Top 10 Clinical Consultant Certifications

Certifications are important for a clinical consultant in the job market because they demonstrate a level of expertise and knowledge that is required to excel in the field. They can also be used as evidence to support claims of experience and qualifications. Certifications also provide recognition from professional organizations, which can help boost a resume and make it more appealing to employers. Additionally, many employers require certain certifications for certain positions, so having them can give applicants an edge over other candidates who do not have them. Finally, certifications can provide access to exclusive resources and networks that may not otherwise be available without them.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Clinical Consultants and explains how they can help advance a clinical consultant's career.

What are Clinical Consultant Certifications?

Clinical consultant certification is a formal recognition of expertise in a specific field of clinical consulting. It is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated a high level of knowledge and experience in their chosen specialty. Clinical consultants are professionals who provide advice and direction to healthcare organizations, helping them develop strategies to improve patient care, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. With this certification, clinical consultants can demonstrate their commitment to excellence in their profession and highlight the value they bring to the healthcare environment.

Certification provides credibility for clinical consultants by demonstrating that they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively advise healthcare organizations on a variety of topics related to patient care, cost containment, and quality improvement. Certification also serves as an assurance that the consultant has met rigorous standards established by credentialing bodies such as the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). As such, it can help clinical consultants stand out from other candidates when seeking employment or contract opportunities. Additionally, having a certification may enable consultants to charge higher fees than those without one.

In summary, clinical consultant certification provides recognition for expertise in a particular field and helps demonstrate competence when seeking employment or contract opportunities. It can also lead to higher rates for services rendered and provide assurance that the consultant has met established standards.

Pro Tip: Make sure to research the requirements of each clinical consultant certification program before signing up. Some programs may require additional training or experience, so it's important to be aware of what you'll need to do in order to become certified.

Related: What does a Clinical Consultant do?

Top 10 Clinical Consultant Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Clinical Consultants today.

1. Certified Clinical Consultant (CCC)

A Certified Clinical Consultant (CCC) is a professional credential that demonstrates expertise in clinical practice and healthcare consulting. It is awarded by the American Association of Clinical Consultants (AACC). To become certified, applicants must have a Master's degree or higher in a related field, such as nursing, social work, psychology, public health, or health administration. They must also have at least five years of experience in clinical practice and/or healthcare consulting.

The process for becoming certified takes approximately six months to complete. Applicants must submit an application packet that includes their resume, letters of recommendation from colleagues and supervisors, and other supporting documents. After submitting the application packet, applicants will be invited to take an online exam that covers topics such as healthcare policy and regulations; medical ethics; communication skills; risk management; financial management; legal issues; and patient safety. Once they pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher, they will receive their certification.

The cost to become certified varies depending on the applicant's educational background and experience level. The fee for the initial application is $150 USD plus any additional fees associated with obtaining letters of recommendation or transcripts. The fee for taking the online exam is $250 USD. In total, it can cost up to $400 USD to become certified as a CCC.

2. Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) is a professional certification offered by the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ). The CPHQ certification is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of knowledge and expertise in the field of healthcare quality.

It typically takes between 6-12 months to obtain the CPHQ certification. To become certified, individuals must first meet the eligibility requirements and then pass an exam. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as healthcare quality management, performance measurement, patient safety, risk management, and more.

The cost of obtaining the CPHQ certification varies depending on whether you are a NAHQ member or not. For non-members, the fee is $425; for members, it is $375. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with taking the exam at a testing center or proctoring services.

Once certified, individuals must complete continuing education credits every two years to maintain their certification status.

3. Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE)

Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) is a certification program offered by the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE). The CMPE designation is an internationally recognized credential that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated mastery in the field of medical practice management.

The CMPE program consists of a comprehensive exam, which covers topics such as healthcare finance, organizational behavior, human resources, legal and regulatory issues, and operations management. Candidates must have at least five years of experience in medical practice management to be eligible to take the exam.

The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately four hours to complete. The cost of taking the exam is $450 for ACMPE members and $550 for non-members.

In order to earn the CMPE designation, candidates must pass the exam with a score of at least 70%. Once certified, individuals can use their CMPE credentials to demonstrate their commitment to excellence in medical practice management.

4. Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM)

Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and promote the highest standards of excellence in the field of physician practice management. The CPPM credential is awarded by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) to those who demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of physician practice management.

The CPPM credential requires applicants to have at least two years of experience in physician practice management, as well as passing an exam. The exam covers topics such as patient care, billing and coding, reimbursement, compliance, financial management, human resources, information technology, marketing and strategic planning.

It typically takes about three months to prepare for the exam and complete all necessary requirements for certification. During this time period, applicants are encouraged to review relevant materials and take practice exams to help them prepare for the actual test.

The cost of becoming certified varies depending on which package you choose. The basic package costs $299 USD; however there are other packages available that include additional study materials or access to online courses that can cost up to $499 USD.

5. Certified Healthcare Compliance Professional (CHCP)

Certified Healthcare Compliance Professional (CHCP) is a credential that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated expertise in healthcare compliance. The CHCP credential is offered by the Healthcare Compliance Certification Board (HCCB), an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and recognizing excellence in healthcare compliance.

To obtain the CHCP credential, applicants must first meet certain eligibility requirements, including having at least two years of professional experience in healthcare compliance or related fields. Applicants must also pass a comprehensive certification exam that covers topics such as risk management, legal and regulatory compliance, ethics and privacy, and data security.

The cost of obtaining the CHCP credential varies depending on the applicant’s level of experience and education. For those with two years or more of professional experience in healthcare compliance or related fields, the cost of the exam is $495 USD. For those with less than two years of experience, the cost is $395 USD.

The exam typically takes four hours to complete. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their CHCP credential within six weeks.

6. American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP)

The American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP) is a professional organization that certifies physicians in the field of quality assurance and utilization review. It is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to setting standards for excellence in healthcare quality assurance and utilization review.

To become certified by ABQAURP, an individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and complete a certification process. The process includes completing an application, passing a written examination, and completing continuing education activities. The certification process typically takes about 6 months to complete.

The cost of the ABQAURP certification depends on the type of certification sought. For example, the fee for the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) certification is $595 USD.

In addition to providing certification services, ABQAURP also offers resources such as webinars, conferences, publications, and other educational opportunities to help healthcare professionals stay up to date on best practices in quality assurance and utilization review.

7. American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) is a professional organization that provides education and certification to healthcare executives. It was founded in 1968 and has over 40,000 members. The ACHE offers the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) credential, which is a mark of distinction for healthcare executives who have achieved excellence in their profession.

To obtain the FACHE credential, applicants must meet certain educational and experience requirements. They must have an advanced degree from an accredited college or university, five years of executive-level healthcare management experience, and successful completion of the ACHE Qualifying Exam. Applicants must also complete at least 100 hours of continuing education credits within the past three years, be endorsed by two current Fellows of ACHE, and pay an application fee.

The Qualifying Exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as healthcare finance, operations management, strategic planning and marketing, human resources management, quality improvement and patient safety, information systems/technology management, health policy/law/ethics/compliance, organizational behavior/governance/leadership development. The exam is offered twice a year at Prometric Testing Centers across the United States. The cost to take the exam is $350 for members and $450 for nonmembers.

Once all requirements are met and approved by ACHE’s Board of Governors, individuals will receive their FACHE credential along with a certificate signed by ACHE’s President & CEO.

8. American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is a professional organization that provides certification and education to medical coding professionals. The AAPC offers several certifications, including the Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC), Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC), and Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC).

It typically takes about 6 months to prepare for the CPC exam. This includes studying the material, taking practice exams, and attending review courses. The AAPC also offers online courses, webinars, and other resources to help you prepare for the exam.

To get certified by the AAPC, you must first become a member of their organization. You can do this by registering on their website or by calling their customer service line. Once you are a member, you can register for an exam date and pay the associated fee.

The cost of becoming certified through the AAPC varies depending on which certification you are seeking. The cost of taking the CPC exam is $399 for members ($499 for non-members). Other certifications may have different fees associated with them.

9. National Association of Healthcare Consultants (NAHC)

The National Association of Healthcare Consultants (NAHC) is a professional organization that provides a platform for healthcare consultants to network, share resources, and collaborate on projects. The NAHC was established in 1975 and has since grown to become the largest association of healthcare consultants in the world.

Membership to the NAHC is open to any individual or organization involved in providing consulting services related to healthcare. To become a member, applicants must complete an application form and submit it along with their payment and supporting documents. Depending on the type of membership chosen, applications may take up to four weeks for processing.

There are three types of memberships available: Professional Member ($495/year), Business Member ($995/year), and Corporate Member ($2,500/year). All memberships come with access to exclusive resources such as webinars, newsletters, discounts on conferences and events, and more.

The NAHC also offers certification programs for healthcare consultants who wish to demonstrate their expertise in specific areas such as patient safety or health information technology. Certification programs typically require completion of an exam and may take several months or longer depending on the program chosen.

10. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a professional association of health information management (HIM) professionals. AHIMA is dedicated to the advancement of the HIM profession in the delivery of quality healthcare through information management and technology.

AHIMA offers certifications for individuals who are interested in advancing their careers in the field of health information management. These certifications include Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based (CCS-P), and Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP).

It typically takes between six months to two years to complete an AHIMA certification program depending on the type of certification chosen, prior experience, and other factors. To become certified, individuals must pass an exam administered by AHIMA. The cost for each certification varies depending on the type of certification chosen and whether or not you are a member of AHIMA. Generally speaking, it costs around $350-$400 per exam.

In addition to offering certifications, AHIMA also provides educational resources such as webinars, conferences, publications, and online courses that can help prepare individuals for their exams.

Do You Really Need a Clinical Consultant Certificate?

Whether or not you need a clinical consultant certificate depends on the type of job you are seeking and your level of experience. In some cases, having an official certification can give you an edge over other applicants, as it can demonstrate to employers that you have a specific set of skills and knowledge in the field.

For those just entering into the world of clinical consulting, having a certification may not be necessary. However, if you’re looking to advance your career or specialize in a particular area, it can be beneficial to have an official credential that shows employers that you know what you’re doing. Employers may view this as evidence that you are qualified for the position and have taken steps to ensure your skills are up-to-date with industry standards.

In addition to demonstrating your knowledge and skillset, having a clinical consultant certificate also lets employers know that you take yourself seriously as a professional. It demonstrates that you are committed to developing your craft and staying current with trends in the field. This type of commitment is highly valued by employers and can help set you apart from other candidates who lack certification credentials.

Ultimately, whether or not to pursue a clinical consultant certificate will depend on your own goals and needs as well as the industry standards for hiring in your particular field. If obtaining a certificate is important for advancing in your career, it may be worth investing in one; however, if not required for getting hired at certain positions, it might not be necessary.

Related: Clinical Consultant Resume Examples

FAQs About Clinical Consultant Certifications

1. What are the requirements for becoming a Clinical Consultant?

Answer: To become a Clinical Consultant, you must have at least 3 years of relevant experience in clinical healthcare and/or consulting, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and have successfully completed an approved certification program.

2. How long does it take to complete a Clinical Consultant Certification program?

Answer: The length of time required to complete a Clinical Consultant Certification program can vary depending on the program chosen. Generally, most programs require between 6 months and 1 year of study and practice in order to be fully certified.

3. What is the cost of obtaining a Clinical Consultant Certification?

Answer: The cost of obtaining a Clinical Consultant Certification will depend on the specific certification program chosen, as well as any additional training or materials needed. Generally speaking, most programs range from $500 to $2,000 USD.

4. Is there an exam I need to pass in order to become certified?

Answer: Yes, most Clinical Consultant Certifications require applicants to sit for an exam in order to receive their certification designation. These exams are typically administered by either the American Board for Certified Professional Coders (ABCPC) or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

5. Are there continuing education requirements associated with maintaining my certification?

Answer: Yes, all certified professionals must maintain current certifications by completing continuing education courses or activities every two years in order to remain active and qualified as a Clinical Consultant.