Healthcare compliance specialists ensure that companies are complying with all aspects of federal and state employment-related healthcare laws. Specialists in this area can get certified in this field through the Healthcare Compliance Certification Board (HCCB). In addition to work experience in the field, applicants must pass the CHC exam to get certified.
Job Experience
There are two ways to qualify for work experience for certification in healthcare compliance. One is to be actively employed full time now and for at least the last 12 months where at least 50% of your work duties are directly related to healthcare compliance. This is an active compliance professional. An allied compliance professional is someone who has at least 1500 hours of consecutive work related to healthcare compliance. Professionals such as nurses and healthcare attorneys can qualify under this qualification route.
Note on Types of Duties that Qualify:
Below, you will see tips on how to prepare for the CHC exam. This includes using the exam content outline. Look at that outline to confirm that your job duties are consistent with the content of the CHC exam. This is the only way for either Active or Allied Compliance Professionals to qualify.
Education Exception:
Some students choose to attend a certificate program accredited by the Compliance Certification Board. You do not have to meet the work requirements if you complete one of these healthcare compliance training programs. There are only 5 such programs so far, however. View the Resources section below to get the link to that list of programs.
Continuing Education:
An applicant may choose to prepare for the CHC (Certification in Healthcare Compliance) exam by attending an accredited continuing-education course. At any rate, all applicants must complete 20 hours from an approved course before qualifying for certification. View a list of accredited healthcare compliance programs in the Resources section.
Preparing for the CHC Exam:
Other than the obvious ways of attending an approved course or continuing education (or work experience), there are some additional ways to get ready for your exam.
First of all, you need to download the “Certified in Healthcare Compliance Candidate Handbook.” This contains the previously mentioned exam content outline, which lays out all the topics appearing on the CHC exam. Use this to make sure you study all known topics well before test day so you can have additional time to review or shore up weak topics.
Also in that book are some CHC practice questions and exam references. Presumably, you will have purchased the references for your continuing education or healthcare compliance accredited course. But if not, the handbook has a list so you can purchase them. Study those thoroughly to get ready for your certification test. You can then use the practice questions to see if you are ready. Rinse and repeat until you are confident you can pass the exam.
Resources:
Healthcare Compliance Association: Accredited Universities
Healthcare Compliance Association: Accredited Continuing Education Programs
HCCA: CHC Handbook