CANDIDATE HANDBOOK / CHFP APPLICATION / CHFP EXAM APPLICATION
Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) Requirements
Requirements for HFMA certification as a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) include:
- Two years total as a regular or advanced HFMA member (student membership does not count toward this total)
- 60 semester hours of college coursework from an accredited institution or 60 professional development contact hours (a contact hour is 50 minutes of continuous professional development activity, excluding breaks and meals)
- Successful completion of the HFMA Core Certification Exam
- Successful completion of one of the four HFMA Specialty Certification Exams (Accounting and Finance, Patient Financial Services, Financial Management of Physician Practices, or Managed Care)
- References from a current elected HFMA chapter officer and your CEO or supervisor
- Timely submission of a conforming CHFP application within 12 months of successfully completing the two required exams (note that both exams must be completed with a 24-month period)
A full explanation of these requirements is provided in the HFMA Certification brochure. Download the brochure.
HFMA Certification Exams
Requirements
You must be a current HFMA member to take the certification exams. Both exams required for the CHFP designation (the Core Exam and one Specialty Exam) must be successfully completed within a 24-month period.
Once you have submitted an application for either of the exams, you must complete that exam within one year or you will forfeit the application fee. The current 2009-2010 certification exams will be available through December 31, 2010.
Candidates must be familiar with and abide by the rules set forth in the CHFP Exam Candidate Handbook.
Preparing for the Exams
Candidates have several options to prepare for their certification exams:
- HFMA offers self-study guides that candidates can purchase to independently prepare for the certification exams. Self-study guides are available for each of the certification exams, and contain guided readings and review activities. Questions on the certification exams are based on the materials covered in these guides. Learn more about purchasing the self-study guides.
- HFMA sponsors select coaching courses for certification exams at ANI: The Healthcare Finance Conference. These live group sessions can serve as an introductory preview of the materials covered in the exam or as a review of materials for candidates who have already completed the self-study guide. Learn more about registering for the conference.
- Some HFMA chapters offer exam preparation assistance, including chapter-sponsored coaching courses. For more information, find your local chapter.
Scheduling Your Exam Date and Proctor
HFMA certification exams are administered via the Internet and must be proctored by an approved HFMA certified member. It is the candidate’s responsibility to identify a proctor and to set a time mutually agreeable to the candidate and proctor to take the exam. You will be asked to identify both your proctor and the exam time on your exam application. Get more information on certification exam dates and proctors.
Once you have identified your proctor and exam time, submit a completed Certification Exam Application at least 10 business days before your scheduled exam time (allow 20 business days if you plan to pay by check).
Applying for CHFP Certification
After you have met the requirements for CHFP certification, and within 12 months of successfully completing your two required exams, submit your application for CHFP certification with a one-time only, $75 processing fee (HFMA will return the fee if the application is not accepted; otherwise, the fee is non-refundable).
Applications for HFMA CHFP Certification must be notarized. Please download the application form, complete it, have it notarized, and submit it with payment to the address indicated at the end of the form.
HFMA will process CHFP applications within 60 to 90 days after receipt. If the application is incomplete or requires additional review, HFMA will contact the candidate.
Certificates for members achieving CHFP status are given to Chapter Presidents for presentation and are not mailed directly to the candidate. The name on the certificate is the name in the candidate's HFMA member profile. The candidate is responsible for ensuring accuracy of information in their HFMA member profile.
Once You Have Been Certified
HFMA certification is an important professional achievement. Once you have been certified, you can:
And remember to maintain your certification using the resources on our Certification Maintenance page.
For more information about the HFMA Certification Program, send an e-mail to certification@hfma.org or call 1-800-252-4362 and ask for Certification.