You've decided to pursue CHC certification—excellent choice. Now you need to understand the practical logistics: Am I eligible? How much does it cost? How do I actually register? When can I take the exam? What happens on test day?
This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for the entire process from eligibility verification through receiving your results and maintaining certification. We'll cover every requirement, cost, deadline, and procedural detail you need to know.
Quick Overview
Minimum time from decision to exam: 2-3 weeks (if you're eligible and prepared)
Recommended timeline: 10-12 weeks (allows for thorough preparation)
- Week 1: Verify eligibility, join HCCA, register for exam
- Weeks 2-9: Study following structured 8-week plan
- Week 10: Schedule and take exam
- Weeks 11-18: Await results (6-8 weeks)
Total timeline: 4-5 months from start to certification
Eligibility Requirements
CHC certification has specific eligibility criteria you must meet before you can sit for the exam.
Primary Eligibility Paths
You qualify to take the CHC exam through ONE of the following paths:
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree (or higher) in any field, AND
- Minimum of 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) healthcare compliance work experience
What counts as "healthcare compliance experience":
- Compliance program administration
- Conducting compliance audits or monitoring
- Compliance training development/delivery
- Investigation of compliance issues
- Policy and procedure development for compliance
- Regulatory analysis and interpretation
- Risk assessment activities
Does NOT count: General healthcare work without compliance focus (clinical care, medical billing without compliance oversight, general administration)
Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent, AND
- Minimum of 5 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) healthcare compliance work experience
Note: The additional 3 years compensate for not having a bachelor's degree. Experience requirements are the same as Path 1—it must be substantive compliance work.
Requirements:
- Hold current CHPC (Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance) or CHRC (Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance) certification in good standing
Why this works: If you've already earned another HCCA certification, you've demonstrated the baseline knowledge and professional commitment. You can add CHC to expand your credentials.
Mistake #1: Counting non-compliance healthcare experience
Working as a nurse, medical coder, or hospital administrator doesn't automatically qualify unless your role included specific compliance responsibilities. "I worked in healthcare" ≠ "I worked in healthcare compliance."
Mistake #2: Misunderstanding part-time requirements
Part-time experience counts, but is prorated. If you worked 20 hours/week (50% FTE) in compliance, you need 4 years to equal 2 years full-time.
Mistake #3: Applying too early
HCCA verifies your experience. If you claim 2 years but only have 18 months, your application will be denied and you'll lose the application fee. Wait until you genuinely meet requirements.
Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| HCCA Membership | Must be an active HCCA member in good standing. Membership costs $295/year. |
| Code of Ethics | Agree to abide by HCCA Code of Ethics. You'll acknowledge this during application. |
| Character Requirement | No felony convictions or professional sanctions related to healthcare compliance. You'll self-certify this. |
| Application Accuracy | All information must be truthful and accurate. HCCA may request verification of experience/education. |
Complete Cost Breakdown
Understanding the full financial commitment helps you budget appropriately.
Initial Costs (Year 1)
Ongoing Costs (Annual)
Note: Many employers reimburse certification costs and provide professional development budgets for continuing education. Ask your HR department before paying out-of-pocket.
- Employer reimbursement: 60-70% of employers reimburse certification costs for compliance staff. Request this as part of professional development.
- Join HCCA first: Non-member exam fee is $595 vs $360 for members. HCCA membership ($295) + member exam ($360) = $655 vs $595 non-member, so membership essentially costs only $60 more and provides year-round benefits.
- Free CE credits: HCCA membership includes free webinars that count for continuing education. You can earn all 15 annual credits without additional cost.
- Group study: Share study material costs with colleagues who are also preparing for CHC.
- Library resources: Some medical libraries have Compliance 101 textbook available for free checkout.
Step-by-Step Registration Process
Follow this exact sequence to register for the CHC exam:
Action: Visit www.hcca-info.org and click "Join" or "Membership"
What you'll need:
- Contact information (email, phone, mailing address)
- Employment details (current employer, job title)
- Payment method (credit card or check)
Processing time: Immediate for online payment. You'll receive confirmation email with member number within 24 hours.
Cost: $295/year
Action: Log into your HCCA account at www.hcca-info.org
Navigation: My Account → Certifications → Apply for Certification
Note: You must be logged in as an active member to see certification options. If you don't see "Apply for Certification," verify your membership is active or contact HCCA support.
Information you'll provide:
- Educational background: Degree(s), institution(s), graduation year(s)
- Work experience: Employer names, dates of employment, job titles, compliance responsibilities description
- Experience calculation: System will calculate whether you meet 2-year or 5-year requirement
- Character attestation: Confirm no disqualifying convictions/sanctions
- Code of Ethics: Read and accept HCCA Code of Ethics
Tips for experience description:
- Be specific about compliance duties (don't just say "compliance work")
- Quantify when possible ("conducted 15+ audits annually")
- Use compliance terminology (risk assessment, monitoring, investigation, remediation)
- Separate compliance responsibilities from general job duties
Time to complete: 20-30 minutes
Amount: $360 (member rate) - paid during application process
Payment methods: Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) or ACH bank transfer
Important: Exam fee is NON-REFUNDABLE once application is approved. Make sure you're ready to take the exam within the next 12 months before paying.
What happens: HCCA staff reviews your application to verify you meet eligibility requirements
Review timeframe: 5-10 business days typically
Possible outcomes:
- Approved: You'll receive email confirmation with Authorization to Test (ATT) and instructions for scheduling
- Additional information requested: HCCA may request documentation (employment verification letter, degree transcript)
- Denied: Rare, but happens if eligibility requirements clearly not met. Exam fee is refunded if denied.
Pro tip: Check your spam folder for approval email. It comes from [email protected]
What you receive: Email with your unique ATT confirmation number and scheduling instructions
ATT validity: 12 months from issue date. You must schedule and take your exam within this window.
What to do: Save this email! You'll need the ATT number to schedule your exam appointment.
Next step: Proceed to scheduling (Step 7), but only after you've completed adequate preparation.
How to Schedule Your Exam
Once you have your Authorization to Test, you can schedule your exam appointment.
CHC Exam Delivery Method
CHC exams are administered by Scantron/Pearson VUE at professional testing centers. You cannot take CHC from home—you must go to an authorized testing center.
Where: Scantron testing centers nationwide (500+ locations in the US)
When: Year-round testing. Centers offer appointments Monday-Saturday, with varying hours (some offer evenings)
Availability: Generally very good. In most metro areas, you can schedule within 1-2 weeks. Rural areas may have limited options.
Find locations: Your ATT email includes a link to the Scantron scheduling site where you can search by zip code.
Scheduling Steps
URL: Link provided in your ATT email
Login: Create account using your ATT confirmation number
Search by: Zip code, city, or state
Filter by: Date range, distance, time of day
Compare: System shows available dates/times at each location within your search radius
Factors to consider:
- Time of day: Choose when you're most alert. Morning people should book 8-10am slots. Night owls may prefer afternoon.
- Day of week: Consider work schedule. Some prefer weekends when they're less stressed about missing work.
- Lead time: Book at least 2-3 weeks out to allow final study push. Don't schedule too far in advance or you'll lose momentum.
- Location convenience: Choose a center you can reach easily without stress. Factor in traffic, parking.
Recommended: Schedule for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning. Avoid Mondays (you're tired from weekend) and Fridays (already mentally checked out for weekend).
Confirmation: You'll receive email confirmation with exam details
Save these details:
- Testing center name and address
- Date and time of appointment
- Confirmation number
- Check-in requirements (arrive 30 minutes early)
Add to calendar: Block 3 hours total (30 min early arrival + 2 hour exam + processing time)
Reschedule/Cancel more than 24 hours before appointment: Usually allowed without penalty (check current policy)
Reschedule/Cancel less than 24 hours before appointment: Typically forfeit exam fee or incur rescheduling fee
No-show: Forfeit entire exam fee. You'll need to pay $360 again to retake.
Best practice: Only schedule when you're 90% confident you can keep the appointment. If you get sick or have an emergency, contact Scantron immediately—they may show compassion for legitimate emergencies.
Test Day: What to Expect
Knowing exactly what happens on exam day reduces anxiety and helps you perform your best.
What to Bring
Valid driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID. Name on ID must match name on registration exactly.
From your Scantron confirmation email. Print it or have it on your phone.
From your HCCA approval email. Testing center will verify this.
These must be stored in a locker. Bringing phone into testing room = automatic disqualification.
Exam is closed-book. No materials permitted.
No eating/drinking during exam. Water may be allowed outside testing room.
Must be stored in locker. Only bring essentials.
Must be stored. Wear layers in case testing room is too cold/warm.
Test Day Timeline
Arrive at testing center. Late arrivals may be turned away and forfeit exam fee. Park, find entrance, check in at reception.
Present IDs, sign in, review testing rules, store personal items in locker, palm vein scan (biometric security), receive scratch paper and pencil.
Brief computer-based tutorial explaining how to navigate exam, flag questions, use calculator (if provided), and submit answers. This does NOT count against your 2-hour exam time.
120 questions, multiple choice. Timer displayed on screen. You can flag questions for review and return to them. You can take bathroom breaks, but clock continues running.
Brief survey about exam experience, collect materials, retrieve personal items. You will NOT receive immediate pass/fail result.
- Visit the center beforehand: If possible, drive to the testing center a few days before to know exactly where it is and where to park
- Get 8 hours of sleep: More valuable than last-minute cramming
- Eat a good breakfast: Protein and complex carbs. Avoid heavy, sugary, or unfamiliar foods
- Arrive early but not too early: 30 minutes is perfect. Arriving 2 hours early just creates anxiety
- Use the bathroom before starting: During tutorial and right before beginning exam
- Bring layers: Testing room temperature varies. Wear comfortable clothes
- Read every question completely: Don't rush. You have exactly 1 minute per question on average
- Flag difficult questions: Move on and return rather than getting stuck
- Review flagged questions: Use last 10-15 minutes to revisit flagged items
After the Exam: Results & Next Steps
The waiting period after your exam can feel long. Here's what to expect:
Results Timeline
| Timeframe | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Day of Exam | No immediate results. You'll leave not knowing if you passed. |
| 6-8 Weeks After Exam | Official results released via email and available in your HCCA account |
| If You Pass | Digital certificate available immediately. Physical certificate mailed within 2-3 weeks. You can use "CHC" designation immediately. |
| If You Don't Pass | Score report shows performance by domain. Can retake after 90-day waiting period. Must pay $360 exam fee again. |
Passing score: Scaled score of 70% (not raw 70/100 due to exam difficulty adjustments)
What you receive if you pass: "Pass" designation and overall score
What you receive if you don't pass: Domain-by-domain performance showing where you were strong/weak. Use this to focus retake preparation.
Note: Exact questions are never disclosed, even after the exam. Score reports show general domain performance only.
If You Pass: Next Steps
- Update your credentials: Add "CHC" after your name in email signatures, LinkedIn, resume, business cards
- Download digital certificate: Available in your HCCA account immediately
- Notify your employer: Request salary adjustment if promised for certification
- Join CHC community: Access to CHC-specific HCCA resources and networking
- Plan for continuing education: You'll need 15 credits annually to maintain certification
- Celebrate! You've earned it. This is a significant professional achievement.
If You Don't Pass: Retake Strategy
Waiting period: 90 days before you can retake
Cost: $360 exam fee (same as first attempt)
Limit: No limit on retakes, but each costs $360 and requires 90-day wait
How to prepare for retake:
- Analyze your domain-by-domain score report carefully
- Focus 70% of retake prep on domains where you scored below 60%
- Take 200+ new practice questions (don't just re-do same ones)
- Consider purchasing Compliance 101 if you didn't use it first time
- Join HCCA study groups or find a study partner
- Take another full practice exam 2 weeks before retake
Success rate on retakes: Approximately 65-70% of retake candidates pass, especially if they used their score report to focus preparation on weak areas.
Maintaining Your CHC Certification
CHC is not a lifetime certification—you must maintain it through ongoing requirements:
Annual Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| HCCA Membership | Must remain active HCCA member. Renew annually at $295/year. If membership lapses, certification becomes inactive. |
| Continuing Education (CE) | 15 CE credits per calendar year. Variety of activities qualify (webinars, conferences, writing, teaching). |
| Code of Ethics | Continue to abide by HCCA Code of Ethics. Annual attestation required. |
| Reporting | Report CE credits in your HCCA account. System tracks your progress toward 15 annual credits. |
Ways to Earn Continuing Education Credits
| Activity | Credits Available | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| HCCA Webinars | 1 credit per hour | Free for members |
| HCCA Conferences | 1 credit per hour | $500-$1,500 (conference fee) |
| Self-Study Articles | 1 credit per article | Free for members |
| Teaching/Speaking | 2 credits per hour | Free (you're the teacher!) |
| Publishing Articles | 3-5 credits per article | Free (you're the author!) |
| Other Certifications | Varies (up to 15) | Varies |
The easiest path (completely free):
- Attend 10 HCCA webinars throughout the year (10 credits, free)
- Read and complete quizzes on 5 HCCA compliance articles (5 credits, free)
- Total: 15 credits, $0 cost
HCCA offers 50+ free webinars annually. You can easily earn 15+ credits without spending beyond your membership fee.
What Happens If You Don't Meet Requirements
If you don't earn 15 credits: Certification becomes "inactive" at year-end
While inactive: Cannot use CHC designation, no longer considered certified
Reinstatement: Must make up missing credits plus current year's credits. Pay $50 reinstatement fee.
If lapsed for 3+ years: Must retake full CHC exam
Best practice: Track credits quarterly. Don't wait until December to realize you're short. HCCA sends reminders, but ultimate responsibility is yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Prepare for success with comprehensive practice exams before scheduling your exam date