Top 10 Medical Scribe Certifications

Certifications for medical scribes demonstrate a commitment to the profession and demonstrate a level of competency and proficiency that employers are looking for. Certifications provide assurance to employers that a medical scribe has the knowledge and skills needed to perform their job duties properly. Additionally, certifications can help medical scribes stand out in an increasingly competitive job market. Having a certification can give potential employers confidence that the applicant is well-versed in the necessary skills and processes required to be successful in a medical scribe position.

The purpose of this article is to review some of the top certifications for Medical Scribes and explain how they can help advance a medical scribe's career.

What are Medical Scribe Certifications?

Medical scribe certification is a certification program designed to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to accurately document patient medical histories, physical examinations, and other medical information. Medical scribes assist physicians in the documentation of patient encounters, allowing physicians to focus more on their patients and less on paperwork. This helps to reduce physician burnout, decrease wait times, and improve patient satisfaction.

Medical scribes are trained in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, disease processes, HIPAA compliance (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), ICD-10 coding (International Classification of Diseases), and Electronic Health Record systems. The goal of medical scribing is to produce accurate patient records that are compliant with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards.

Medical scribes can help streamline the workflow for physicians by taking over the task of documenting patient visits. This allows physicians to spend more time interacting with their patients instead of inputting data into a computer or writing notes by hand. It also reduces errors due to transcription lapses or incorrect coding of diagnoses or treatments. Additionally, medical scribes can help speed up billing processes by ensuring that all necessary information has been documented correctly prior to submitting claims for reimbursement.

Pro Tip: Before deciding on a medical scribe certification program, make sure to research the credentials of the program and its instructors. Look for programs that offer hands-on training in an actual clinical setting as well as up-to-date knowledge on the latest healthcare trends and technologies. Additionally, make sure the program is accredited by a recognized association like The American Medical Scribe Association (AMSA) or The National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Related: What does a Medical Scribe do?

Top 10 Medical Scribe Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Medical Scribes today.

1. Certified Medical Scribe Professional (CMSP)

A Certified Medical Scribe Professional (CMSP) is a professional certification for individuals who work as medical scribes in the healthcare industry. A medical scribe is an individual who assists a physician or other healthcare provider by documenting patient encounters and helping to streamline the workflow of a practice.

The CMSP certification is offered by the American College of Medical Scribe Specialists (ACMSS). It is designed to ensure that medical scribes are properly trained and qualified to provide quality documentation services.

To become certified, applicants must complete an accredited program through ACMSS, which typically takes about two months to complete. The program includes online coursework, on-site training, and hands-on clinical experience. Upon successful completion of the program, applicants must pass a written exam in order to be certified.

The cost of the CMSP certification program varies depending on the institution offering it, but typically ranges from $1,500-$2,000.

2. Certified Medical Scribe Specialist (CMSS)

A Certified Medical Scribe Specialist (CMSS) is a professional who specializes in documenting patient care activities that occur during a clinical encounter. The CMSS is responsible for accurately transcribing and entering information into the electronic health record (EHR) on behalf of the healthcare provider. This includes recording patient history, physical exam findings, laboratory results, diagnostic tests, medications, treatments, and other pertinent medical data.

The certification process for becoming a CMSS typically involves completing an accredited training program or coursework in medical terminology and anatomy. The length of the program varies depending on the institution offering it, but usually takes between 4-12 weeks to complete. After completing the coursework, individuals must pass an exam administered by either the National Healthcareer Association or American Health Information Management Association to become certified.

The cost of obtaining a CMSS certification varies depending on the institution offering it. Generally speaking, most programs cost between $500-$1,000 USD. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with taking the certification exam as well as any required textbooks or other materials.

3. Certified Medical Scribe Administrator (CMSA)

A Certified Medical Scribe Administrator (CMSA) is a certification program designed to recognize the expertise of medical scribes who are responsible for providing administrative support to healthcare providers. The CMSA credential is offered by the American College of Medical Scribe Specialists (ACMSS) and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated mastery of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to effectively manage and maintain medical scribe programs.

The CMSA certification program consists of two parts: a written exam and a skills assessment. The written exam is composed of multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as medical terminology, HIPAA regulations, patient privacy laws, documentation requirements, and other relevant topics. The skills assessment requires applicants to demonstrate their ability to accurately document patient encounters in real time using a variety of software applications.

It typically takes 4-6 months to complete the CMSA certification process. Applicants must first register with ACMSS and pay an application fee before they can take the written exam. Once they pass the written exam, they must then complete the skills assessment within 6 months or their certification will be invalidated.

The cost for the CMSA certification program varies depending on whether applicants are members of ACMSS or not. For non-members, it costs $495 for both parts of the program ($245 for the written exam and $250 for the skills assessment). For members, it costs $395 ($145 for the written exam and $250 for the skills assessment).

4. American College of Medical Scribes (ACMS) Certification

The American College of Medical Scribes (ACMS) Certification is a professional certification program for medical scribes. It is designed to recognize and promote the highest standards of excellence in medical scribing, and to ensure that individuals who are certified have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality service.

The ACMS Certification Program consists of two parts: an online training program and an exam. The online training program covers topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding, patient documentation, and more. The exam is a multiple-choice test that tests the individual’s knowledge of the material covered in the training program.

It typically takes about 6 months to complete the ACMS Certification Program. To get started, you must first register with ACMS and pay a fee of $75 USD. After registration, you will have access to the online training program which can be completed at your own pace. Once you have completed the training course, you can then take the exam which is administered by Prometric testing centers across the US.

Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your official certification from ACMS which will be valid for two years from the date it was issued. In order to maintain your certification status, you must renew it every two years by paying a renewal fee of $50 USD.

5. National Association of Medical Scribes (NAMS) Certification

The National Association of Medical Scribes (NAMS) Certification is a voluntary certification program for medical scribes. It is designed to recognize those who have met the highest standards of excellence in medical scribing and demonstrate their commitment to providing quality patient care.

The NAMS Certification is an online exam that tests a candidate’s knowledge and skills in medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, clinical documentation, coding and billing, as well as other topics related to the job of a medical scribe. The exam takes approximately two hours to complete.

To get certified by NAMS, you must first register with the organization and pay the required fee. You will then be given access to an online practice test that will prepare you for the actual exam. After successfully completing the practice test, you can take the actual exam at any authorized testing center or online through NAMS' website.

The cost of taking the NAMS Certification exam varies depending on your location and whether you are taking it online or at an authorized testing center. Generally speaking, it costs around $250 USD to take the exam online and around $300 USD if taken at an authorized testing center.

6. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification is a professional certification program that recognizes the knowledge and skills of individuals in the health information management profession. It is designed to validate an individual’s expertise and competency in the field.

It typically takes between 6-12 months to complete the certification process, depending on the level of certification sought. To get certified, individuals must complete an application form and submit it to AHIMA. They must also pass a written exam which tests their knowledge of health information management principles and practices. Additionally, they may be required to complete continuing education courses or other activities related to the field.

The cost of AHIMA Certification depends on the level of certification sought, but can range from $250-$500 USD for the initial application fee. Additional fees may apply for additional exams or activities required for certification.

7. Epic Systems Corporation Certified Professional Coder-Scribe Program

Epic Systems Corporation Certified Professional Coder-Scribe Program is a comprehensive program designed to train and certify medical coders in the use of Epic’s electronic health record (EHR) system. The program provides coders with the skills and knowledge needed to accurately code patient encounters, including diagnosis codes, procedure codes, and other related information. The program consists of two parts: an online course and an on-site training session.

The online course is designed to teach coders the basics of coding in Epic’s EHR system. It covers topics such as terminology, data entry, coding conventions, and more. It takes approximately 12 hours to complete the online course.

The on-site training session is conducted at one of Epic’s offices or partner sites. During this session, coders learn how to use Epic’s EHR system for coding patient encounters. This includes hands-on practice with real patient data sets and exercises that are designed to test their understanding of the system. The on-site training session typically takes 2 days to complete.

To become a Certified Professional Coder-Scribe through Epic Systems Corporation, you must successfully complete both the online course and on-site training session within 6 months of each other. Once you have completed both parts of the program, you will receive your certification from Epic Systems Corporation.

The cost for the Certified Professional Coder-Scribe Program varies depending on where you take it; however, it typically ranges between $1,000-$2,000 USD per person for both parts combined.

8. Healthcare Documentation Integrity Specialist (HDIS) Certification

Healthcare Documentation Integrity Specialist (HDIS) Certification is a certification program created to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of expertise in the field of healthcare documentation integrity. The certification is awarded by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

The HDIS Certification requires applicants to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of healthcare documentation integrity principles, guidelines, and standards. It also requires them to demonstrate their ability to apply these principles and guidelines in practice.

To become certified as an HDIS, applicants must pass an exam that covers topics such as medical terminology, coding and billing, legal issues related to healthcare documentation integrity, quality assurance measures, and risk management strategies. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.

In order to be eligible for the HDIS Certification exam, applicants must have at least two years of experience working with healthcare documentation integrity or related fields and be currently employed in a healthcare setting. They must also complete an approved course from AHIMA on healthcare documentation integrity prior to taking the exam.

The cost for the HDIS Certification exam is $200 for AHIMA members or $400 for non-members. The cost includes access to study materials, practice exams, and other resources. Once applicants pass the exam they will receive their certificate within four weeks.

The HDIS Certification is valid for three years after which time recertification is required in order to maintain the credential. Recertification requires applicants to demonstrate continued professional development activities related to healthcare documentation integrity or related fields through continuing education credits or other activities approved by AHIMA.

9. Health Information Technology Professional (HITP) Certification

Health Information Technology Professional (HITP) Certification is a professional certification that validates an individual’s knowledge and skills in the field of health information technology. The certification is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and it is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated competency in areas such as healthcare data management, electronic health records, and patient privacy.

It typically takes between six months to two years to earn HITP Certification. The time frame depends on the individual's experience level, educational background, and other factors. To become certified, individuals must pass AHIMA's online examination or complete an approved training program.

The cost of obtaining HITP Certification varies depending on the route chosen. For those taking the online exam, the fee is $325 for members of AHIMA and $425 for non-members. For those completing an approved training program, fees vary depending on the institution offering the program.

In addition to passing either the online exam or completing an approved training program, applicants must also meet certain eligibility requirements such as having at least one year of experience working with health information systems or having completed a degree in health information technology or a related field.

10. Electronic Health Records Professional (EHRP) Certification

Electronic Health Records Professional (EHRP) Certification is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have the necessary knowledge and skills to work with electronic health records (EHRs). This certification is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and is designed to validate an individual’s competency in the use of EHRs.

The EHRP certification requires applicants to pass an exam that covers topics such as data management, patient confidentiality, interoperability, and security. The exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and takes about three hours to complete.

In order to be eligible for the EHRP certification, applicants must have at least two years of experience working with EHRs or related systems. Additionally, applicants must complete an approved course in EHRs prior to taking the exam.

The cost of the EHRP exam varies depending on which type of membership you have with AHIMA. For non-members, the cost is $495; for members, it is $395; and for student members, it is $295.

In order to maintain your certification status, you must recertify every three years by completing continuing education activities or passing a recertification exam. Recertification costs vary depending on your membership status with AHIMA but typically range from $150-$250 per year.

Do You Really Need a Medical Scribe Certificate?

Whether or not you need a medical scribe certificate to become a medical scribe depends on the requirements of the particular employer you are applying to. Some employers may require a certification, while others may not.

If you are applying for a position that requires a certification, then it is important to obtain one in order to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in the field. Certification courses can provide valuable insight into the processes and procedures of medical scribing and give you the edge over other applicants who do not have this type of training. Furthermore, having a certificate can also make you more attractive to potential employers as it shows that you have taken the initiative to gain additional qualifications.

On the other hand, if you are applying for an entry-level position where certification is not required, then it might be beneficial to gain experience first before investing in a course or earning a certificate. This will allow you to gain hands-on experience and build up your confidence in medical scribing before taking on more responsibility.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a medical scribe certificate will depend on your individual situation and the requirements of the particular job. If necessary, obtaining certification can help set yourself apart from other applicants and demonstrate your commitment to becoming an effective medical scribe.

Related: Medical Scribe Resume Examples

FAQs About Medical Scribe Certifications

1. What are the requirements to become a medical scribe?

Answer: Requirements to become a medical scribe vary by employer, but generally include a high school diploma or equivalent, familiarity with medical terminology and office processes, and excellent communication skills. Some employers may also require certification in medical scribing.

2. How long does it take to complete a medical scribe certification program?

Answer: The length of time needed to complete a medical scribe certification program varies depending on the program type and format. In-person programs typically take between 6-12 weeks while online programs can range from 2-6 months.

3. What is the cost of a medical scribe certification program?

Answer: The cost of a medical scribe certification program varies depending on the provider and other factors such as location and duration of the course. Generally, prices range from $100-$800 for online courses and $400-$2000 for in-person courses.

4. What is included in a medical scribe certification program?

Answer: Medical scribe certification programs typically include instruction in topics such as anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, electronic health records (EHRs), charting techniques, HIPAA compliance, coding systems (ICD-10 & CPT), billing processes, patient communication, customer service skills and more.

5. Is there an exam associated with becoming certified as a medical scribe?

Answer: Yes, most providers require successful completion of an exam in order to become certified as a medical scribe. The exam may be administered at the end of the course or after completion of an online self-study module.