My App
Schedule Your Demo

Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®)

The Certified Coding Specialist certification demonstrates a practitioner's tested skills in data quality and accuracy as well as mastery of coding proficiency. CCS professionals are skilled in classifying medical data from patient records.




Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563

Who Should Pursue the CCS Certification?

The CCS certification is a natural progression for professionals experienced in coding inpatient and outpatient records, or those with a CCA. Coding specialists create coded data used by hospitals and medical providers to obtain reimbursement from insurance companies or government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Researchers and public health officials also use this data to monitor patterns and explore new interventions. This certification validates your expertise in the field and enhances your career prospects.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Required Resources for the CCS Exam

On test day, all candidates must bring the correct code books to the test center. Candidates who do not have the correct code books will not be allowed to test and will forfeit their exam fees.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Get CCS Certified in 3 Steps

Prepare for the exam

Review recommended experience requirements and study materials. AHIMA offers textbooks and online courses to help you prepare.

Apply and schedule the exam

Create a MyAHIMA account, submit your application online, pay all fees, and schedule your exam with Pearson Vue within 120 days of eligibility.

Maintain your certification

Complete all recertification requirements over the 2-year certification period, including continuing education units (CEUs) and recertification fees.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Step 1: Prepare for the CCS Exam

It is recommended, not required, to have at least one of the following:

Education + Experience

Complete courses in anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, ICD diagnostic coding, and procedural coding plus one year of coding experience.

Work Experience

Minimum of two years of related coding experience directly applying codes.

Prior Credentials

Hold the CCA® credential plus one year of coding experience, or hold a coding credential from another organization plus one year of experience, or hold a CCS-P®, RHIT®, or RHIA® credential.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Step 2: Apply to Take the CCS Exam

  1. Read the Candidate Guide to understand exam requirements
  1. Create a MyAHIMA account if you don't already have one
  1. Submit your application online and pay all fees
  1. Schedule the exam with Pearson Vue within 120-days of eligibility

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Step 3: Maintain Your CCS Credential

To maintain your CCS credential, you will need to complete all recertification requirements over the 2-year certification period:

Complete CEUs

Submit the required amount of continuing education units to demonstrate ongoing professional development and knowledge updates.

Pay Recertification Fee

Submit the recertification fee before your credential expiration date to maintain active status.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Preparation Resources for the CCS Exam

AHIMA offers comprehensive resources to help you prepare for the CCS certification exam:

Textbook Products

The CCS exam preparation textbook combines in-depth study material with comprehensive testing practice, including two full-length practice exams and additional practice questions.

Online Course Products

The CCS exam prep online course offers video lectures and pretests for each domain, plus a complete practice exam to help you identify areas for further study.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

CCS Exam Specifications

Exam Format

The total number of questions on the exam is 107. There are 97 scored items and 10 pretest items randomly distributed throughout the exam.

Time Allowed

Candidates have four hours to complete the exam.

Resources Required

On test day, all candidates must bring the correct codebooks to the test center. Candidates without correct codebooks will not be allowed to test.

Testing Location

The CCS exam is offered domestically and globally in a computer-based format at Pearson Vue testing centers.

Passing Score

The passing score for the CCS is 300.

Pricing

The cost of the CCS exam is $299 for AHIMA members and $399 for non-members. Test re-take fees are the same.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

CCS Exam Competencies

Competencies for CCS fall into five domains. Each domain accounts for a specific percentage of the total questions on the certification exam.

Domain 1

Coding Knowledge and Skills

Domain 2

Coding Documentation

Domain 3

Provider Queries

Domain 4

Regulatory Compliance

Domain 5

Information Technologies

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

CCS Certification Pass Rates

As of 12/31/2024, there were 32,443 certified CCS professionals. The pass rates for first-time testers have been improving over recent years:

The number of first-time testers has also increased, with 2,670 in 2022, 3,287 in 2023, and 3,157 in 2024, showing growing interest in the certification.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Exam Development Cycle

AHIMA regularly updates its blueprint (content outline) to be consistent with industry standards. The exam development cycle ensures that certifications remain relevant and accurately assess the skills needed in the field.

For the CCS certification, the most recent Job Task Analysis began in Q2 2023, with the Content Outline made publicly available in October 2023, and the Pilot/Beta Exam launched in May 2024.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Exam Development Process Steps

1

Job Task Analysis

Subject Matter Experts identify knowledge, skills, and tasks required for the job. The result of this workshop is a survey.

2

Exam Specifications

SMEs review survey results and develop the blueprint (content outline) that will guide the exam content.

3

Item Writing/Review

SMEs write and review test questions to align with the blueprint (content outline).

4

Exam Form(s) Review

SMEs review test questions on Beta form and review overall form to determine if there is any overlap.

5

Pilot/Beta Exams

Candidates begin testing on pilot/beta exam to validate the questions and format.

6

Standard Setting

SMEs set the performance standard "minimum expectations" which serve as a guide to recommend a passing point.

7

Exam Administration

The exam is administered to qualified candidates in a live testing environment.

8

Exam Maintenance

Ongoing maintenance is performed ensuring the form performs as intended.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Exam Policies

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancel up to 15 business days prior: No charge
  • Cancel 14 days to 24 hours prior: $30 fee
  • Cancel less than 24 hours: Cannot reschedule
  • No-shows: Forfeit application and fees

Refund Policy

Candidates can request a refund up to 14 business days prior to their scheduled test date or eligibility end date. All appointments must be canceled through Pearson VUE first. There is a $75 processing fee for all refund requests.

Email refund requests to refunds@ahima.org

Retake Policy

To re-take an exam, candidates need to submit a new application along with the relevant exam fee. Candidates who have attempted but not successfully passed the CCS exam are required to wait at least 30 days before their application is approved.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072

Appeals and Complaints

1

Recertification Appeals

Individuals may appeal the permanent revocation of their credentials due to failure to meet CCHIIM recertification requirements. Appeal applications can only be submitted once every 10 years per credential and within 90 days once your credential is permanently placed in a revoked status.

2

Examination Complaints

Candidates must report complaints at the test center on the day of their examination. Those who fail the exam and believe irregular testing conditions were a contributing factor may submit a complaint within 7 days after receiving their exam score report.

3

Eligibility Reconsideration

Applicants notified that they don't meet eligibility requirements may request reconsideration within 30 days by emailing certificationappeal@ahima.org. Certification staff will review the request and make a decision within 30 days.

Copyrights reserved © JVAGES HEALTH CARE PVT LTD | Learning and Development TEAM
Contact Number: +91-9043464563
Address: Flat no. 402 ( 4th floor, Backside of OMNI hospital, Shreyas Anish PVR North West apartment, opp. to Vijetha Supermarket, Balaji Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072