HIMSS® - Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

Demonstrate your expertise and experience as a health information and technology professional with certification from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society® (HIMSS®). In a field experiencing vast change, it is important to possess a standard body of knowledge and an up-to-date skillset.

HIMSS certifications show your stakeholders that you are well informed and well prepared for the next step in your career pathway.

The Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems™ (CAHIMS™) certification is a pathway for expanding and diversifying industry knowledge for both early careerists and those with more experience.

The Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems™ (CPHIMS™) is a certification program for experienced professionals, acknowledging and honoring their proven expertise and commitment to the field.

For information on the HIMSS certification programs, please visit https://www.himss.org/resources/certification, email certification@himss.org, or call +1-703-722-0580.

The Candidate Handbook for each HIMSS certification program (accessible at https://www.himss.org/resources/certification) contains valuable information regarding the certification program’s scope, eligibility requirements, application process, applicable fees, exam content, exam preparatory resources, exam administration logistics, and recertification requirements.

All candidates should carefully review the Candidate Handbook (for the specific certification program which the candidate is pursuing) during the application process and before taking the certification examination.

There are now two ways to take an HIMSS certification exam via computer. Candidates have the option to take the exam:

  • In person at a brick-and-mortar Exam Center (with locally compliant social distancing and sanitizing protocols in place), using the Exam Center’s computer equipment and internet connection; or
  • At the candidate’s home or office (or any qualifying location of the candidate’s choice) through a remotely-proctored internet-based testing platform, using the candidate’s own computer, webcam, microphone, and internet connection.

Your Candidate ID # and Client Authorization ID # (as they appear on your Authorization to Test (ATT) Notice) are required to schedule your exam.

How to Apply and Become Eligible for Certification

Before scheduling your exam appointment, you must apply for certification at https://marketplace.himss.org/certificationExamApplication, be deemed Eligible, and receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) Notice (with your Candidate ID# and Client Authorization ID #) from the HIMSS Certification Department.

Your first (given) name and last (family) name as listed on your ATT Notice must EXACTLY MATCH your first name and last name as those appear on a currently valid, government-issued photo identification bearing your signature, which you must present at the exam center (or during the remotely-proctored exam administration); if there are any discrepancies during check-in, the proctor will not allow you to take the exam, you will be considered a “no show,” and you will forfeit your exam fee (i.e., you would need to pay the exam retake fee to reschedule your test). If your name does NOT exactly match, please email the HIMSS Certification Department at certification@himss.org at least ten (10) days prior to your test date.

Special Accommodations

If you require any special accommodations for testing, complete and submit the Request for Special Examination Accommodations form included in the Candidate Handbook and submit the completed form with all supporting documentation to certification@himss.org after submitting your certification application.

Scheduling your Exam

Take your exam from home. Simply choose Online at my home or office when presented with exam options. Learn more

Get certified from your home or office

Take your HIMSS exam conveniently from home through OnVUE online proctoring. A live proctor will monitor you through the webcam on your workstation to provide a secure exam experience.

Watch the short video on the HIMSS online proctoring page to see how convenient it is to test from home or work. Be sure to run the system test before you sign in to register for an online proctored exam. Good luck!

To schedule your exam (either at a brick-and-mortar Exam Center or via live, remote proctoring), please click the “Sign in” button in the sidebar of this webpage. If you are a first-time exam taker with Pearson VUE, you will need to first click on the “Create account” button.

To locate an exam center prior to scheduling your exam appointment, please click on the “Find a test center” link in the sidebar of this webpage.

To schedule your remotely-proctored, internet-based exam at your home, office, or other location of your choosing, using your own computer, webcam, microphone, and internet connection, first confirm your computer’s compatibility with the remote proctoring platform (“OnVUE”).

You must supply the computer that you will use for the certification exam. The computer must have a webcam (internal or external), microphone (internal or external), speakers (internal or external), and a stable internet connection, and you must be able to install the Pearson VUE OnVUE app on your computer on the day of your exam appointment.

Click here to verify that your computer and internet network will allow testing through OnVUE.

Please ensure that you have application installation (e.g., Admin) privileges on the computer you will be using for the certification exam.

After you have 100% passed (all green check-marks) the system test, you can proceed to schedule your remotely-proctored, internet-based exam.

If you are unable to 100% pass the system test and you had attempted to check your system through a VDI or VPN connection, please try directly from the computer rather than through the VDI or VPN; most candidates are unable to use the OnVUE™ platform through a VDI or VPN.

Also, check to ensure that your microphone and webcam are enabled (and correctly connected, if external).

If you are still unable to pass the 100% system test, or if you will not have the necessary permissions to install the OnVUE app on your exam date, please schedule your exam at a brick-and-mortar Exam Center, instead.

After scheduling your exam, please review your appointment confirmation email and ensure that you have the correct exam, date, time, first name and last name matching your government ID, and (if testing at a brick-and-mortar Exam Center) testing location.

Rescheduling or Cancelling Exams

Reschedule Policy

You must contact Pearson VUE or access your online Pearson VUE account (by clicking “Sign in” in the sidebar of this webpage) to reschedule your exam at least 48 hours prior to your appointment. Exams cannot be rescheduled less than 48 hours prior to (that is, within 48 hours of) your appointment. Failure to reschedule in time—or failure to appear for—your appointment will result in the forfeiture of your exam fee. Rescheduled exam appointments must be within your eligibility period; if your eligibility period will expire before your exam is able to be rescheduled, you will need to pay the exam retake fee to schedule your exam for a new eligibility period.

Cancellation Policy

You must contact Pearson VUE or access your online Pearson VUE account to cancel your exam at least 48 hours prior to your appointment. Exams cannot be cancelled less than 48 hours prior to (that is, within 48 hours of) your appointment. Failure to cancel in time or failure to appear for your appointment will result in the forfeiture of your exam fee.

If you have rescheduled or cancelled within 48 hours of your appointment (or did not show up for your exam appointment), you will need to submit another application and pay the exam retake fee to reschedule your exam. Candidates applying to retake the exam will receive an updated eligibility determination from the HIMSS Certification Department and (if deemed Eligible) a new ATT Notice with a new Client Authorization ID#.

What to Bring to the Exam Appointment (Exam Center or Remotely-Proctored)

We ask that you arrive at the test center 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This will give you adequate time to complete the necessary sign-in procedures. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be refused admission, and the exam fees will be forfeited.

You will be required to present one form of original (no photocopies), currently valid (unexpired), government-issued ID that includes your name, photograph, and signature. The first and last name that you used to register must match exactly the first and last name on the ID that is presented on test day; if there is a difference between your first and last name as they appear on your ATT Notice and as they appear on the ID that you will present on test day, please contact the HIMSS Certification Department immediately at certification@himss.org.

All IDs required must be issued by the country in which you are testing; alternatively, if you do not have a qualifying ID issued from the country in which you are testing, an International Travel Passport from your country of citizenship is required. If possible, please bring a second government identification (that matches the same requirements as the primary ID) to your exam appointment, in case there is an issue with your primary identification.

If you have any questions or concerns about the ID you are required to bring with you to the testing center for admittance to your exam, please contact Pearson VUE customer service at https://home.pearsonvue.com/Test-takers/Customer-service.aspx. To view the full ID policy, including any additional allowances to this policy, please visit http://www.pearsonvue.com/policies/1.pdf.

No personal items may be taken into the testing room. This includes but is not limited to all bags, books not authorized by the sponsor, notes, phones, pagers, watches, and wallets.

No breaks, food, or beverages are allowed during the exam.

All personal items other than the identification document must be locked in a locker (at an Exam Center) and outside of the testing area, for exam security purposes.

For a detailed description of examination rules, please reference the Candidate Handbook for the certification program for which you are applying.

For remotely-proctored internet-based testing, please click here to learn about the check-in process, security protocols, test environment requirements, prohibited items, and other exam administration procedures.

Important Exam Day Reminders

Pearson VUE is unable to provide a completely noise-free or otherwise distractionless environment. Consider bringing your own soft ear plugs or use the Exam Center-provided head phones (if testing at an Exam Center). If testing via OnVUE, you are responsible for providing your own testing environment; it should be as distractionless as you can reasonably make it (sound, temperature, etc.). By scheduling your exam appointment via OnVUE, you assume the risk of any distractions from or interruptions to your exam administration and waive the liability of Pearson VUE’s, HIMSS’s, and their respective contractors, agents, and representatives for any such negative impacts to your exam experience or results.

By scheduling your exam (either at an Exam Center or via OnVUE), you are assuming the risk of and waiving HIMSS’s, Metacred’s, and Pearson VUE’s (and their respective contractors’) liability for any harm or damages that you may suffer as a result of or in any way related to your exam administration, including without limitation acquiring the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

No breaks are allowed during the exam, and no food or beverages may be consumed during the exam. Please be prepared to take the entire exam without breaks, eating, or drinking. If testing via OnVUE, please be advised that if you depart from the camera view / testing area at any time during the exam, your exam will be terminated immediately, and your score will be based on the exam items you have completed up to that point in time.

Exam Results

Candidates will receive exam results upon completing the exam—except beta exam candidates, who will receive results after the beta period concludes and the cut score (passing point) is set. If you have not received your scores within forty-five (45) days after taking the exam, please notify the HIMSS Certification Department by emailing certification@himss.org.

Last updated 2022-09-12