There are over 35 major healthcare certification exams in the United States in 2026, administered by 12 certification bodies spanning medical coding, nursing, allied health, respiratory therapy, emergency medical services, clinical research, and infection control. This database compiles every exam's cost, format, pass rate, renewal period, and eligibility requirements in one place — the most comprehensive single-source reference available for healthcare professionals planning their certification journey.
Whether you are a medical coding student evaluating AAPC credentials, a nurse practitioner comparing ANCC and AANPCB options, or an allied health professional exploring NHA certifications, this guide provides the verified data you need to make an informed decision.
Key Facts at a Glance
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12 certification bodies covered: AAPC, AHIMA, ANCC, NCC, BCEN, NHA, NBRC, NREMT, ACRP, AMT, CBIC, AANPCB
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35+ individual exams with full data
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Exam costs range from $65 (NREMT EMR) to $600 (ACRP non-member)
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Question counts range from 100 (AAPC CPC) to 210 (AMT RMA)
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Renewal periods span from 2 years (AAPC, NHA, NREMT, ACRP) to 5 years (ANCC, CBIC, AANPCB, NBRC)
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Pass rates where published range from ~49% (BCEN CEN) to ~91% (ANCC PMHNP-BC)
What Are the Major Healthcare Certification Bodies in 2026?
The US healthcare certification landscape is governed by 12 major certification bodies, each serving distinct professional domains. These organizations set competency standards, administer examinations, and issue credentials recognized by employers, state licensing boards, and insurance payers nationwide.
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Medical Coding and Health Information: AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) and AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association)
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Nursing: ANCC, NCC, BCEN, and AANPCB
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Allied Health: NHA and AMT
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Respiratory Therapy: NBRC
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Emergency Medical Services: NREMT
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Clinical Research: ACRP
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Infection Control: CBIC
Master Healthcare Certification Exam Database
The following tables present verified data for every major healthcare certification exam organized by certification body. All costs reflect standard non-member pricing unless otherwise noted.
Medical Coding Certification Exams (AAPC)
|
Credential |
Exam Name |
Questions |
Time |
Cost |
Est. Pass Rate |
Renewal |
Key Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CPC |
Certified Professional Coder |
100 |
4 hrs |
$425 |
~50–60% (1st attempt) |
2 years / 36 CEUs |
AAPC membership; open-book exam |
|
COC |
Certified Outpatient Coder |
100 |
4 hrs |
$425 |
Not published |
2 years / 36 CEUs |
AAPC membership; 2 yrs experience recommended |
|
CRC |
Certified Risk Adjustment Coder |
100 |
4 hrs |
$425 |
Not published |
2 years / 36 CEUs |
AAPC membership; stand-alone credential |
|
CIC |
Certified Inpatient Coder |
100 |
4 hrs |
$425 |
Not published |
2 years / 36 CEUs |
AAPC membership; stand-alone credential |
|
CPMA |
Certified Professional Medical Auditor |
100 |
4 hrs |
$425 |
Not published |
2 years / 36 CEUs |
AAPC membership; stand-alone credential |
|
CPB |
Certified Professional Biller |
100 |
4 hrs |
$425 |
Not published |
2 years / 36 CEUs |
AAPC membership; stand-alone credential |
Note: The AAPC does not publish official pass rates for any exam. The CPC estimated pass rate of 50–60% for first-time takers is derived from training program aggregate data and AAPC community surveys. Student pricing is available at $400 per single attempt.
AHIMA Certification Exams
|
Credential |
Exam Name |
Questions |
Time |
Cost (Non-Member) |
Est. Pass Rate |
Renewal |
Key Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CCA |
Certified Coding Associate |
105 (90 scored) |
2 hrs |
$299 |
~74% (2021) |
2 years / 20 CEUs |
HS diploma or associate degree recommended |
|
CCS |
Certified Coding Specialist |
~100–115 |
4 hrs |
$399 |
~40–50% (1st attempt) |
2 years / 20 CEUs |
Coding experience recommended; no formal prerequisite |
|
CCS-P |
Certified Coding Specialist – Physician |
~100–115 |
4 hrs |
$399 |
~42% (2021) |
2 years / 20 CEUs |
Coding experience; RHIA, RHIT, or CCS recommended |
|
RHIT |
Registered Health Information Technician |
~150 |
3.5 hrs |
$299 |
Not published |
2 years / 20 CEUs |
Associate-level CAHIIM-accredited HIM program |
|
RHIA |
Registered Health Information Administrator |
~150 |
3.5 hrs |
$299 |
Not published |
2 years / 30 CEUs |
Baccalaureate-level CAHIIM-accredited HIM program |
|
CDIP |
Certified Documentation Integrity Practitioner |
~130 |
3 hrs |
$329 |
Not published |
2 years / 30 CEUs |
Associate degree or AHIMA credential + CDI experience |
|
CHDA |
Certified Health Data Analyst |
~150 |
3.5 hrs |
$329 |
Not published |
2 years / 30 CEUs |
AHIMA credential or bachelor's degree + experience |
According to AHIMA's FAQ, the CCA and CCS retake waiting period is 30 days, while CCS-P, CDIP, and CHDA have 90-day retake waiting periods. AHIMA member pricing saves $70–$100 per exam.
ANCC Nurse Practitioner Certification Exams
|
Credential |
Exam Name |
Questions |
Time |
Cost (Non-Member) |
Pass Rate (2024) |
Renewal |
Key Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
FNP-BC |
Family Nurse Practitioner |
175 (150 scored) |
3.5 hrs |
$395 |
83% |
5 years / 75 CEs |
MSN/DNP from accredited FNP program |
|
PMHNP-BC |
Psychiatric-Mental Health NP |
175 (150 scored) |
3.5 hrs |
$395 |
83% |
5 years / 75 CEs |
MSN/DNP from accredited PMHNP program |
|
AGPCNP-BC |
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP |
175 (150 scored) |
3.5 hrs |
$395 |
85% |
5 years / 75 CEs |
MSN/DNP from accredited AGPCNP program |
|
AGACNP-BC |
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP |
175 (150 scored) |
3.5 hrs |
$395 |
83% |
5 years / 75 CEs |
MSN/DNP from accredited AGACNP program |
According to the ANCC 2024 Certification Data Report, all four NP exams achieved first-time pass rates between 83% and 85%. ANA member pricing reduces the exam fee to $295. A passing scaled score of 350 or above (on a 0–500 scale) is required.
Which Healthcare Certification Exams Are the Most Affordable?
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NREMT EMR — $65
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NREMT EMT — $70
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AMT RPT — $125
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AMT RMA — $150
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NREMT AEMT — $159
Which Healthcare Certification Exams Have the Highest Pass Rates?
|
Rank |
Exam |
Body |
Pass Rate |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
PMHNP-BC / AGPCNP-BC |
ANCC |
83–85% |
ANCC 2024 Certification Data |
|
2 |
A-GNP-C |
AANPCB |
87% |
AANPCB 2024 Annual Report |
|
3 |
RPT |
AMT |
83% |
AMT 2023 Pass Rate Data |
|
4 |
CCMA |
NHA |
81% |
NHA 2024 Annual Pass Rates |
|
5 |
FNP-BC / FNP-C |
ANCC / AANPCB |
83% |
ANCC/AANPCB 2024 Data |
How Long Are Healthcare Certifications Valid Before Renewal?
|
Renewal Period |
Certification Bodies |
CE/Maintenance Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
2 years |
AAPC, AHIMA, NHA, NREMT, ACRP |
10–60 CEs depending on credential |
|
3 years |
NCC, AMT |
10–50 CEs (NCC) / 24–45 CCP points (AMT) |
|
4 years |
BCEN |
100 contact hours or re-examination |
|
5 years |
ANCC, NBRC, CBIC, AANPCB |
75–100 CEs plus professional development |
How Do Healthcare Certification Exam Formats Differ?
Healthcare certification exams use three primary testing formats, each with distinct strategic implications for test preparation.
Fixed-Length Exams: Most healthcare certifications — including all AAPC, AHIMA, ANCC, NCC, BCEN, NHA, ACRP, AMT, CBIC, and AANPCB exams — use a predetermined number of questions. Every candidate receives the same number of questions regardless of performance.
Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT): The NREMT uses CAT for all certification levels. The exam adapts question difficulty based on your answers, stopping between the minimum and maximum question count once the system achieves 95% confidence in its pass/fail determination. A shorter exam does not necessarily mean failure — it means the algorithm reached its decision more quickly.
Clinical Simulation: The NBRC's Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) for the RRT credential presents 22 realistic patient scenarios requiring branching clinical decisions, making it unique among healthcare certification exams.
Open-Book vs. Closed-Book: AAPC and AHIMA coding exams are open-book, allowing approved code books (CPT, ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, HCPCS Level II). All other healthcare certification exams are closed-book with no reference materials permitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the cheapest healthcare certification exam in 2026?
The NREMT Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) exam is the cheapest healthcare certification exam at $65. The NREMT EMT exam follows at $70. Among professional-level allied health certifications, NHA exams cost $160 each, and AMT RPT costs $125.
Q2. Which healthcare certification has the highest pass rate?
Based on 2024 published data, the AANPCB A-GNP-C exam has the highest reported pass rate at 87%. ANCC AGPCNP-BC follows at 85%, and both the ANCC FNP-BC and AANPCB FNP-C share an 83% first-time pass rate.
Q3. Which healthcare certification exam is the hardest to pass?
The AHIMA CCS-P exam has the lowest reported first-attempt pass rate at approximately 42%, followed by the AHIMA CCS at approximately 40–50%. The BCEN CEN exam has a published 49% pass rate, and the NBRC TMC high-cut score (required for RRT eligibility) has a 46.9% pass rate for new candidates.
Q4. Do all healthcare certification exams require a degree?
No. Several healthcare certifications have no degree requirement. AAPC exams require only AAPC membership. NHA exams accept training programs or work experience in lieu of degrees. NREMT exams require course completion but not a degree. However, ANCC, AANPCB, and NCC nurse practitioner exams require a minimum of a master's degree (MSN or DNP).
Q5. How often do healthcare certifications need to be renewed?
Renewal periods range from 2 to 5 years depending on the certification body. AAPC, AHIMA, NHA, NREMT, and ACRP certifications renew every 2 years. NCC and AMT renew every 3 years. BCEN renews every 4 years. ANCC, NBRC, CBIC, and AANPCB renew every 5 years.
Q6. Can I take healthcare certification exams online?
Most healthcare certification exams now offer remote proctoring options alongside traditional testing centers. AAPC exams can be taken online through Pearson VUE. ANCC, NCC, BCEN, NHA, AMT, and CBIC exams offer online remote proctoring. NREMT exams are available at Pearson VUE testing centers. ACRP exams are offered at PSI testing centers during designated testing windows.
Q7. What happens if I fail a healthcare certification exam?
Retake policies vary by certification body. AAPC allows unlimited retakes with no waiting period. AHIMA requires a 30-day wait (CCA, CCS, RHIT, RHIA) or 90-day wait (CCS-P, CDIP, CHDA). ANCC allows retakes after 60 days. NCC requires a 45-day wait with a maximum of 2 attempts per calendar year. NREMT allows 3 attempts within 24 months. AMT limits candidates to 4 lifetime attempts with 45-day waits.
Q8. Is AAPC or AHIMA better for medical coding certification?
Both AAPC and AHIMA are respected in the industry. AAPC's CPC is more widely recognized for physician-office coding with approximately 200,000+ active certificants. AHIMA's CCS is preferred for hospital-based inpatient coding. Many employers accept both. For a detailed comparison, see the MedicoExam AAPC vs AHIMA comparison guide.
Q9. Do healthcare certifications increase salary?
Yes. Certified medical coders earn 20–30% more than non-certified peers on average. Certified nurse practitioners require certification for practice authority in all 50 states. NHA-certified medical assistants earn approximately $2,000–$5,000 more annually than non-certified MAs. NBRC credentials (CRT/RRT) are required for respiratory therapy licensure in 49 states.
Q10. How many CEUs do I need to maintain my healthcare certification?
CEU requirements vary by certification body: AAPC requires 36 CEUs every 2 years. AHIMA requires 20–30 CEUs every 2 years depending on credential level. ANCC requires 75 CE contact hours every 5 years. NCC requires 10–50 CE hours every 3 years (individualized). BCEN requires 100 contact hours every 4 years. NHA requires 10 CE credits every 2 years. NBRC requires up to 30 CE hours every 5 years. NREMT requires 16–60 CEs every 2 years depending on certification level.
Start Preparing for Your Healthcare Certification Exam
With 35+ healthcare certification exams to choose from, preparation is the single most important factor in passing on your first attempt. MedicoExam offers simulation-based practice tests for all major exams to replicate real conditions and boost pass rates.
Disclaimer: This database is compiled for educational purposes. Exam costs, formats, and requirements are subject to change. Always verify current information directly with the certification body before applying. MedicoExam does not provide exam recalls, leaked questions, or proprietary exam content.
Written by the MedicoExam Content Team — Healthcare Education Specialists at MedicoExam.com
Last Updated: May 2026
