Education

HIMAA Education Services

Pretest for Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding

ROUTINELY SCHEDULED DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The course details and fees outlined below relate to the routinely scheduled distance education programs available from HIMAA. Intakes for clinical coding will be in ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS 6th edition with the exception of current arrangements with overseas clients.

SPECIAL COURSES/WORKSHOPS
HIMAA Education Services provides fast-tracked (structured) comprehensive medical terminology and clinical coding courses (using the same course content as the routinely scheduled distance education programs); custom-tailored workshops; training packages designed to meet the client's needs and HIMAA's high standard of coder education.

Minimum numbers apply. The fees for these special courses/workshops are dependant upon the requirements of each particular client and are negotiated accordingly. Please contact HIMAA Education Services phone:  +61 2 9887 5898  fax: +61 2 9887 5895   email: education@himaa.org.au

These courses are: 

Comprehensive Medical Terminology
Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding
Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding
Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding

All potential students for the HIMAA Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program must meet the prerequisite of a comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology.  This prerequisite can be met in two ways: 

a)  successful completion of the HIMAA Comprehensive Medical Terminology Program within the 12 months prior to enrolment in the Introductory ICD-10-AM,ACHI and ACS clinical coding course     
OR
b)  passed the HIMAA Challenge examination in Medical Terminology within the 12 months prior to enrolment in the Introductory ICD-10-AM,ACHI,and ACS Clinical Coding Program.

No prior knowledge of medical terminology is required to enrol in this Program.

The Program material is structured to assist students to work through the study material in a systematic way.  There are 16 Units in the Program. After completion of each Unit an assignment based on that Unit is submitted to an Education Officer for evaluation and comment.  After all assignments have been completed, students are required to sit a 2 hour written final examination (closed book) based on the material covered in the Program.

Throughout the Program students may contact the Education Officer or the Administration Officer, HIMAA Education Services, by phone, email or fax.

For Comprehensive Medical Terminology brochure please click here

INTAKE DATES
Intake dates are the same each year and close:

12 March                   12 May                  12 July               12 September

SELECTION OF COURSE WITHIN AN INTAKE
Within each intake Courses have been allocated based on study and assignment submission requirements and the examination dates scheduled by HIMAA Education Services.  The student must select one Course of study on the enrolment form. All Courses commence at the same time and although the number of Courses allocated to each intake may vary Course 1 is always the minimum time required.

For more information on the Courses available within each intake please click here

FEES
The fee for Comprehensive Medical Terminology is $1,155.00 (including GST) for Australian students and $1,355.00 (Australian) for overseas students (except New Zealand).  New Zealand students please contact the Registrar, HIMAA Education Services by email education@himaa.org.au for further information.

Financial members of HIMAA and CCSA are eligible for a 10% discount on course fees. Please see enrolment form for fees.

For a Comprehensive Medical Terminology enrolment form please click here

TEXTBOOKS
The enrolment fee does not include the textbook for the course:

Nicol, J & Walker, S (eds) 2007, The Language of Medicine, Elsevier Australia (Davi-Ellen Chabner Australian and New Zealand edition). ISBN 10: 0-7295-3776-5 OR
13: 978-0-7295-3776-6

Students will also need to an up-to-date medical dictionary.  If you need to purchase a dictionary, we recommend:

Mosby's Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions (Australian and New Zealand Edition).  ISBN 0-7295-3754-4

For a list of textbook suppliers please click here

REFUND POLICY
If a student cancels their enrolment before the Course materials have been sent HIMAA will refund the enrolment fee paid less an administration charge of $170.50 (includes GST).

If a student cancels their enrolment after the Course materials have been sent but within 2 months of the Course commencement date and has submitted no more than two assignments HIMAA will refund 50% of the fee paid.

Requests for refunds must be in writing and all Course materials and textbooks (if included in the fee) must be returned to HIMAA Education Services before any refund is issued.

After discussion with the student, HIMAA reserves the right to cancel, at any time, the student's enrolment with or without a refund of fees.

The pass mark for this Examination is 80%. The Challenge Examination is a one and a half (1-1/2) hour paper and is a closed book examination. Candidates apply to sit the Examination on the scheduled date and also arrange a supervisor (see below). 

The Challenge examination tests your ability to:

• define and explain the meaning of medical terms
• spell medical terms correctly
• analyse medical terms and divide them into roots, prefixes, suffixes and combining forms
• expand common abbreviations used in medical records
• explain the difference between medical terms which look or sound similar

There may be questions related to the anatomy, physiology, symptoms, diagnoses and procedures associated with the following body systems:

• Digestive
• urinary
• male reproductive
• female reproductive
• nervous
• cardiovascular
• musculoskeletal
• endocrine
• metabolic
• skin, eye and ear
• blood and immune
• respiratory

There may also be questions about:   obstetrics;  oncology;  neonatology;    infectious diseases;   pharmacology and psychiatry.

Please click here for Challenge Examination in Medical Terminology brochure

SELF-ASSESSMENT
To assist you in deciding whether or not you should sit the Challenge examination or complete the HIMAA Comprehensive Medical Terminology course, sample questions (and answers) are available from HIMAA Education Services. To obtain a copy please contact HIMAA Education services by emailing:  education@himaa.org.au

DATE FOR CHALLENGE EXAMINATION IN MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
There are two dates scheduled and canidates must sit on one of these dates:

MARCH INTAKE (Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding)
Examination date:    23 May  (Applications close 11 April)

JULY INTAKE (Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding)
Examination date:  24 November (Applications close 17 October)

Unsuccessful candidates will be given the opportunity to resit the Challenge Examination (another fee will need to be paid - see Fees below).  The examination will be scheduled to allow possible eligibity for enrolment in the relevant intake for the HIMAA Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACH and ACS Clinical Coding Program.

APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION AND SUPERVISOR NOMINATION FORMS
All candidates for the Challenge examination are required to complete an Application for Examination and Supervisor Nomination form. Please click here for Forms

FEES 
There is a fee of $165.00 for Australian Candidates and $AUD220.00 for overseas candidates except New Zealand.  The fee for New Zealand candidates is $AUD187.00. This fee is payable when returning your completed Application for Examination and Supervisor Nomination form.

CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATION TO SIT THE EXAMINATION
A letter confirming your examination supervisor, details of examination location etc. will be forwarded to you within 12 working days of receipt of your Application for Examination and payment of the fee.  Your supervisor will also receive confirmation of the examination details.

The examination paper will be forwarded to your supervisor approximately 10 days prior to the scheduled examination date.

SUPERVISOR AND VENUE
Appropriate Supervisors for the examination may include:

• a supervisor or manager at your workplace (does not have to be in the health industry);
• teacher
• health information manager or medical record administrator
• person from the management level in your organisation
• university lecturer, teacher, medical practitioner, minister of religion, Justice of the Peace
• policeperson

An examination supervisor must not be: your relative, a current candidate, or a recent candidate for the Challenge examination.

Examination venue You will need a quiet room where you will not be interrupted or disturbed for the time needed to complete the examination and a desk or large table.

The examination room may be located in:

• the organisation where you work
• the organisation where your nominated exam supervisor works
• educational, health, church or police premises

The examination room must not be located in the home of the examination candidate or the home of the examination supervisor.

CONTACT
To receive sample questions (and answers) please contact please email:  education@himaa.org.au

INTRODUCTORY ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding
This course is designed for students without any prior knowledge of clinical coding. There is an emphasis on developing skills in abstraction from medical record information. This course is structured to assist students to progress through the concepts of coding, to follow the correct coding pathways and to apply the Australian Coding Standards. At the completion of this course students should be able to:

• select appropriate conditions and procedures for coding from medical records generated by an episode of care such as day surgery, planned surgery or simple medical problems;
  
• identify the principal diagnosis and principal procedure for an admission; and
  
• assign complete and accurate codes from ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS for diseases, conditions, injuries and procedures

At the completion of the HIMAA Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program a student will have the concepts and skills to be employed as a clinical coder. Further on-the-job training is required. However, some students choose to continue on to the HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program to gain a higher level of skill.

For the Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS brochure please click here

MENTORING
HIMAA is very experienced in the delivery of distance education and the Course Education Officer remains in close contact with the student throughout the Course.

Mentoring of students within an organisation, without collaboration with the HIMAA Course Education Officer can be counter-productive.  if an organisation is considering integrating training while an employee is studying a HIMAA Clinical Coding Course please contact Lyn Williams,Team Leader, HIMAA Education Services: phone +61 2 9887 5032 or email lynw@himaa.org.au to discuss any proposed training program.

INTAKE DATES
Intakes are the same each year and close:

12 March            12 July  

SELECTION OF COURSE WITHIN AN INTAKE
Within each intake Courses have been allocated based on study and assignment submission requirements and the examination dates scheduled by HIMAA Education Services.  The student must select one Course of study on the enrolment form. All Courses commence at the same time and although the number of Courses allocated to each intake may vary Course 1 is always the minimum time required.

For more information on the Courses available in each intake please click here

FEES
The fee for HIMAA Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding is $2,085.00 (including GST) for Australian students and $2,285.00 (Australian) for overseas students, except New Zealand.  New Zealand students please contact the Administration Officer, Education services by emailing education@himaa.org.au.  

For Australian students only there is an option to pay in two instalments of $1,142.50 (includes extra administration fee).

Financial members of HIMAA and CCSA are eligible for a 10% discount on all course fees. 

For an Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS enrolment form please click here

TEXTBOOKS
The enrolment fee includes the textbook published by HIMAA - "Introduction to coding with ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS coding 6th edition"

The enrolment fee does not include the 5 coding volumes, ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS sixth edition.

Students must purchase or have access to ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS sixth edition coding volumes (in book format). 
These volumes are published by the National Centre for Classification in Health (NCCH) and students of HIMAA's ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS clinical coding courses receive a discounted price. However, students are not entitled to the student discount until enrolment in an HIMAA ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS clinical coding course is confirmed.

An NCCH order form, entitling the student to the student bookset discount price ($AUD330.00) for the 5 coding volumes, will be forwarded by HIMAA with the student's confirmation of enrolment.

REFUND POLICY
If a student cancels their enrolment before the Course materials have been sent HIMAA will refund the enrolment fee paid less an administration charge of $170.50 (includes GST).

If a student cancels their enrolment after the Course materials have been sent but within 2 months of the Course commencement date and has submitted no more than two assignments HIMAA will refund 50% of the fee paid.

Requests for refunds must be in writing and all Course materials and textbooks (if included in the fee) must be returned to HIMAA Education Services before any refund is issued.

After discussion with the student, HIMAA reserves the right to cancel, at any time,the student's enrolment with or without a refund of fees.

Candidates for the Challenge Examination will have current coding knowledge e.g., students who have completed an ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS clinical coding training course with OTEN or the Department of Health (etc.) or have a qualification in medical record administration/health information management.

Students who have successfully completed the HIMAA Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program within 12 months of enrolling in the HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program are not required to sit the Challenge Examination.

The pass mark for this Examination is 80%. The Challenge Examination for Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding is a two (2) hour paper and candidates must apply to sit the Examination on the scheduled date and also arrange a supervisor (see below).

The Challenge examination consists of three parts:

• Part 1:    Multiple choice
• Part 2:    Case studies (8 cases)
• Part 3:    Discharge summaries (3 summaries)

In sections 2 and 3 (the case studies and discharge summaries) you are required to identify the principal diagnosis as well as provide the ICD-10-AM and ACS codes. You do not have to identify the principal procedures.

EXAMINATION EDITION
The Challenge examination is to be completed in 5th edition for Australian students and 3rd edition for New Zealand students until July 2008. Candidates from other countries using a different edition please contact HIMAA Education services by emailing education@himaa.org.au

Please note:  The 5 coding volumes in ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS in the appropriate edition, as supplied by the National Centre for Classification in Health (NCCH) in either book or electronic format (e-book/browser) are to be used when sitting the Challenge Examination for the HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding.

Use of the 3M Codefinder or similar software or program is not permitted.

DATES FOR CHALLENGE EXAMINATION FOR HIMAA INTERMEDIATE ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding: 
There are two dates scheduled for this Challenge Examination and candidates must sit on one of these dates.

MAY INTAKE (Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding)
Examination date:    17 March  (Applications close 4 February)

AUGUST INTAKE (Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding)
Examination date:  17 June (Applications close 5 May)

Candidates who receive a mark between 75% and 79% will be given the opportunity to sit a supplementary examination (fee is $121.00 incl GST) scheduled time to be eligible for enrolment in relevant HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program.

PRACTICE CHALLENGE EXAMINATION
After receipt of the Application for Examination (and payment) and Supervisor Nomination Form by HIMAA, a letter confirming the examination details and enclosing a practice examination paper (and answers) will be forwarded to the candidate. This practice examination paper is in the same format and the same level of difficulty as the Challenge Examination.  The practice examination paper can be used as a self-assessment tool in preparation for the final examination.

FEES 
There is a fee of $165.00 for Australian Candidates and $AUD220.00 for overseas candidates except New Zealand.  The fee for New Zealand candidates is $AUD187.00. This fee is payable when returning your completed Application for Examination and Supervisor Nomination Form.

The fee for the Challenge Examination is a separate fee to the HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program enrolment fee.

Please click here for general information on the Challenge examination for Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding

APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION AND SUPERVISOR NOMINATION FORMS
All candidates for the Challenge examination are required to complete an Application for Examination and Supervisor Nomination form.

CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATION TO SIT THE EXAMINATION
A letter confirming your examination supervisor, details of examination location and a practice examination paper will be forwarded to you within 12 working days of receipt of your Application for Examination and payment of the fee.  Your Supervisor will also receive confirmation of the examination details.

The Challenge Examination paper will be forwarded to your supervisor approximately 10 days prior to the scheduled examination date.

Please click here for Application for Examination and Supervisor Nomination Forms

SUPERVISOR AND VENUE
Appropriate Supervisors for the examination may include:

• a supervisor or manager at your workplace (does not have to be in the health industry);
• teacher
• health information manager or medical record administrator
• person from the management level in your organisation
• university lecturer, teacher, medical practitioner, minister of religion, Justice of the Peace
• policeperson

An examination supervisor must not be: your relative, a current candidate, or a recent candidate for the Challenge examination.

Examination venue You will need a quiet room where you will not be interrupted or disturbed for the time needed to complete the examination and a desk or large table.

The examination room may be located in:

• the organisation where you work
• the organisation where your nominated exam supervisor works
• educational, health, church or police premises

The examination room must not be located in the home of the examination candidate or the home of the examination supervisor.

CONTACT
To receive an Application for the Challenge Examination in Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS clinical coding and a Supervisor Nomination form please contact: HIMAA Education Services by phone:  + 61 2 9887 5898, fax +61 2 9887 5895 or email:  education@himaa.org.au

PREREQUISITE
To assess that a student's coding knowledge is at a suitable level to undertake the HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program, students are required to sit the HIMAA Challenge Examination for Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding.

Candidates for the Challenge Examination will have current coding knowledge e.g., students who have completed an ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS clinical coding training course with OTEN or the Department of Health (etc.) or have a qualification in medical record administration/health information management.

Students who have successfully completed the HIMAA Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program within 12 months of enrolling in the HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program are not required to sit the Challenge Examination.

For information on the Challenge Examination for Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding please click here

This Program will be of value to those coders who have already completed an Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding course and want to learn more.  It will also be valuable for those coders who want to refresh their skills because they have been out of the coder workforce recently, or because they haven't had the opportunity to code a varied casemix in their current position. It is recommended that potential students have coding experience gained in a medical record department.

At the completion of the HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program students should be able to:

• analyse moderately complex medical records from a range of specialities to produce coded clinical data;
  
• use appropriate resources to assist with moderately complete clinical coding requirements; and
  
• identify sequencing requirements in moderately complex medical records

Students should also have greater knowledge and skills in identifying and applying ICD-10-AM, ACH and ACS edition changes.

Please click here for Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS brochure

MENTORING
HIMAA is very experienced in the delivery of distance education and the Course Education Officer remains in close contact with the student throughout the Course.

Mentoring of students within an organisation, without collaboration with the HIMAA Course Education Officer can be counter-productive.  if an organisation is considering integrating training while an employee is studying a HIMAA Clinical Coding Course please contact Lyn Williams,Team Leader, HIMAA Education Services: phone +61 2 9887 5032 or email lynw@himaa.org.au to discuss any proposed training program.

INTAKE DATES
Intake dates are the same each year and close:

12 May             12 August 

SELECTION OF COURSE WITHIN AN INTAKE
Within each intake Courses have been allocated based on study and assignment submission requirements and the examination dates scheduled by HIMAA Education Services.  The student must select one Course of study on the enrolment form. All Courses commence at the same time and although the number of Courses allocated to each intake may vary Course 1 is always the minimum time required.

Please click here for more information about Courses

FEES
The fee for the HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program is $1,595.00 (includes GST) for Australian students and $1,795.00 (Australian) for overseas students, except New Zealand.  New Zealand students please email the Administration Officer, Education Services at education@himaa.org.au

Financial members of HIMAA and CCSA are eligible for a 10% discount on all course fees, pre-tests and the textbook. 

Please click here for an Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS enrolment form

TEXTBOOK
The enrolment fee does not include the textbook for the course. Students must purchase or have access to the HIMAA publication "Introduction to ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS 6th edition".  This texbook is the same textbook which is used for the Introductory ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS 6th edition Clinical Coding Program.

REFUND POLICY
If a student cancels their enrolment before the Course materials have been sent HIMAA will refund the enrolment fee paid less an administration charge of $170.50 (includes GST).

If a student cancels their enrolment after the Course materials have been sent but within the first 3 months of the Course commencement date and has submitted no more than one assignment HIMAA will refund 50% of the fee paid.

Requests for refunds must be in writing and all Course materials and textbooks (if included in the fee) must be returned to HIMAA Education Services before any refund is issued.

After discussion with the student, HIMAA reserves the right to cancel, at any time,the student's enrolment with or without a refund of fees.

This pretest is to be completed in 5th edition for Australian students and 3rd edition for New Zealand students until July 2008. Candidates from other countries using a different edition please contact the Registrar HIMAA Education services by email: education@himaa.org.au

PLEASE NOTE:  The HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program is currently being offered in 6th edition only.  The first intake for 5th  edition will be 12 August 2009.

The pretest does not require a supervisor but it is expected that the candidate will complete the examination within two hours and follow the examination rules.

Please note:  The 5 coding volumes in ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS, in the appropriate edition, as supplied by the National Centre for Classification in Health (NCCH) in either book or electronic format (e-book/browser) are to be used when completing the Advanced, ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS pre-test.

Use of the 3M Codefinder or similar software or program is not permitted.

Suitable candidates for the pretest will have: formalised clinical coding education, such as a HIM Degree (or equivalent), Nosology course or HIMAA Intermediate ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS level course, including a minimum 1 year broad casemix experience, or a minimum 4 years' clinical coding experience in a hospital environment with a varied casemix.

Please note The fee for the pretest is $165.00 for Australian students and $220.00 (Australian) for overseas students except New Zealand.  New Zealand students please email the Administration Officer, Education Services at education@himaa.org.au.

The pretest fee is a separate fee to the HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program enrolment fee. Financial members of HIMAA and CCSA are eligible for a 10% discount on all course fees and pretests. 

The HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS 6th edition Clinical Coding Program will be of value to coders who already have significant experience in clinical coding and who wish to gain exposure to a broad casemix at an advanced level.

The Program will further educate experienced clinical coders to better understand coding conventions, standards and practices in an extensive casemix and will develop the skills and knowledge required to code highly complex medical records.

The course contains 20 modules with each module containing text, references and self-assessment exercises and six assignments distributed throughout the 20 modules. A grade average of 80% for the 6 assignments is required to pass the HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM Clinical Coding Program.  A Certificate of Achievement will be issued on completion of the Program. A pass in the HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program is equivalent to the Part 1 assessment for Clinical Coder Certification.

Please click here for the Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS brochure

INTAKE DATES
PLEASE NOTE:  The HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program is currently being offered in 6th edition only.  The first intake for 5th  edition will be 12 August 2009.

2008    12 August  6th edition
2009    12 May        6th edition         12 August - 5th and 6th edition

SELECTION OF COURSE WITHIN AN INTAKE
Within each intake Courses have been allocated based on study and assignment submission requirements.  Students of the HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS clinical codig course do not sit an examination.  However, as students from the Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS clinical codig course usually sit the Clinical Coder Certification (CCC) Part 2 examination the courses within each intake relate to the CCC examination dates scheduled by HIMAA Education Services.  The student must select one Course of study on the enrolment form. All Courses commence at the same time and although the number of Courses allocated to each intake may vary Course 1 is always the minimum time required.  

Please click here for course information

FEES
The fee for HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding is $2,500.00 for Australian students and $2,750.00 (Australian) for overseas students, except for New Zealand students.  New Zealand students please email the Administration, Education Services at education@himaa.org.au

For Australian students only there is an option to pay in two instalments of $1,350.00 or in four instalments of $725.00 (these payment include extra administration costs). 

Financial members of HIMAA and CCSA are eligible for a 10% discount on all course fees and pre-tests. 

Please click here for an Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS enrolment form

REFUND POLICY
If a student cancels their enrolment before the Course materials have been sent HIMAA will refund the enrolment fee paid less an administration charge of $170.50 (includes GST).

If a student cancels their enrolment after the Course materials have been sent but within the first 3 months of the Course commencement date and has submitted no more than one assignment HIMAA will refund 50% of the fee paid.

Requests for refunds must be in writing and all Course materials and textbooks (if included in the fee) must be returned to HIMAA Education Services before any refund is issued.

After discussion with the student, HIMAA reserves the right to cancel, at any time,the student's enrolment with or without a refund of fees.

Part 1 - completion of six coding assignments - 60% of assessment
PLEASE NOTE ASSIGNMENTS FOR EXTERNAL CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST 2008 DUE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 6th EDITION.
(successful completion of the HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program is equivalent to Part 1 of Clinical Coder Certification)

Part 2 - two-hour examination paper consisting of handwritten medical records - 40% of assessment

Pass mark for Clinical Coder Certification is an aggregate of 80%.

A Grade Average of 80% must be achieved for Part 1, for a candidate to be eligible for the Part 2 assessment.

Examinations are held on the 1st Monday of February, June and November each year.

Assignments and examination must be completed in the current edition. Certification for New Zealand candidates will be in 3rd edition until July 2008. Please note:  use of the encoder, codefinder or similar software or programme, is not permitted for completion of assignments (Part 1) or examination (Part 2) of Clinical Coder Certification.

For candidates who have not completed the HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS clinical coding course the following are available:

CCC Preparation Package
An OPTIONAL preparation package consisting of 29 medical records and coding answers is available.  This is a self-assessment package and no feedback is given by HIMAA. (This package is the revision module for the Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS clinical coding course).The preparation package contains pointers referring each medical record to the appropriate assignment.

Fees:    (Overseas candidates please contact the Administration Officer, HIMAA Education Services phone 61 2 9887 5898 or email education@himaa.org.au)

The cost of this Preparation Package for Australian purchasers is:

Non members                                                    HIMAA/CCSA financial member
$165.00 (incls GST)                                               $148.50 (incls GST)

Part 1 Assessment - six coding assignments
As an external candidate for Clinical Coder Certification - no feedback is given on assignment coding errors and candidates do not have the opportunity to discuss assignments with the Education Officer.  If you are uncertain of your ability to complete the Part 1 Assessment on this basis, HIMAA Education Services strongly recommends that you consider enrolling for the HIMAA Advanced ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Clinical Coding Program.

When planning your schedule for the Clinical Coder Certification examination, i.e., Part 2, please allow 8 months prior to the preferred examination date for the completion of the Part 1 assessment.   The reasons for this time allowance are:

1.  Assignments can only be received by fax or mail and will be returned by mail.

2.  The turnaround time for marking and return of assignments is 15 working days.

3.  The sixth assignment must be submitted 6 weeks prior to the selected examination     date to allow for marking, calculation of grade average and forwarding of the Application for Examination for Clinical Coder Certification.

Please note:  The 5 coding volumes (ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS), in the appropriate edition, as supplied by the National Centre for Classification in Health (NCCH) in either book or electronic format (e-book/browser) are to be used for completion of Part 1 assignments and the Part 2 examination for Clinical Coder Certification. 

Use of the 3M Codefinder or similar software or programme is not permitted.

A grade average of 80% must be obtained to be eligible for the Part 2 assessment of Clinical Coder Certification.

Upon successful completion of the Part 1 assessment, a Statement of Results and an Application for Examination and Supervisor Nomination form for the part 2 assessment will be issued.

B Assignments
Candidates who do not achieve a passing grade for the Part 1 assessment, have the opportunity of improving their assignment grade average by choosing to complete another assignment for any one assignment with a mark below 80%.   These second assignments are known as B assignments.  However, if your A assignment mark is below 75%, HIMAA recommends that you consider doing the B assignment before commencing the next A assignment.  This will give you the opportunity to learn from your errors.

If you chose to complete a B assignment, the Part 1 assessment will be calculated using the highest mark for each assignment whether A or B, i.e.,

1.  If you chose to complete B assignment after receiving your grade average, your grade       average will be re-calculated using the highest assignment mark.

2.  If you chose to complete a B assignment as you progress through the assessment,       then the highest assignment mark will be used when calculating your grade                 average on completion of the assignments.

A fee of $55.00 applies to each B assignment purchased.

Fees:   (Overseas candidates please contact the Administration Officer, HIMAA Education Services phone +61 2 9887 5898 or email education@himaa.org.au)

The cost of the assignment assessment package for Australian candidates is:

Non members                                        HIMAA/CCSA financial member
$220.00       (includes GST)                      $198.00 (includes GST)

Combination costings:
Preparation Package and assessment package (saving of $AUD55.00):

Non member                                                         HIMAA/CCSA financial member
Australia = $330.00 (incls GST)                       $297.00 (incls GST)

Part 2 assessment - 2-hour examination (medical records)
Examinations are held on the 1st Monday of February, June and November.   Applications for Examination and Supervisor Nomination forms must be received no later than 4 weeks prior to the selected scheduled examination date.

The examinations will be held on the same basis as the distance education examinations, i.e., a supervisor will be nominated at a time and location to suit the candidate but the examination must be sat on the scheduled date.

An Application for Examination and Supervisor Nomination form for the Part 2 assessment will be forwarded, to eligible candidates, with the result for the Part 1 assessment.

FEES
The cost for all candidates for the Part 2 assessment examination is $AUD121.00
(includes GST for Australian candidates and airmail postage New Zealand candidates. Other overseas candidates please contact the Registrar, Education Services:  email denisej@himaa.org.au)

No discount for HIMAA/CCSA financial members for the examination fee.

Clinical Coder Certification is perpetual. However, to maintain currency you will be required to update every edition change.   This update will test knowledge of edition changes and other vital advice as published in Coding Matters (10-AM Commandments).  A certificate of currency will be issued for a result of 80% or more.   The update will be hardcopy and consists of line coding and case studies. 

6th edition update - registration for this update will be in April 2009. Application forms will be available in March 2009

For further information please contact Cheryl Smith, Administration Officer, HIMAA Education Services:  email:  education@himaa.org.au  phone +61 2 9887 5898 or
fax +61 2 9887 5895 

• Privacy and Confidentiality
• Health information systems
• Medico-Legal issues in health information management
• Casemix
• Quality improvement in health information services
• Electronic Patient Records
• Human resources issues for health information managers
• Elementary Medical Terminology
• Elementary ICD-10-AM coding
• Specific coding topics as required e.g., obstetrics, external causes etc.

Please contact:  Lyn Williams 
Team Leader HIMAA Education Services
tel: + 61 2 9887 5032     fax: + 61 2 9887 5895
mail: Locked Bag 2045
NORTH RYDE NSW 1670
AUSTRALIA
email: lynw@himaa.org.au

© 2008 Health Information Management Association of Australia Limited