA
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC) - AAPC
- Certified Professional Coder - Hospital Outpatient (CPC-H) - AAPC
- Certified Professional Coder - Payer (CPC-P) - AAPC
- Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC) -AAPC
- Specialty Credentials - AAPC

The American Academy of Professional Coders has four credentials: Go to their website at http://www.aapc.com/certification/index.aspx for additional information.

CPC – Certified Professional Coder which emphasizes billing and coding for physician services.

CPC-H – Certified Professional Coder – Hospital which emphasizes hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgical center coding.

CPC-P – Payer which emphasizes coding and billing after it’s been submitted to the payer.

CIRCC - Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder which emphasizes specialized areas of interventional radiology and cardiovascular coding and charging