Maintenance Requirements for CHFP/FHFMA
HFMA members who have earned either the Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) or Fellow of HFMA (FHFMA) designation must maintain their certification by meeting two basic requirements:
- Remain an active HFMA member in good standing
- Complete 60 contact hours in eligible education programs every three years
(A contact hour is 50 minutes of continuous programming, excluding meals, breaks, or social activities.)
Reporting Your Activities
You must show evidence of maintaining your CHFP or FHFMA designation every three years. Your three-year reporting period ends on May 31 of the "good through" year shown in your member record and begins on June 1 three years prior to your "good through" year.
Failure to meet the maintenance requirements by May 31 of the "good through" year will result in removal of your designation on September 1 of the "good through" year. The designation must then be re-earned by successfully completing the required certification exams and meeting the other requirements for certification. Please note that failure to renew your HFMA membership can also lead to removal of your designation.
It is your responsibility to self-report your education activities using the online reporting tool. The only activities that do not need to be self-reported are activities sponsored by HFMA National for which you have received CPE credit.
Download a list of eligible activities.
Access the online reporting tool (available to certified members only; login required).
CHFP/FHFMA Maintenance FAQs
Q: How can I view my current CPE/EDU points?
A: You can access reports for current activities and all historical points using this online tool. You will need your HFMA user name and password to log in; once logged in, scroll down to access your reports. Points are shown as CPE and EDU points.
Q: I attended a day-long seminar. How do I calculate contact hours for this event?
A: First, add up the total length of the seminar. Next, subtract the time for breaks, meals, and social events. Finally, divide the total by 50 and round down to the nearest whole number. This is your total number of contact hours for the event.
Q: Can I mail in hard-copy documentation of my attendance at an event?
A: No. Education activity must be reported using our online reporting tool. You should, however, maintain in your own files documentation of eligible events you have attended for at least one year past the end of your certification renewal date.
Q: I recently attended an event sponsored by my local HFMA chapter. Do I need to report my education hours for this event?
A: Yes. The only events that do not need to be self-reported are activities sponsored by HFMA National for which you have received CPE credit. It is your responsibility to self-report your education activities for all other activities, including attending chapter-sponsored events, proctoring a certification exam, etc.
Q: I've discovered a mistake in the online record of my education activities. Can I edit my record online?
A: No - members do not have the capability to edit entries in their online record. Please submit any changes in writing to . Be sure to provide enough detail so the edit can be made correctly by HFMA staff.
Q: I've recently retired from my position. Do I still have to meet certification maintenance requirements?
A: If you've retired fully from employment prior to the end of your current reporting cycle, you can receive "emeritus" status by informing HFMA in an email to careerservices@hfma.org. Members granted emeritus status retain their designation status and are exempt from certification maintenance requirements as long as they remain retired. Waivers from certification maintenance requirements may also be granted by the Board of Examiners in cases of foreign residency, health problems, military service, or other cases where a similar hardship prevents completion of the requirements. Contact careerservices@hfma.org if you need more information about seeking a waiver.
For more information about certification maintenance requirements, email careerservices@hfma.org or call (800) 252-4362 and ask for Career Services.