To become CCS certified, you must have earned a high school diploma in the United States. According to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), it is recommended that the candidate have at least three years of on-the-job experience with hospital-based inpatient and ambulatory/outpatient coding. Also courses in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology must be completed.
An eligible candidate can apply to take the CCS certification online or by paper application. The fee to test is $299 for AHIMA members, or $399 for nonmembers.
The four-hour examination is divided into two parts. The first part is a 60-question multiple-choice test. To pass, you must get at least 30 of the questions correct. The second part is a coding test, where you must get 223 out of 340 correct. Both tests must be passed to receive certification.
If you fail either portion of the test, you must wait 91 days before reapplying. A new application and examination fee will have to be submitted.