CPHIMS®

Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems

To qualify to take the CPHIMS Exam and earn CPHIMS certification, you must:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and Have five years of information and management systems* experience, with three of those years in a healthcare setting**

OR

• Hold a graduate degree or higher from an accredited college or university and Have three years of information and management systems* experience, with two of those years in a healthcare setting**

OR

• Have at least 10 years of information and management systems* experience, with eight of those years in a healthcare setting** For detailed information on eligibility requirements, see the CPHIMS Candidate Handbook.

*Information and management systems experience includes work in the following areas: systems analysis; design; selection, implementation, support, and maintenance; testing and evaluation; privacy and security; information systems; clinical informatics; management engineering

**Healthcare settings include providers of health services or products to a healthcare facility (e.g., hospitals; healthcare consulting firms; vendors; federal, state or local government offices; academic institutions; payers; public health, etc.)

For detailed information on eligibility requirements, see the CAHIMS Candidate Handbook.

Start by reviewing the CPHIMS Candidate Handbook, which provides a detailed outline explaining the content and structure of the exam. It will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and focus your preparation.

HIMSS also offers review materials to help candidates prepare for the exam, including webinars, review courses and books. Find the review materials that work best for you in our CPHIMS Resources. Additionally, be sure to consider our CPHIMS Review Guide.

Check out the CPHIMS Competency Gap Assessment and Learning Plan.

Instructor-led, interactive, one-day, in-person review courses, as well as online review courses and instructional webinars, are available. Contact us for more information, or find upcoming courses and webinars on our Events page.

The CPHIMS Self-Assessment Exam is a 50-question online practice test that was developed using the same process as the CPHIMS certification exam; the practice test conforms to the CPHIMS certification exam’s specifications in topical content, cognitive levels, and format—but not number of questions, time allotted, or difficulty. Use the practice test to familiarize yourself with the format and type of questions you will find on the actual certification exam. At the end of the practice test, you will see a results screen. You can click on any incorrect questions to review the correct answers, to help you identify areas for further review and study. The questions presented in the practice exam are different from the questions contained on the actual certification exam and should not be considered predictive of your performance on the certification exam. Please allow 5-7 business days for your practice exam transaction to process.

The CPHIMS Exam is delivered via a network of computer-based assessment centers around the world.

Submit Your Application

Applications will be reviewed for eligibility, and candidates will be contacted with instructions on how to make their testing reservation.

To locate the testing center nearest you, visit our testing partner website. Candidates will not be able to make a testing reservation until they have received an eligibility ID number.

HIMSS exams are no longer available in Quebec due to a new law requiring exams to be in both French and English. Since our exams are only in English, Quebec residents will not be able to take them locally our virtually.

Questions? Reach out to us at certification@himss.org.

The CPHIMS Exam is a two-hour exam composed of 115 multiple-choice questions, 100 of which are scored. The exam focuses on common knowledge and skills that have been identified as being important to competent practice through a job analysis in health IT.

Exams are administered at Pearson VUE Testing Centers, at the candidate’s home or office through a remotely proctored internet-based platform, and at select HIMSS events, such as the HIMSS Global Health Conference. All candidates must apply and receive an eligibility ID number before making a reservation to test.

Candidates will receive results before leaving the testing session.

(All fees in U.S. dollars)

• HIMSS Organizational Affiliate Member: $499
• HIMSS Member, Corporate Member or Student Member: $549
• Non-Member: $659
• Extension: $129
• Retake: $319
• Renewal Member: $319
• Renewal Non-Member: $429
• Self-Assessment Exam Member: $109
• Self-Assessment Exam Non-Member: $119

The CPHIMS Exam fee is eligible for reimbursement for U.S. veterans. To be reimbursed, you must be eligible for the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, Veterans Education Assistance Program, or Dependents Educational Assistance programs. For more information about benefit and eligibility requirements, contact your assigned Veterans Affairs office or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.