title: CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) examination--1995 results.
abstract: After four years, the CCS credential has matured and stabilized both as a credential and as a testing experience. Early complaints about the length of the exam, the difficulty of the cases, the readability of the exam booklets, and adequate room in the testing centers have been addressed and rectified. A significant step in the quality of the examination has been achieved by the cooperative arrangement between the COC, the SCC, and the COCC (renamed the Coding Policy and Strategy Committee in 1996). Each year about 1000 individuals take the CCS examination, and most individuals who earn the credential maintain it. The profile of the CCS candidate is remarkably consistent over the four years, indicating that a coding specialty examination fulfills an important niche in the marketplace. Respect for the CCS credential is reinforced as an increasing number of medical facilities require the CCS credential for coding professionals. AHIMA strongly supports coding specialization and standards of excellence in all aspects of clinical data management. For this reason, the COC and the CCS Construction Committee will continue to analyze the CCS skill set and to consider appropriate modifications to the examination as healthcare migrates to outpatient and managed care settings.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Myjer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nicholas
mesh_terms: D000043:Abstracting and Indexing / Q000592:standards; D000328:Adult; D002568:Certification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D008497:Medical Record Administrators / Q000145:classification / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008499:Medical Records / Q000145:classification; D008500:Medical Records Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence; D012952:Societies; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce