Established in 2002, the Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) credential is geared toward those with professional health IT experience, emphasizing analysis plus leadership and management skills.
Health IT not-for-profit organization HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) introduced the certification as a way for professionals to show that they “meet an international standard of professional knowledge and competence in healthcare information and management systems,” according to the HIMSS website.
The certification is a way to quickly establish these credentials with a potential employer. Eligible students pursuing a master’s degree or graduate certificate in health informatics can add this certification to their resumes prior to graduation and the ensuing job hunt.
The qualifications for taking the CPHIMS examination are:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and five years of information and management systems experience, with three of those years in a healthcare setting (hospital, healthcare consulting firm, vendor, government office, academic institution or public health facility)
OR
- A graduate degree or higher from an accredited college or university and three years of information and management systems experience, with two of those years in a healthcare setting
The content of the CPHIMS Exam was developed by a team made up of subject-matter experts and testing professionals. It is based on a survey of health IT practitioners that identified routine and important tasks necessary for successful practice.
The exam consists of 115 multiple-choice questions. Scores are based on 100 of these questions. The test includes 15 “trial” or “pretest” questions that are included with the other questions. There is a two-hour time limit in which to complete the exam.
The exam’s content is divided into three areas based on tasks relevant to health IT professionals. The three areas are:
- Recall: The ability to remember or recognize information
- Application: The ability to understand, relate and apply knowledge to new or changing situations
- Analysis: The ability to use information to determine solutions and/or evaluate a solution’s appropriateness
Preparation for the CPHIMS exam should begin with the CPHIMS Candidate Handbook, which includes an application for and an overview of the exam along with information about scheduling your exam, the exam’s administration and procedures, and how the exam is scored.
HIMSS offers other review materials with which to prepare for the CPHIMS exam, including the “HIMSS Dictionary of Healthcare IT Terms,” “The CPHIMS Review Guide, 3rd Edition” and a 100-question practice exam.
To schedule an exam, visit the website of HIMSS’ test partner and click on “Locate a Test Center.” Applications can be submitted online. Application fees for student members, as well as regular and corporate members, is $310. Non-members pay $390 while HIMSS Individual Organizational Affiliate Members, such as USF students, pay $280.
