Note from the CCDS Coordinator: Recertification 101

By Penny Richards

Recently, I got an inquiry from a new Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) holder who wanted to know what she’ll need to do to recertify. Answering her questions allots me the opportunity to share some tips with readers and refresh everyone on the process.

Q: I am a new CCDS holder. When do I need to recertify? And how many continuing education units (CEUs) do I need to submit?

A: You need to recertify your CCDS credential every two years by the anniversary of your exam date. If you passed the exam on December 1, 2018, your recertification will be due by December 1, 2020, and then again on that date in 2022, 2024, and so on.

You need to earn 30 CEUs in the two-year period that you hold the active certification.

Q: How do I earn those CEUs?

A: ACDIS members have access to up to 10 CEUs annually by reading the bi-monthly CDI Journal and taking its online quiz and by participating in its Quarterly Membership Calls. ACDIS also offers roughly nine webinar educational sessions each year (at cost) and ACDIS sponsors frequently offer free educational webinars but CEUs for those are only available for the live event. The ACDIS website lists the many and varied items we accept for recertification CEUs.

Q: How and when should I submit my CEUs for recertification?

A: CEUs are due every two years on the anniversary of the day you took the exam. Using our example of a December 1, 2018, exam date, you need to earn your CEUs between December 1, 2018 and December 1, 2020.

You do not have to submit copies of the CEU certificates, but you should hold onto them in case your application is selected for an audit. You can recycle the certificates when you receive your confirmation letter. (Hint: Many other certifications will accept CEUs from different credentials. Do your research and find out how many CCDS CEUs might be applicable for you.)

ACDIS does not issue a new CCDS certificate for recertification but sends a confirmation letter with a wallet card (it lists your next recertification due date). This letter is validation to your manager of your new certification period. Please give your manager a copy of the letter and keep the original in your files.

It is your responsibility to know your recertification due date and we suggest you put a placeholder reminder in your calendar. We send email reminders to the email address in the CCDS/CCDS-O database, do not rely on those reminders. It’s not unusual to hear from someone that they didn’t get our messages (these may be blocked by your facility’s spam filter).

If you change jobs or email addresses, you must notify the ACDIS office. The CCDS/CCDS-O databases are separate from the customer service system. There is a grace period to submit your CEUs. A late fee is assessed if your recertification is more than six months late. Certification is revoked when it is one year late.

Q: A few of the CEUs I’ve earned say they have an expiration date within a year. Can I still submit them?

A: It’s standard in the industry that CEUs are issued with an expiration date. This is because the training/education content is valid for one year and must updated to be accurate with the current best practices and guidelines. The CEUs you earn will be accepted for the recertification provided you earned them within your two-year active certification period. You cannot submit CEUs you earned before you obtained your credential.

Q: Do most people complete all 30 CEUs in a year and submit all at once?

A: You can earn your CEUs at your convenience during the two years you hold the active certification. You may submit your recertification application and proof of your CEUs no more than 60 days before your recertification due date.

I hope this is helpful. If you have more questions, please visit the recertification pages for the CCDS and CCDS-O on the ACDIS website for instructions, the application, and list of items accepted as CEUs. And, as always, feel free to reach out to me with any unanswered questions.

Editor’s note: Richards is the certification coordinator for ACDIS. Contact her at prichards@acdis.org.