Healthcare is a pivotal sector in any country, hence the birth of HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. And if you’re looking for the most credible HIPAA certifying body, there’s the HIPAA Academy, a reputable organization that delivers security regulatory compliance solutions and an extensive certification program, among others.

Understanding HIPAA through HIPAA Academy

HIPAA is a federal law that focuses on the creation of national protocols and guidelines to safeguard sensitive patient information. It serves as a protocol to protect all the core details of a patient from being disclosed without his/her consent and proper approval. With such importance to the healthcare industry, many companies and hospitals hire professionals who have HIPAA designations. But what is the best origination that supports the growth of your HIPAA skills? Look no further as we introduce the HIPAA Academy. This renowned training and certification program is part of a respectable name that offers a broad range of services, including healthcare, cybersecurity, and Virtual ISO. With their solid experience in the healthcare field, certifying from them allows you to bloom and reach your fullest potential.

Looking Into Current HIPAA Certificates

Overall, there are two certifications associated with the development of your HIPAA understanding. In particular, these are the Certified HIPAA Administrator (CHA) and the Certified HIPAA Professional (CHP). Each of these values the significance of HIPAA. Hence, the coverage of the certificates is in line with the principles of the HIPAA Law. This way, you are bound to acquire a relevant skillset that distinguishes you from other professionals. It also keeps your knowledge at par with the substantial changes within the business development section. These generally cover the latest advancements that affect the critical policies and processes associated with various entities, including hospitals, pharmacies, and laboratories. To better understand the current offerings, let’s have a concise outline of the HIPAA Academy certification program, starting with the CHA. This is a well-known training path that highlights its gold-standard end-user compliance with the HIPAA standards. This qualification also helps you better comprehend the Administrative Simplification Rule of HIPAA, along with the Privacy Rule, Final Rule, and HITECH Act. On the other hand, there’s the CHP, another technical validation that concentrates on HIPAA Privacy, HIPAA Security, OCR HIPAA, and HITECH. Achieving these certifications establishes your expertise in the healthcare industry.

Knowing Targeted Audience of HIPAA Designations

If you want to secure one of the two certifications mentioned above or even both, it’s important to know the key details of the related exam, including its core requirements and targeted audience. Both the CHA and CHP endorsements aim at healthcare specialists and other associated individuals in the business, insurance, and IT sectors.

Delving into the Key HIPAA Certification Exams

Since companies and organizations give emphasis on healthcare, the demand for professionals with a HIPAA certificate is continuously rising. Employers know that applicants with HIPAA endorsements can give a bigger impact on the company, hence the increase in interest among these individuals. So, if you want to nurture your healthcare mastery, it’s time to unravel the main tests that encompass the two HIPAA qualifications.

• CHA Evaluation

  To become a Certified HIPAA Administrator, you need to pull off its corresponding exam, which consists of 40 questions. Plus, you are given 60 minutes to answer everything and to pass the actual evaluation, you need to get at least 75%. But before you delve into the test-taking process, it’s important that you learn the ABCs of such an exam. In more detail, the CHA revolves around the core areas of HIPAA, kicking off with an outline of the HIPAA legislation, along with its impact on patients, payment services, and providers. It then helps you comprehend the changes that influence the patients as well as the medical records. Next, the final exam also covers areas such as examining privacy requirements, analyzing templates, obtaining crucial information while following the regulatory process. Besides, with your solid understanding, it’s much easier to deal with Gap Analysis and Remediation, which is needed in initiating Privacy Rule-related activities and projects. Furthermore, this allows you to capably participate in various HIPAA programs.

• CHP Test

  If you’re interested in further honing your skills, continue with the CHP certification journey. This largely focuses on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification legislation, together with the Transactions and Code Sets standards, and Security & Privacy Requirements. It also tackles the OCR HIPAA settlements to help you grasp the importance of HIPAA compliance, along with its significant challenges and most relevant practices. In addition, it covers the key qualifications and positioning techniques needed by the Chief Privacy Officer and Chief Security Officer. As to the actual test, the entire CHP exam lasts up to 60 minutes, with a total number of 60 questions. For the passing rate, it is the same as the CHA.

Unlocking Career Opportunities

Having an in-depth knowledge of HIPAA is such a great advantage ― yet more if such knowledge is validated by a top-notch organization like the HIPAA Academy. Certified professionals are highly regarded compared to typical employees because of the excellent service they can deliver to the healthcare industry. And by completing either the CHA or the CHP path, you will broaden your marketability. Thus, some of the job roles supported by HIPAA certifications are nurses, medical provider administrators, senior-level healthcare employees, senior healthcare managers, healthcare senior executives, healthcare service bureau executives, and compliance officers. Aside from that, HIPAA is also applicable to chief information officers, business associates, insurance company senior executives, IT professionals, and even end-users. And when it comes to the median annual salaries, the CHA certificate can bring you almost $87k per year while the CHP designation can get you at least $61k annually as stated by Payscale.

Plotting for More Strategic Career Path

Advancing your career is made easier if you know the technicalities covered by both Certified HIPAA Administrator (CHA) and Certified HIPAA Professional (CHP) programs. Though each certificate focuses on the entirety of HIPAA, there are certain features that make them distinct. Therefore, if you want a more successful certification path, evaluate your preferences beforehand. The CHA is highly suitable for those who handle the delivery and support of healthcare administration and services. On the other hand, the CHP emphasizes the more detailed aspects of HIPAA, from its transactions and codes to privacy and security requirements. But in general, the two are proven qualifications that polish your HIPAA rigor to improve your career standing.