Top 11 Registration Specialist Certifications

Certifications are important for a registration specialist in the job market because they demonstrate to employers that the individual has a certain level of knowledge and competence in their field. Certifications also provide validation of an individual’s skills and qualifications, which can give them an edge over other applicants. Additionally, certifications can lead to higher salaries and better job opportunities as employers recognize the specialized knowledge that comes with certification. Finally, having certifications can help registration specialists stand out from the competition when applying for jobs.

The purpose of this article is to review the most beneficial certifications for Registration Specialists and discuss how they can help enhance a registration specialist's career.

What are Registration Specialist Certifications?

Registration specialist certification is a professional credential that recognizes the specialized skills and knowledge of individuals who work in the registration field. The certification demonstrates expertise in the areas of data entry, customer service, and event management. It also validates an individual’s ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment, as well as their understanding of registration laws and regulations.

Having registration specialist certification can be beneficial for those seeking employment in this field or looking to advance their careers. It can provide recognition from employers and show potential employers that they are knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of the job. Additionally, it can demonstrate a commitment to professional development and provide networking opportunities with other professionals in the industry. Finally, having this certification may qualify individuals for higher salaries or promotions within their current organization.

Pro Tip: Become certified as a registration specialist to ensure that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to handle the complex tasks associated with patient registration. Certification will also demonstrate your commitment to professionalism and help you stand out from other candidates applying for similar roles.

Related: What does a Registration Specialist do?

Top 11 Registration Specialist Certifications

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

1. Certified Registration Professional (CRP)

Certified Registration Professional (CRP) is a certification program offered by the National Association of Certified Registration Professionals (NACRP). It is designed to recognize and reward individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of registration services. The CRP designation is intended to provide a recognized standard of knowledge and competence for those working in the field of registration.

To become certified, individuals must meet certain criteria and pass a comprehensive examination. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics related to registration services such as customer service, data entry, event planning, and marketing. The exam also includes case studies that require candidates to apply their knowledge to real-world situations.

The process typically takes about six months from start to finish. To get started, applicants must first submit an application form with all required documentation and fees. Once approved, applicants will be scheduled for the exam at an approved testing center. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their CRP designation within two weeks.

The cost for the CRP certification program varies depending on the type of membership chosen by the applicant. Non-member applicants pay $395 for the application fee plus $250 for each additional certification sought after initial certification; members pay $295 for the application fee plus $150 for each additional certification sought after initial certification.

2. Certified Patient Access Associate (CPAA)

Certified Patient Access Associate (CPAA) is a certification program offered by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM). This certification is designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in their knowledge and skills related to patient access services. It is the only nationally recognized credential for patient access professionals.

The CPAA exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as patient registration, insurance verification, scheduling, and customer service. The exam takes approximately three hours to complete.

To become certified, you must meet certain eligibility requirements including having at least two years of experience in a healthcare setting, completing an approved training program or equivalent coursework, and passing the CPAA exam. Once you have met all eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam through NAHAM's website.

The cost of the CPAA certification varies depending on whether you are a member or non-member of NAHAM. For members, it costs $275 to take the exam and $175 for each additional attempt. For non-members, it costs $475 to take the exam and $275 for each additional attempt.

3. Certified Healthcare Access Manager (CHAM)

Certified Healthcare Access Manager (CHAM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and reward healthcare professionals who demonstrate expertise in the management of patient access services. The CHAM credential is offered by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM).

To become certified, applicants must meet certain requirements including having at least three years of experience in healthcare access management, completing a NAHAM-approved course and passing an exam. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as patient registration, customer service, insurance verification, and financial counseling.

The process to obtain the CHAM credential typically takes 6-8 weeks from start to finish. To begin the process, interested individuals must complete an application form and submit it along with a fee of $395. Once approved, they will be given access to the CHAM Exam Prep Course which is available online or via self-study materials. After successfully completing this course, they can register for the exam. Upon passing the exam, applicants are awarded the CHAM credential which must be renewed every three years through continuing education credits or retaking the exam.

The cost for obtaining the CHAM credential includes a nonrefundable application fee of $395 plus any additional fees associated with taking or retaking the exam ($195).

4. Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)

Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and validate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of medical office managers. This certification is administered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

The CMOM exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as medical office management, healthcare law and ethics, coding and billing practices, patient relations, front desk operations, human resources management, and more. The exam takes approximately 3 hours to complete.

To become certified as a CMOM, you must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

• Have at least two years of experience in a medical office setting or related field; OR
• Be currently enrolled in an accredited postsecondary program with a major in healthcare administration or related field; OR
• Have successfully completed an AAPC approved course in medical office management.

The cost for taking the CMOM exam is $399 USD. Once you have passed the exam and become certified as a CMOM, you will need to renew your certification every three years by completing continuing education credits or retaking the exam.

5. Certified Professional Coder (CPC)

Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is a professional certification granted by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). The CPC credential is designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate expertise in medical coding and billing. It is the most widely recognized and accepted certification for medical coders in the United States.

It typically takes an average of 6-8 months to prepare for the CPC exam, depending on how much time you are able to devote to studying. To obtain your CPC credential, you must pass a comprehensive exam that covers topics such as medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and ICD-10 coding.

The cost of obtaining your CPC credential varies depending on where you take the exam. The AAPC charges $399 for members and $499 for non-members to take the exam. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with purchasing study materials or enrolling in a review course.

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 electronic health records (EHRs). This certification is designed for individuals who work with EHRs, including medical coders, health information technicians, and other healthcare professionals.

To become certified as a CEHRS, you must pass an exam administered by the NHA. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as patient privacy and security, legal and regulatory requirements, data management, and technology implementation. You must also have at least one year of experience working with EHRs before taking the exam.

The cost of the CEHRS exam varies depending on which version of the test you take; however, it typically costs between $150 and $200. The exam takes approximately three hours to complete.

Once you have passed the CEHRS exam, you will receive a certificate from the NHA that is valid for two years. You must renew your certification every two years by completing continuing education credits or retaking the CEHRS exam.

7. Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR)

A Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) is a professional credential that demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the revenue cycle management process. The certification is offered by the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM).

To become certified, applicants must have at least two years of experience in healthcare revenue cycle management and pass an exam. The exam covers topics such as patient access, billing, coding, collections, and compliance.

The CRCR certification requires a one-time fee of $250. This fee includes the cost of the exam and study materials. Once the fee is paid, applicants can register for the exam online or by mail. The exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately three hours to complete.

Once an applicant passes the exam, they will receive their official CRCR certification from AAHAM. This certification must be renewed every three years with continuing education credits or retaking the exam.

8. Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)

A Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) is a health care professional who specializes in managing patient health information and medical records. The RHIA credential is awarded by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

To become an RHIA, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in health information management, or a related field such as healthcare administration or public health. You must also pass the AHIMA certification exam. This exam covers topics such as data management, legal and ethical issues, technology, and analytics.

The cost of the RHIA exam varies depending on your location and other factors. Generally, it will cost around $300 to take the exam. Additionally, there may be additional fees for study materials or other services associated with taking the exam.

It typically takes between 6-12 months to prepare for the RHIA exam. During this time, you should review relevant course material and practice questions to ensure that you are ready for the test. Once you have passed the exam, you will officially be certified as an RHIA.

9. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

A Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is a professional credential issued by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). RHITs are responsible for managing patient health information and medical records, ensuring its accuracy, quality, security, and privacy.

It typically takes two to three years to become an RHIT. This includes completing a postsecondary program in health information technology or a related field such as medical coding or health informatics. After graduating from the program, students must then pass the RHIT certification exam offered by AHIMA.

To get an RHIT certification, you must first complete an accredited educational program in health information technology or a related field such as medical coding or health informatics. You will also need to pass the RHIT certification exam offered by AHIMA. The cost of the exam is $199 for members of AHIMA and $299 for non-members.

10. Certified Ambulatory Care Coding Specialist (CACCS)

Certified Ambulatory Care Coding Specialist (CACCS) is a professional certification that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated mastery of coding and reimbursement principles for ambulatory care services. This certification is offered through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

To become certified as a CACCS, applicants must have at least two years of experience in coding and/or billing for ambulatory care services, or have completed an AAPC-approved training program. Applicants must also pass an exam administered by the AAPC. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and covers topics such as medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, diagnosis coding, procedure coding, reimbursement principles and compliance regulations.

The cost to take the CACCS exam is $399 for members of the AAPC and $499 for non-members. Once you have passed the exam, you will be awarded the Certified Ambulatory Care Coding Specialist (CACCS) credential. There are no additional fees or requirements to maintain your certification.

11. American Academy of Professional Coders Certification (AAPC).

American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Certification is a certification program designed to recognize the knowledge and skills of medical coders. It is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates a professional’s commitment to staying up-to-date on coding standards and best practices. The AAPC offers two levels of certification: Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Professional Coder – Payer (CPC-P).

To become a CPC, applicants must pass the CPC exam, which consists of 150 multiple choice questions covering topics such as anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, coding systems, reimbursement methodologies, and compliance regulations. The exam takes approximately five hours to complete and costs $399 for members or $499 for nonmembers.

In order to be eligible for the CPC exam, applicants must have at least two years of professional coding experience or one year of professional coding experience plus completion of an accredited coding program. Applicants may also qualify by completing an AAPC approved training program or attending an AAPC approved seminar.

The cost of the CPC exam depends on whether you are an AAPC member or nonmember. For members, it costs $399; for nonmembers it costs $499. In addition to the exam fee, there is also a one-time application fee of $50 for both members and nonmembers.

Do You Really Need a Registration Specialist Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on your individual career goals and professional aspirations. If you are looking to become a registration specialist, then having a certificate in registration specialist can be beneficial. It can help demonstrate your knowledge of the job duties, as well as give you an edge over other applicants for the same position.

On the other hand, if you already have experience working in the field or if you have already obtained some form of certification related to registration specialists, then it may not be necessary for you to pursue a certificate in this field. In fact, depending on the type of certification that you already have, it could even be redundant or superfluous.

Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue a certificate in registration specialist is something that should be evaluated on an individual basis. It is important to consider your current skill set and experience level before making any decisions about furthering your education or training in this area. Additionally, it is important to research different certification options and determine which one best suits your needs and career goals.

Related: Registration Specialist Resume Examples

FAQs About Registration Specialist Certifications

1. What is a registration specialist certification?

Answer: A registration specialist certification is a professional designation which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated expertise in the field of registration and enrollment management. This certification provides evidence of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to managing student records, admissions processes, financial aid processing and other related activities.

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

Answer: To become certified as a registration specialist, you must complete an approved program of study and pass the Registration Specialist Certification exam administered by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). The NACAC website provides detailed information on eligibility requirements and the application process.

3. What are the benefits of becoming a certified registration specialist?

Answer: Some benefits of becoming a certified registration specialist include increased knowledge in the field of registration and enrollment management; recognition from peers, employers, and clients; higher wages; career mobility; and job security.

4. Are there continuing education requirements for maintaining my certification?

Answer: Yes, those who hold registration specialist certifications must complete 30 hours of continuing education every three years in order to maintain their certifications. The NACAC website provides detailed information on acceptable courses that qualify towards continuing education requirements for registered specialists.

5. Is there an expiration date for my certification?

Answer: Yes, certifications expire after three years unless you renew them by completing 30 hours of continuing education every three years or re-take the exam if necessary.