Certification helps keep you in pace with the industry. You gain recognition by the industry, personal challenge and satisfaction, national recognition, professional development, individual enrichment, employer awareness, and advancement opportunity. In many instances certification can get you the job or promotion you really want.

Certification is an extensive written exam covering all aspects of patient account management. AAHAM offers two types of Professional certification; the CPAM (Certified Patients Account Manager) and CCAM (Certified Clinic Account Manager).

AAHAM CPAM/CCAM certification is available only to National AAHAM members who are in good standing and have a minimum of four years health care experience, or two years health care experience and a two-year college or university associates degree.

The CPAM is designed for those who work on the hospital side of administrative management while the CCAM is for those who work on the physician side.

Each examination is four sections. Sections for the CPAM Examination are admission/registration, patient billing, credit and collections, and accounts receivable management. Sections for the CCAM Examination are patient registration/communication, clinical billing, credit and collections, and accounts receivable management. An examinee has 8 hours to complete a full exam, 6 hours to complete a dual exam, 4 hours for two section retakes, and 2 hours for one section retake.

The exam is offered twice a year on the last Saturday of April and on the last Saturday of September. These are the only days the exam is offered to ensure the integrity of the examination on exam day.

The cost of taking a full exam is $175. If you need to re-take a section the cost is $40 for each section retake. A Dual certification exam is available to current CPAM's or CCAM's for $100.

National AAHAM offers The Patient Financial Services Resource Guide to help assist you in preparing for the exam. The book is not packaged together with the examination and can be ordered online here.

If you sign up for the Mumbai membership  then you will be a part of the Mumbai Chapter

All applications must be received at the National Office by March 1st for the April exam and by August 1st for the September exam.

You will be notified by your Chapter Certification Chairperson of the time and place you will be sitting for your exam. Note: the exam is offered only on the last Saturday of April and the last Saturday of September so please plan accordingly. Click here for the Chapter Certification Chair Directory

The Patient Financial Resource Guide is not included with the price of the exam. You must order the guide separately. AAHAM recommends ordering a guide 6-12 months in advance of your examination to allow sufficient study time.

The examination is proctored and given exclusively in paper format. A proctored online exam is being explored to replace the paper format in 2004.

If you do not pass at least 2 of the 4 sections of the exam you will have to retake the entire exam. You must then pass the final section(s) within 18 months of your original test date. Otherwise you will have to retake the entire exam.

Yes. If for any reason you find that you cannot sit for the examination; notification must be received by the National AAHAM office (in writing via fax or email) 2 weeks prior to the test date in order to receive a refund. * Please be aware that if you have previously postponed your exam, you are no longer eligible for a refund. The maximum number of postponements allowed is two.* Please fax your requests to Maria LeDoux at 703-359-7562 or email to maria@aaham.org. Please specify the reason for cancellation or postponement.

Written notification of test results will be forwarded to you no later than 90 days from the date the exam is taken. Certificates and pins will be mailed to your Chapter President to be presented to the passing examinee.

1. Must be a member in good standing by January 31st of each calendar year. (Dues paid and recorded by the National Office.)
2. Must have attained and forwarded 40 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) to the National Re-Certification Chairperson by January 31st, at the end of a designated two-year period. Twenty (20) of these units must be from attendance at an AAHAM related educational program. Dual certified examinees must adhere to these same requirements.

If terminated, members will be required to retake the entire examination to become re-certified.

Yes. In order to take this exam you must currently be a CPAM or a CCAM, you cannot take both exams at the same time. Sections for the CPAM Dual Examination are: Admission/Registration, Billing and Accounts Receivable Management. Sections for the CCAM Dual Examination are: Patient Registration/Communication, Billing and Accounts Receivable Management. At least 2 of the 3 sections must be passed on exam day otherwise a complete retake of the Dual Exam is necessary. You must then pass the final section within 18 months of your original test date. Otherwise you will have to retake the entire dua