Competency Examination Program
About the Program
As more and more doctors and hospitals continue to adopt health IT, the workforce needed to support this is expected to flourish. Openings for computer systems analysts – similar to an implementation manager – are expected to shoot up by 22 percent in the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Management analyst/consultant jobs – analogous to a practitioner consultant – are also expected to increase by 22 percent. Health information technicians are also expected to grow by more than 20 percent in the next decade, the BLS data show.
In an effort to prepare new workers for burgeoning health IT sector growth, ONC funded the Workforce Development Program, including development of a series of competency exams.
About the Exams
The Health IT Professional Exams (HIT Pro Exams) assess the basic competency in one of six health IT workforce roles. The six exams, aligned with the roles and training provided by the ONC’s Community College Consortia, will each consist of 125 multiple-choice questions to be completed in three hours. The exam blueprints below detail the topics covered in each exam:
- Clinician/Practitioner Consultant [PDF - 129 KB]
- Implementation Manager [PDF - 129 KB]
- Implementation Support Specialist [PDF - 138 KB]
- Practice Workflow & Information Management Redesign Specialist [PDF - 135 KB]
- Technical/Software Support Staff [PDF - 132 KB]
- Trainer [PDF - 134 KB]
Reasons to Consider Taking the Exam
- Validate Individual and Organizational competencies: Competency examinations enable health IT professionals, employers and other stakeholders to assess their own health IT competency.
- Low Cost Staff Development: : The examinations can be used by employers to identify training gaps and personnel needs integral to achieving meaningful use of electronic health information. Studying for exams can be used as an economical way to develop your staff.
- Garner Organizational Credibility: Demonstrate to customers and other important stakeholders that your organization has the skills needed to meet the challenges of implementing Health IT.
Vouchers for Free Exams (through March 2013)
Individuals and organizations can obtain vouchers for free exams. Exams must be taken before March 30, 2013 to use the free voucher. Vouchers are invalid after this date.
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Taking the Exams
Tests must be taken in person at one of Pearson Vue’s 230 U.S. test centers (Locate your nearest test center 
). Individuals can make reservations to take exams with Pearson Vue either by telephone (888-944-8776) or online . At that point, individuals may cancel or reschedule their reservations up to 48 hours before the appointment. In the absence of an emergency, individuals who fail to make their appointment will be charged a fee and will lose the free voucher.
The cost of the first exam for individuals without a voucher is $299. The cost for individuals re-taking an exam or taking an additional exam for another role is $199.
Competency Examination Program - BACKGROUND
In April 2010, ONC awarded $6 million in a two-year cooperative agreement to Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) to develop health information technology (health IT) competency examinations for individuals completing short-term, non-degree training programs, and members of the workforce with relevant experience or others types of training.
The HIT Pro Exams allow health IT professionals, employers, stakeholders, and even those interested in changing careers to assess their health IT competency levels or the competency of their health IT staff. The competency examination may also be used by employers to identify training gaps and personnel needs integral to achieving meaningful use of electronic health information.
For questions relating to the Competency Examination Program, visit http://www.hitproexams.org