CPHRM - Certified Professional in Health Care Risk Management

The American Hospital Association (AHA) administers the Certified Professional in Health Care Risk Management (CPHRM) credential. Certification for healthcare risk management professionals confirms their knowledge and skills for preventing, reducing, and controlling loss within the healthcare organization, employees, and patients.

The AHA’s Certification Center (AHA-CC) determines eligibility requirements, testing procedures, exam content, and other aspects of the certification. It also oversees the exam process and contracts with PSI to administer the exam. Earning the CPHRM credential through examination is a prerequisite for many jobs in the healthcare risk management field.

Exam Format

The American Hospital Association Certification Center partners with PSI to administer the CPHRM exam. Exams are available through:

• PSI Assessment Centers

• Special administrations at meetings, conferences, or other specially-arranged sessions

• Requests outside the U.S. for an additional fee

PSI schedules the exam by appointment only on Mondays through Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., except on certain holidays. Testing availability is contingent on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 110-question CPHRM exam reflects five domains, including:

• Clinical and Patient Safety: 25 questions

• Risk Financing: 15 questions

• Legal and Regulatory: 20 questions

• Health Care Operations: 20 questions

• Claims and Litigations: 20 questions

The exam scores 100 questions, with 10 unscored questions used to gather statistical data, trial, or pretest questions.

• Completion Time: Candidates have two hours to complete the CPHRM exam

• Cost: $275 for Members of ASHRM or other AHA Professional Membership Groups / $425 for Non-members

CPHRM exam candidates may apply for the exam and pay the exam fee at any time but must take the exam within 90 days of application.

Eligibility

Eligibility includes completing one of the following education/healthcare experience requirements and meeting the risk management experience requirements.

Education or Healthcare Experience

• Baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college/university plus five years of experience in a healthcare setting

• Associate degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university plus seven years of experience in a healthcare setting

• High school diploma or equivalent plus nine years of experience in a healthcare setting

Risk Management Experience

• At least 3,000 hours or 50% of full-time responsibilities in a healthcare risk management role in a healthcare setting within the last three years

Eligible candidates must pass the CPHRM exam. Candidates may apply to PSI to take the CPHRM Exam Online or complete a paper application found in the CPHRM Candidate Handbook. AHA may take up to two weeks to process applications. Once approved, candidates receive an email and postcard from PSI with instructions on scheduling their exam online or by phone. Candidates who don’t receive their confirmations within four weeks of submitting their application should call PSI at (833) 333-4755.

Candidates receive their CPHRM credential within 4 to 6 weeks of passing the CPHRM exam. The AHA-CC mails a pin and certificate of recognition with information on CPHRM certification renewal requirements.

CPHRM certification is valid for three years, but CPHRMs may submit their renewal applications up to one year before their current credential expires. Certified professionals who submit their renewal applications up to 30 days past their expiration date can still renew with an additional $50 late fee. CPHRMs who don’t renew within this timeframe receive written notification that they’re no longer certified and must stop using the CPHRM credential in professional communications. They must retake and pass the CPHRM exam to reinstate their credential. The AHA sends courtesy reminders of upcoming expiration dates.

CPHRM credential holders receive an information package regarding renewal requirements. To renew, applicants must complete one of the following:

• Retake and pass the CPHRM Certification Exam no more than one year before the expiration of their current certification

• Complete 45 contact hours of professional continuing education during the three-year certification period

It takes the AHA-CC about two weeks from receipt to process CPHRM Certification Renewal Applications. Applicants who meet renewal requirements receive a new certificate of recognition in the mail.

CPHRM Renewal Cost:

• $135 for Members

• $225 for Non-members

• $50 late fee for submissions up to 30 days past the expiration date

Earning 45 contact hours of professional continuing education (CE) is one option for renewal. CE hours must be earned during the three-year certification period. Eligible CE activities include completing online courses, attending or teaching academic courses, completing the AHA-CC CPHRM Self-Assessment Exam, and attending professional organization conferences. The current CPHRM Certification Renewal Application provides full descriptions of eligible CE activities and other certification renewal provisions.

The American Society for Health Care Risk Management (ASHRM) recommends taking the Health Care Risk Management Certificate Program to individuals with less than 5 years of experience in the HRM profession. The HRM Certificate Program is an interactive in-person training course that consists of three modules, including:

1. Essentials in Health Care Management

• Risk Management

• The Risk Manager’s Roles

• Identification of Risks

• Settings of High-Risks

• Risk Analysis

• RCA

• Risk Financing

• Claims and Litigation

• Documentation and Informed Consent

• Crisis Management

• Leadership

• ERM Practice

2. Applications in Health Care Management

• Enterprise Risk Management

• Introduction to the Law and the Legal System

• Compliance and Privacy

• Participation and Accreditation Conditions

• Health Care Exposures

• Balancing Employee Rights in the Health Care Workplace

• Disaster Preparedness

• Claims and Litigation

• Credentialing

• Informed Consent

• Disclosure

• Continuum of Care

• Risk Trending and Analysis

3. Advanced Forum in Health Care Management

• The Risk Manager’s ERM Role

• Social Media

• Contract Review

• Risk Financing

• Leadership Skills

• Big Data and Population Health

• Mergers and Acquisitions

• Telemedicine

• Actuarial Process and Risk Transfer

• Captives

• Supply Chain

Candidates who complete the course with full on-site attendance within two weeks earn the HRM certificate of completion. Fill out and return the certificate of completion application and module certificate copies. Email [email protected] with questions.

Other Recommended Resources to Study for the CPHRM Exam include:

• The Health Care Risk Management Fundamentals textbook covers the core concepts of the CPHRM exam. Cost: $249 for Members or $299 for Non-members

• ASHRM Playbooks cover information on the CPHRM exam, including:

  • Health Care Claims and Litigation Playbook

  • Health Care Risk Financing Playbook

  • Patient Safety Risk Management Playbook

  • All Playbooks Cost: $149 Members or $199 for Non-members

• ASHRM CPHRM Exam Preparation Guide textbook (7th Edition) is organized by domain and exam specifications with a 110-question practice exam

• Free Guide to the CPHRM Exam Risk Financing Domain preparatory resource
  

• The two-day CPHRM Exam Preparation Course reviews each of the CPHRM exam’s five domains and helps to identify which domain(s) that candidates need additional studying and exam preparation. Cost: $499 for Members or $599 for Non-members. It’s available in various formats, including:

  • ASHRM University Online Learning (on-demand availability)

  • ASHRM Academy

  • ASHRM Express

  • ASHRM Pre-Conference

• The online CPHRM Self-Assessment Exam has a 100-question self-assessment that correlates to the certification exam's format, content, cognitive levels, and difficulty.

• Certified Medical Manager (CMM) for healthcare professionals with at least two years of experience and completed 12 college credits in business management or healthcare-related courses.

• Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) for healthcare professionals with healthcare compliance-related experience and up-to-date knowledge of the latest healthcare compliance standards and regulations.

• Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) for candidates with a bachelor’s degree and five years of experience or a graduate degree with three years of direct experience to designate competence in healthcare information and management systems.

• Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) for healthcare administrators with a master’s degree, five years of healthcare management experience, and an endorsement from a senior executive.

• Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) for professionals in healthcare roles requiring extensive knowledge of healthcare finance and business.

• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) for candidates with healthcare quality experience and knowledge in information management, patient safety, leadership, and quality measurement.