Note from the Product Coordinator: Use our Exam Candidate Handbook to see if you’re eligible for the CCDS/CCDS-O or to prep for the exam
by Karla Kozak
Whether you’re determining your eligibility for the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS)/Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist–Outpatient (CCDS-O) exams, looking for an outline of content to study, or preparing yourself for exam day procedures, ACDIS’ Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialist’s Certification Exam Candidate Handbook is your go-to resource for all things certification! Newly updated, this version also allows you to find answers to your questions with ease and includes the most up-to-date guidance on test facility policies and procedures.
Inside the Exam Candidate Handbook, you’ll find important sections devoted specifically to the CCDS exam, such as:
- Eligibility requirements (p. 5), which outlines the requirements you must meetrequired before applying for the exam
- Allowable resources (p. 6), which describes the two books you may bring with you to the exam
- Exam content outline (p. 7), which provides a detailed explanation of the topics and subtopics the exam covers
- Sample exam questions (p. 11), which you can use to practice and better understand the format of the exam
You’ll also find the same sections related to the CCDS-O exam:
- Eligibility requirements (p. 13)
- Allowable resources (p. 14)
- Exam content outline (p. 14)
- Sample exam questions (p. 18)
Plus, the handbook also provides all the information you need about applying for the exam, scheduling your exam once you’re approved, important day-of details, such as required identification, proper safety and security protocols, and your next steps following examination. We also break down your different testing options—in-person at a Prometric Testing Center or via remote proctoring.
Finally, the Exam Candidate Handbook offers all the information you need to recertify your credential every two years. (You can turn to page 25 to see the full list of requirements.)
If you still have questions after reading the handbook, our Certifications team is available via certifications@hcpro.com. With that, best of luck to those of you currently pursuing certification and to those of you who will in the future—the ACDIS team is rooting for you!
Editor’s note: Kozak is an editor and product coordinator at ACDIS. Contact her at karla.kozak@hcpro.com.