After meeting all eligibility requirements and passing the examination, individuals may use their credential in all correspondence and professional relations and on promotional materials, such as stationery, websites, business cards, etc. The mark or logo may be used only on business cards, stationery, letterhead, and similar documents on which the name of the individual certified is prominently displayed.
Individuals who have met the certification requirements are authorized to use RHIA, RHIT, CCA, CCS, CCS-P, CHDA, CHPS, or CDIP as applicable, following their name.
Additional tips and guidelines
- Academic degrees (for example, PhD, JD, and MBA) are listed closest to the last name
- General credentials (for example, RHIA and RHIT) follow the academic degree. If there is no academic degree listed, the certification credential follows the last name
- The RHIT credential will be superseded once a candidate passes the RHIA exam meaning it is no longer valid and no longer to be used
- Specialty credentials and coding credentials (for example, CHDA, CHP, CHS, CHPS, CCS, CCS-P, CCA, CDIP, and CHTS) follow the general credential
- The CCA credential will be superseded once a candidate passes the CCS or CCS-P exam meaning it is no longer valid and no longer to be used
- Fellowship credentials (for example, FAHIMA) follow the specialty credential
- Early testing candidates are not authorized to use their credential until all requirements have been met and verified through AHIMA.
After receiving official notification of certification, the applicable credential may be used only as long as certification remains valid and in good standing. Individuals may not use the AHIMA credentials until they have received specific written notification that they have successfully completed all requirements, including passing the examination and documenting the specified requirements.
Certificants must comply with all recertification requirements to maintain use of the credential.
Except as permitted by this policy, any use or display of certification marks and/or logos without the prior written permission of the CCHIIM is prohibited. Any candidate or certificant who manufacturers, modifies, reproduces, distributes, or uses a fraudulent or otherwise unauthorized certificate, designation or other credential may be subject to disciplinary action, including denial or revocation of eligibility or certification. Any individual who engages in such behavior also may be subject to legal action.