Top 10 Registration Clerk Certifications

Certifications for a registration clerk are important because they serve as proof of knowledge and experience. They demonstrate to potential employers that the individual has the necessary skills and qualifications needed to perform their job effectively. Furthermore, certifications can help a registration clerk stand out from other applicants, making them more attractive to employers. Additionally, certifications may open up new opportunities for career advancement or even higher salaries. Ultimately, having certification in relevant areas can give registration clerks the edge they need to be successful in their field.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Registration Clerks and explains how they can help to advance a Registration Clerk's career.

What are Registration Clerk Certifications?

Registration Clerk Certification is an industry-recognized credential that verifies the knowledge, skills and abilities of individuals who work in medical office settings. This certification demonstrates competency in medical office procedures and processes such as patient registration, scheduling appointments, insurance verification, coding and billing. It also provides employers with a way to measure the knowledge and ability of their employees.

Having Registration Clerk Certification can help individuals stand out from other applicants when seeking employment in the medical field. It also helps demonstrate proficiency in their job duties, which may lead to advancement opportunities within the organization. Additionally, having this certification can increase an individual’s confidence when working with patients and other healthcare professionals. Finally, it can provide a sense of satisfaction that comes with achieving a professional milestone.

Pro Tip: Make sure to stay up-to-date on all registration clerk certification requirements and regulations. This will ensure that you are able to provide accurate and timely service for your customers. Additionally, completing additional training or certifications may help you stand out from other registration clerks in the field.

Related: What does a Registration Clerk do?

Top 10 Registration Clerk Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Registration Clerks today.

1. Certified Registration Clerk (CRC)

A Certified Registration Clerk (CRC) is a professional certification that demonstrates expertise in the registration process of patients and visitors at healthcare facilities. The certification is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

It takes approximately three to four months to complete the CRC program. To get the certification, you must first successfully complete an approved CRC program, which includes passing an exam. Additionally, you must have two years of experience in patient access services or equivalent education and training.

The cost of the CRC program varies depending on the institution offering it, but typically ranges from $400 to $600.

2. Certified Medical Office Assistant (CMAA)

A Certified Medical Office Assistant (CMAA) is a professional who provides administrative and clinical support to healthcare providers in medical offices, clinics, and other healthcare settings. CMAAs are responsible for completing tasks such as scheduling appointments, filing patient records, coding insurance forms, taking vital signs, preparing exam rooms, and providing customer service.

It typically takes between six months to one year to become a Certified Medical Office Assistant (CMAA). This includes completing an accredited program that covers topics such as medical terminology, anatomy/physiology, pharmacology, medical office procedures, computer applications, and medical billing/coding. After completing the program requirements, individuals must pass the CMAA certification exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

To become a Certified Medical Office Assistant (CMAA), you must first complete an accredited program. You can find these programs at community colleges or vocational schools. Once you have completed the program requirements and passed the NHA certification exam, you will receive your CMAA certification.

The cost of becoming a Certified Medical Office Assistant (CMAA) varies depending on where you take the program and any additional fees associated with it. Generally speaking, it can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 for tuition and fees.

3. Certified Patient Registration Professional (CPRP)

Certified Patient Registration Professional (CPRP) is a certification program sponsored by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM). The CPRP credential is designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in patient access services. It is awarded to professionals who have met the educational and experience requirements, as well as passed an exam demonstrating their knowledge of patient access services.

The process to become a Certified Patient Registration Professional takes approximately 6-9 months. To be eligible for the certification, applicants must meet certain educational and experience requirements. Applicants must hold at least one year of full-time or two years of part-time experience in patient access services, including registration, scheduling, insurance verification, financial counseling, or other related duties. They must also have completed at least 12 hours of continuing education in healthcare access management topics within the past three years.

To obtain the CPRP certification, candidates must take and pass a comprehensive exam administered by NAHAM. The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions covering topics such as customer service skills, medical terminology, insurance verification processes, coding systems, and more. Candidates have up to three hours to complete the exam.

The cost for taking the CPRP exam is $395 for NAHAM members and $495 for non-members. This fee includes a study guide and practice test that can help prepare candidates for the exam. Additionally, there are several online courses available from NAHAM that can help prepare candidates for the certification test.

4. Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA)

Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) is a professional credential that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a mastery of the knowledge and skills necessary to manage access services in healthcare organizations. The CHAA certification program is administered by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM).

The CHAA certification exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as patient access management, customer service, financial clearance, insurance verification, scheduling, and medical records. To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must have at least two years of full-time experience in a health care setting or six months of full-time experience in a health care setting plus an associate's degree or higher.

The CHAA exam takes about three hours to complete and can be taken at any Prometric testing center. The cost for the exam is $200 for NAHAM members and $250 for non-members.

5. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated proficiency in the field of medical administrative assistance. This certification is offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

The CMAA certification requires successful completion of an exam which covers topics such as medical terminology, medical office procedures, insurance and coding, and healthcare law. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within two hours. In order to be eligible for the certification, applicants must have at least one year of full-time experience as a medical administrative assistant or equivalent experience in a related field.

The cost of the CMAA exam varies by country but typically ranges from $125 - $200 USD. It can take up to 6 weeks for test results to be released. Once certified, CMAA holders are required to renew their certification every two years by completing continuing education activities or retaking the exam.

6. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)

A Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) is a professional who has been certified by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) to demonstrate expertise in the implementation, operation, maintenance, and security of electronic health records (EHRs). CEHRS certification is designed to ensure that healthcare professionals have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively use EHRs in their practice.

To become a CEHRS, individuals must first complete an approved training program. After completing the training program, individuals must pass a certification exam administered by the NHA. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within two hours. The cost for taking the exam is $199.

Once an individual passes the exam and receives their CEHRS certification, they must renew it every two years by completing 20 continuing education credits or retaking the certification exam. The cost for renewal is $99.

7. Certified Medical Receptionist (CMR)

A Certified Medical Receptionist (CMR) is an individual who has completed a specialized certification program in medical office reception. This certification program is designed to provide medical receptionists with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage the front desk of a medical practice. The CMR certification includes topics such as patient registration, scheduling, insurance verification, customer service, telephone techniques, and medical terminology.

The CMR certification is offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). It typically takes about 6-12 months to complete the program depending on how often you attend classes and study for exams. The cost of the program varies depending on which package you choose but typically ranges from $399-$799.

To get certified as a CMR, you must first enroll in an accredited NHA training program. Once enrolled, you will take courses that cover topics such as patient registration, scheduling, insurance verification, customer service, telephone techniques and medical terminology. Upon completion of these courses and passing all required exams with a score of 70% or higher, you will be eligible for certification as a CMR.

8. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

A Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is a professional credential that certifies an individual’s knowledge and skills in the field of health information technology. RHITs are responsible for managing, organizing, and maintaining patient records and other health information data. They use specialized software programs to collect, store, analyze, and report on medical data. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) awards the RHIT credential after individuals pass a certification exam.

It typically takes two years to become an RHIT. This includes completing an accredited associate degree program in health information management or a related field such as medical coding or billing. After graduation, individuals must then pass the AHIMA certification exam to earn their RHIT credential.

The cost of becoming an RHIT varies depending on the institution you attend and any additional fees associated with taking the certification exam. Generally speaking, tuition for a two-year associate degree program ranges from $5,000 - $20,000 depending on where you attend school. The fee for taking the AHIMA certification exam is around $300-$400.

9. Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)

A Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) is a professional credential that demonstrates an individual's expertise in the field of health information management. This credential is awarded by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and is recognized as a mark of excellence in the healthcare industry.

To become an RHIA, individuals must complete a four-year bachelor’s degree program in health information management or a two-year associate’s degree program in health information technology, both of which are accredited by AHIMA. After completing their degree, individuals must pass the RHIA exam administered by AHIMA to earn the credential.

The cost to take the RHIA exam varies depending on where you take it, but typically ranges from $200-$400. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with taking the exam such as registration fees and other administrative costs.

Once all requirements have been met, individuals can receive their RHIA certification within 4-6 weeks after taking the exam.

10. Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Practice (CCS-P)

A Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Practice (CCS-P) is a professional certification offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). It is designed to recognize coding specialists who have demonstrated mastery of medical coding principles and practices as they apply to physician practice settings.

The CCS-P exam consists of 180 multiple choice questions, and applicants must answer at least 125 correctly in order to pass. The exam covers a range of topics related to coding for physician services, including anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, HCPCS Level II procedure codes, modifiers, and CPT codes.

To obtain the certification, applicants must first complete an AHIMA approved training program or demonstrate equivalent experience. Applicants must also be members of AHIMA and pay the required fees before taking the exam. The exam fee is currently $300 for members of AHIMA and $400 for nonmembers.

Once an applicant has passed the exam and met all other requirements, they will receive their official CCS-P certificate from AHIMA. The certification is valid for three years after which time it must be renewed by taking continuing education courses or retaking the exam.

Do You Really Need a Registration Clerk Certificate?

The short answer to this question is, it depends. A registration clerk certificate is a type of certification that can be beneficial in certain situations, depending on the job you are applying for and the employer you are working for.

For example, if you’re applying for a position as a registration clerk at a hospital or clinic, then having a registration clerk certificate could give you an edge over other applicants who don’t have one. This type of certification shows employers that you understand the processes and procedures involved in registering patients and can handle duties related to patient registration. It also demonstrates your commitment to professional development, which many employers value.

However, if you’re applying for another type of position where knowledge of patient registration isn’t necessary, then having a registration clerk certificate may not be necessary or even beneficial. In these cases, employers may prefer applicants with more relevant qualifications or experience.

Ultimately, whether or not you need to get a registration clerk certificate will depend on the job requirements and the employer’s expectations. Be sure to research the specific job posting and company before making your decision.

Related: Registration Clerk Resume Examples

FAQs About Registration Clerk Certifications

1. What is a registration clerk certification?

A registration clerk certification is a professional qualification that demonstrates an individual's knowledge and skills related to the administrative tasks associated with registering patients in healthcare settings.

2. How do I become certified as a registration clerk?

To become certified as a registration clerk, you must meet the criteria set by the certifying organization. This typically includes having relevant work experience and passing an exam.

3. What are the benefits of being certified as a registration clerk?

Being certified as a registration clerk can help you stand out from other job applicants and demonstrate your commitment to excellence in patient care. It also provides employers with assurance that you have the necessary skills and training for the job.

4. How long does it take to get certified as a registration clerk?

The amount of time it takes to get certified varies depending on the certifying organization and their requirements. Generally, it takes several months or longer to complete all of the necessary steps for certification.

5. Is there an expiration date on my registration clerk certification?

Yes, most certifications have an expiration date and require renewal every two or three years in order to remain valid. Renewal typically involves completing additional education or taking continuing education courses specific to your field of expertise.