ACDIS update: Find out whether you qualify for the CCDS exam

Interested in sitting for the CCDS exam and earning the credential to show your CDI expertise? The first step is to find out whether or not you meet the prerequisite requirements. According to the ACDIS website and the Exam Candidate Handbook, candidates for the CCDS exam must meet one of the following three education and experience standards and currently be employed as either a concurrent or retrospective CDI specialist:

• An RN, RHIA, RHIT, MD, or DO and two (2) years of experience as a concurrent or retrospective documentation specialist in an inpatient acute care facility using the United States IPPS system.
• An Associate’s degree (or equivalent) in an allied health field (other than what is listed above) and three years of experience as a concurrent or retrospective documentation specialist in an inpatient acute care facility using the United States IPPS system. The education component must include completed college-level coursework in medical terminology and human anatomy and physiology.
• Formal education (accredited college-level course work) in human anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and disease process, or the AHIMA CCS or CCS-P credential, and a minimum of three years of experience in the role as a concurrent or retrospective documentation specialist in an inpatient acute care facility using the United States IPPS system.

A year of experience is defined as full-time employment or greater than 2,000 hours worked during that year.

If you meet those requirements, you can go to the next step and submit your application! All the details about the application process can be found on the ACDIS website.

Still have questions? Visit the Certification pages on the website or email our certification office at certifications@hcpro.com for clarification!