Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on the Health IT Certification Program

1. How can the CPEHR and CPHIT programs be taken?
   There are four ways that the educational programs and certification for CPEHR and CPHIT can be taken:
   1. The programs and examinations are offered periodically at hotel locations. These locations are posted on the www.healthitcertification.com/onsitelocations.html website.
   2. The programs are also offered in a hybrid model, with one day of four courses offered as a preconference or post-conference, the remaining six courses online, and the exam online.
   3. The programs and certification exams are available online.
   4. The programs may be conducted as in-house courses for organizations that want to offer the programs internally.
   
   
2. What does this program cost?
   Specific cost varies by options chosen, but overall, the cost ranges from $1295 to $1,695 for the training and certification exam per person, whether taken at a hotel or on the Internet. There is a discount offered for three or more people from the same organization taking the program.
   
   The program is also available at your organization's site. This is usually cost effective for 12 persons or more.
   
   Individual courses can be taken online for $145 each. A certificate of completion is provided for each course, and are an excellent resource for continuing education (CE).
   
   
3. Is there a limit on the number of times one may attempt the certification exam after paying the exam fee?
   Each exam fee allows the individual to take the exam once. If the individual fails the exam, a discounted exam fee is available to retake the exam. Exams can be taken in person at our programs or on the Internet.
   
   
4. Are student discounts available?
   There are no student discounts available. If three or more students from an educational program register for the program at the same time, then the group discount would apply.
   
   
5. Is there any required or recommended pre-qualification/background for these two certificate trainings? What if someone has no technical background at all - will they be able to understand the content and pass the exam?
   This program was designed for individuals with healthcare operations experience and limited IT background, and those with IT background with limited knowledge of healthcare. Experience and familiarity with the healthcare industry is strongly recommended. You do not need an IT background.
   
   
6. Is the program pre-approved for CE credit?
   CE credit for the Health IT Certification programs have been prior approved by specified organizations. Click here for detail.
   
   
7. How can the CE requirement for the CPEHR and/or CPHIT be met? What educational activities qualify to maintain the CPHIT and CPEHR certifications?
   Individuals holding the CPHIT and/or CPEHR should participate in educational activities that will keep them up to date and enhance their understanding of new trends in HIT and EHR. CE may be earned through attending seminars and educational programs, participating in professional journal clubs, or researching information for preparing presentations or writing articles/chapters in books. Training programs required for your job are not appropriate for CE. Click here to review the FAQs in the CE Requirements Section of the Health IT Certification web site.
   
   
8. How much time is anticipated to take the online training and testing?
   The pace with which you work through the online training is self determined. You may take as much time as you need for each course. Each of the in-person programs is offered in 10, 90-minute courses, with intervening time for taking quizzes and asking questions of the faculty. Many participants also review notes during the evenings. Depending on your familiarity with the content and how much time you spend reviewing reference sites on the Web, you could spend between 15 and 20 hours of time online. The examination is 2 hours in addition. Because the content of the program is dynamic, online registrants must complete the program and examination in a maximum of one year's time..
   
   
9. Will on-site registrations be accepted for all of the in person courses? If not what are the cut off dates?
   On site registrations will be accepted as long as space is available and payment is received at time of registration. If you are thinking about registering on-site, you are strongly encouraged to call ahead to determine that there will be a place for you.
   
   
10. How can an individual take the program and certification exams for both EHR and HIT?
    Individuals who want to take the training and certification exams for both CPEHR and CPHIT need to register and take two separate examinations. For students desiring to take all 16 courses offered in the CPHIT and CPEHR curriculum (four core courses common to both curricula, six CPHIT courses and six CPEHR courses) the most cost effective approach is to register for either the full CPEHR or CPHIT program and examination (that can be taken in-person, online, or in a hybrid program), then take the additional six courses unique to the other program and its examination online.
    
    Most individuals would probably find it preferable to take this CPHIT curriculum and exam first. This policy is a revision of previous policy and goes into effect on March 1, 2006.
    
    
11. Does a candidate have to take the training program either in person or online before taking a certification examination?
    No, an individual may register for and take a certification examination without taking the training program.
    
    
12. Who recognizes the CPEHR and CPHIT credentials?
    The value of any credential depends on the marketplace. Many employers have recognized Health IT Certification by sending not only teams of employees, but sending new employees in addition to those previously credentialed. Many individuals have sought both the knowledge and credential to validate their mastery of the body of knowledge and to demonstrate this mastery to others.
    
    
13. What is the difference between CPHIT and CPEHR? Why offer both?
    HIT has been the term recently used in the industry to describe the broad spectrum of applications supported by information technology that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care. The CPHIT program is focused on providing an appreciation for the broad spectrum of HIT, including planning, selecting, and implementing an EHR and other IT applications. Many organizations, however, have already started or even completed their planning and selection processes. The CPEHR program helps them identify ways to improve adoption, achieve value, and enhance their migration path.
    
    
14. What is the difference between the taking the programs onsite or online?
    There is no difference between the onsite and online programs in content, nor in pass rate - both result in about 70% to 80% of persons taking the exam achieve the 70% passing score. Both programs also provide a glossary of terms. The difference relates primarily to your personal preference and learning style. The onsite program affords the ability to network with others, ask and receive answers to questions, and benefit from the practical experience brought by the faculty. The online program provides content without travel costs and provides hyperlinks to useful Web sites.
    
    
15. What is the value of having multiple people take the program from one organization?
    The purpose of the program is to break down barriers across the various stakeholders involved in implementing and adopting an EHR. An EHR is a system that integrates data from multiple sources. Likewise, multiple skills are needed to achieve an EHR. Having several people participate in the program helps achieve the team necessary to achieve value in the clinical transformation brought about by an EHR and HIT.
    
    
16. Why are there not separate programs for hospitals and clinics?
    In keeping with building teams, breaking down barriers, and promoting health information exchange, the goal of the programs are to bring stakeholders together to appreciate differences and similarities. In addition to integrated delivery networks and regional health information organizations, many EHR vendors are also bridging the gap between acute and ambulatory care - a phenomenon that needs to be thoroughly understood and evaluated.