Temporary Certification Program
Overview
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) established a Temporary Certification Program (TCP) for Health Information Technology (Health IT) to provide a way for organizations to become authorized by the National Coordinator to certify and test Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology. The TCP sunset occurred on October 4, 2012 with the launch of the ONC HIT Certification Program (formerly known as the Permanent Certification Program). For additional information on the ONC HIT Certification Program, please visit the ONC HIT Certification Program webpage here.
ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCBs) certified and tested EHR technology in the TCP. The Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL) continues to provide the authoritative, comprehensive listing of certified Complete EHRs and EHR Modules.
Certification assures health care providers that the EHR technology they adopt satisfies the capabilities needed to participate in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) EHR Incentive Programs.
Use of Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT) is a core requirement for health care providers to become "meaningful users" and eligible for payment under the CMS EHR Incentive Programs.
The graphic below provides an overview of how the TCP operated:
Temporary Certification Program Overview – Organizations
Temporary Certification Overview: Processes
Program Sunset
The TCP began in July 2010, and was replaced by the ONC HIT Certification Program on October 4, 2012. In the ONC HIT Certification Program, certification and testing activities are performed by separate entities. Certification is conducted by ONC-Authorized Certification Bodies (ONC-ACBs) and testing is performed by Accredited Testing Laboratories (ATLs).
Timeline of the Transition from the Temporary Certification Program to the ONC HIT Certification Program
Transition to the ONC HIT Certification Program
Upon sunset of the TCP on October 4, 2012, ONC-ATCBs are prohibited from accepting new requests to certify and test Complete EHRs or EHR Modules, but are permitted up to six months after the sunset date to complete all certification and testing activities associated with pending or current requests received prior to the sunset date.
In the ONC HIT Certification Program, Developers and Vendors work with with ONC-ACBs to certify their products and ATLs to test their products.
The CHPL will continue to be the one-stop shop for cross-validating Certified EHR Technology, and the CHPL will continue to be managed by ONC.
EHR product certifications made in the TCP are valid in the ONC HIT Certification Program.
The major differences and similarities between the Temporary Certification Program and the ONC HIT Certification Program
Learn More
- Health IT Certification Programs – Frequently Asked Questions
- Temporary Certification Program Press Release
- Temporary Certification Program Informational Calls
For questions about the temporary certification program, email ONC.Certification@hhs.gov.