Certifications
Coding professionals who hold the CCA credential have demonstrated coding competency across all settings, including hospitals and physician practices.
Since 2002, the CCA designation has been a nationally recognized standard of achievement in the health information management (HIM) field.
CCAs:
Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent to sit for the CCA examination.
While not required, at least one of the following is recommended:
Apply to take the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam.
Certified Professionals and Pass Rates
As of 12/31/19, there were 7,945 certified CCA professionals.
Year |
Exam |
# First Time Testers |
Pass Rate First Time Testers |
2020* |
CCA |
1,627 |
85% |
2019* |
CCA |
1,756 |
82% |
2018* |
CCA |
1787 |
77% |
*U.S. and Canada results only
Exam Specifications
The CCA is a timed exam. Candidates have two hours to complete the exam. The total number of questions on the exam range between 90 and 115 total items. The exam is given in a computer-based format.
AHIMA exams contain a variety of questions or item types that require you to use your knowledge, skills, and/or experience to select the best answer. Each exam includes scored questions and pre-test questions randomly distributed throughout the exam. Pre-test questions are not counted in the final results.
The passing score for the CCA is 300.
Competencies for CCAs fall into six domains. Each domain accounts for a specific percentage of the total questions on the certification exam. See the Exam Content Outline below for greater detail.
Magnet Recognition Program® designation
The CCA certification is included in the list of national certifications that may be submitted on the Demographic Data Collection Tool (DDCT) as part of the application for the Magnet Recognition Program® designation. Learn more about the accepted certifications on the American Nurses Credentialing Center website.
Certified Coding Associate (CCA) Exam Content Outline
Domain 1 – Clinical Classification Systems (30-34%)
Tasks:
Domain 2 – Reimbursement Methodologies (21-25%)
Tasks:
Domain 3 – Health Records and Data Content (13-17%)
Tasks:
Domain 4 – Compliance (12-16%)
Tasks:
Domain 5 – Information Technologies (6-10%)
Tasks:
Domain 6 – Confidentiality & Privacy (6-10%)
Tasks:
2020 Code Books will be used through 04/30/2021
All exams delivered on or BEFORE 04/30/2021 will be required to have the 2020 code books from the 2020 code book list below.
2021 Code Books will go into effect on 05/01/2021
All exams delivered on or AFTER 05/01/2021 will be required to have the 2021 code books from the 2021 code book list below.
On test day, all candidates must bring the correct codebooks to the test center. Candidates who do not have the correct codebooks will not be allowed to test and will forfeit their exam fees.
The full list of allowable codebooks can be found in the PDF below.
AHIMA Members get 20% off code books from AHIMA.
Below are the AHIMA code books that are allowable on the day of your certification exam.
Spiral or Softbound | 2020 Edition
The ICD-10-CM Code Book, 2020 can be your primary reference to execute the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification.
Softbound | 2020 Edition
The ICD-10-PCS Code Book, 2020 can be your primary reference to execute the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System, specifically in the inpatient setting.
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