Passing the Compliance Certification Board’s (CCB) certification demonstrates your dedication to reducing compliance-related risks. Individuals who pursue the Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) designation demonstrate their knowledge of regulations and expertise in legal obligations while promoting organizational integrity through effective compliance programs.
Requirements for CHC Certification
Before registering for the CHC Certification, you must meet one of the following candidacy requirements:
- Compliance Professional with at least one year in a full-time compliance position
- 1,500 hours of direct compliance job duties as identified in the CHC Candidate Handbook
- Successfully completed a certificate program from a CCB-accredited university program within the last two years
Additionally, you must have 20 CCB continuing education units (CEUs) earned within the 12 months preceding the exam date, with ten CEUs earned during live-training events.
Test Design
The two-hour test consists of 120 multiple-choice questions, and only 100 questions are scored. If you take the exam at an HCCA or SCCE event, the test is a paper and pencil test. If you take the exam at a testing center or remote, the exam is computer-delivered.
The CHC exam is divided into seven content areas. The questions focus on the candidate’s ability to recall information, apply recalled information, and analyze a situation to determine the correct action among several choices. The content areas are:
- Standards, Policies, and Procedures – 16 questions
- Compliance Program Administration – 17 questions
- Screening and Evaluation of Employees, Physicians, Vendors, and other Agents – 7 questions
- Communication, Education, and Training on Compliance Issues – 18 questions
- Monitoring, Auditing, and Internal Reporting Systems – 20 questions
- Discipline for Non-Compliance – 8 questions
- Investigations and Remedial Measures – 14 questions
Test Delivery Options
There are three test delivery options, and you must choose which format you will use on your exam application:
- A Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) or Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics (SCCE) event
- PSI Test Center
- PSI Remote Proctored Test
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Application and Cost
After you’ve met the eligibility requirements, you can apply to take the CHC Certification. You can apply online or complete a paper application and submit it by email, fax, or mail.
The application fee is $275 for Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics (SCCE) or Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) members and $375 for non-members. Payment is accepted by personal check (in US dollars), credit card, or international wire transfer. Your application is not complete until your payment is received.
Your application is accepted
CCB notifies applicants of their application status within five business days of receipt. Once you receive the confirmation email or letter (an email is sent if you provided an email address) from CCB that your exam application is approved, you can register for your exam. You need to register and sit for the exam within your eligibility period as determined by your CEUs on file (within 12 months of obtaining CEUs).
Your application is declined
There are two reasons your application is declined. The first is an ineligible or incomplete application. If that happens, CCB will call you to verify and obtain information. If they cannot collect the information within five business days, your application will be discarded, and your application fees will be refunded.
The second reason your application is declined is that you do not meet the eligibility requirements. If that is the case, your notification email informs you what conditions are missing. Your application fees are refunded.
Scheduling your Exam
At an HCCA or SCCE Event
Your confirmation email confirms the location, date, and time of your testing. There is nothing further for you to do. Bring the email confirmation with you on the day of your examination.
PSI Administered Examinations
Testing Center in the United States:
PSI will reach out to you to schedule your CHC Certification exam. Use the information found in your application acceptance email from CCB to register for the exam at a testing center. The exam is available by appointment only and can be scheduled as early as five days after you receive the email from PSI.
Appointments are available Monday through Saturday, federal holidays excepted, at PSI Testing Centers located nationwide.
International Testing Centers:
Testing at an international testing center is coordinated through email. You are contacted to provide your preferred testing center location and testing dates. To begin the scheduling process, you must provide this information two to four weeks before your requested test dates. The exam is available by appointment, and the testing location determines availability.
Remote Proctored Test Appointment:
PSI will reach out to you to schedule your CHC Certification exam. Use the information found in your application acceptance email from CCB to register for the exam at a testing center. The exam is available by appointment only and can be scheduled as early as two business days after you receive the email from PSI. The exam is available any day of the week, at any time, as indicated in the PSI scheduling system.
Please note that this option is only available to those candidates who confirm that they meet the minimum system requirements for remote proctoring. Some requirements include internet speed, voice over internet, the current version of Google Chrome, the ability to disable firewalls, and downloading and installing PSI’s secure web browser.
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Score Report and Retesting Options
Your score report indicates your pass or fail status, including raw scores by content area. The raw score is the number of questions you answered correctly and is used to determine if you passed or failed the exam.
If you pass, your certification is valid for two years. You need to maintain your continuing education during your certification period to recertify.
If you did not pass, you can apply to retest using the re-exam application section included in your score report and send it in with the $75.00 re-exam application fee. Exam retakes are allowed twice in 180 days. If you take the test a third time, you must wait 180 days after the second retest to register. You will pay the full examination fee.
Remote and Testing Center Score Report
In most cases, your score report is provided immediately after you complete the exam, and an official score report is mailed to your address of record within ten business days.
International Testing Center and Event Score Report
International testing centers mail score reports within ten business days and exams taken at an event are mailed within four weeks.
How to Pass the CHC Exam
The CHC exam is an intense exam with a 79% first-time pass rate. Maximize your efforts and be part of the 79%! We have a study guide and flashcards designed to enhance your knowledge and make studying effortless. Obtain your CHC and set your career on fire!
FAQs
Q
Is the CHC exam difficult?
A
The CHC exam is considered by many to be a difficult exam, which can be tackled with an adequate amount of preparation and studying. Even though the exam is difficult, the current pass rate for the CHC exam is approximately 79%.
Q
How long is the CHC exam?
A
The CHC exam has a time limit of 2 hours and contains 120 questions.
Q
When will I get my CHC exam results?
A
If you took the exam remotely or in-person at a testing center, your score report is given to you immediately after completing the exam. Regardless of whether you took the exam in the US or internationally, a physical score report will generally be mailed to you within ten business days.
Q
How do I get certified in healthcare compliance?
A
To help you become certified in healthcare compliance, the Compliance Certification Board (CCB) administers the Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) exam. To register, create an application and send it by email, fax, or mail to the Health Care Compliance Association.
