CHDA

The exam has 142 questions total: 121 scored items and 21 pretest items that are randomly distributed and do not count toward your score. Candidates have three and a half hours to complete the exam, and can move back and forth between items once an answer has been selected, flag items, and review before submitting.

The passing score for the CHDA is 300. AHIMA does not publish a simple percentage equivalent, so treat any practice percentage you compute as a rough guide only and focus on consistent performance across all six domains rather than chasing a single cut score.

First-time tester pass rates published by AHIMA were 54% in 2025 (114 testers), 49% in 2024 (71 testers), and 48% in 2023 (54 testers). Roughly half of first-time candidates pass, so the exam rewards structured preparation rather than casual familiarity with healthcare data concepts.

You must submit a new application with the exam fee, and CHDA candidates must wait 90 days before the application is approved and the retake can be scheduled. Transcripts stay on file and do not need to be resubmitted, but you cannot schedule until a new authorization to test letter is issued. Retake fees equal the exam fee.

The CHDA exam costs $259 for AHIMA members and $329 for non-members. Test retake fees are the same as the cost of the exam. Budget for the possibility of a second attempt, since a retake means paying the full fee again after the 90-day waiting period.

You can test at a Pearson VUE authorized test center or, if you are located in the United States, online at home through OnVUE remote proctoring. After your application is approved, schedule with Pearson VUE within 120 days of eligibility. No books or other resources are required on exam day.

Work through all six domains rather than skipping any, because each accounts for a specific percentage of the total questions and the split is not enumerated on the public exam page. Use the published Exam Content Outline for detail. A common approach is to start with Data Acquisition and Data Analysis, which underpin the reporting and governance domains.

You must meet one of two requirements: hold an RHIT or RHIA credential, or hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. A minimum of three years of healthcare data experience is recommended but not required, as is experience across data acquisition, analysis, management, interpretation and reporting, and governance.

Recertification runs over a two-year certification period. You must complete all recertification requirements during that period, which include submitting the required number of continuing education units and paying the recertification fee. Plan your CEUs across the full two years rather than saving them for the end of the cycle.

Two failure modes stand out. First, memorizing terminology without being able to apply it to a data acquisition or reporting scenario, which the best-answer item format punishes. Second, over-studying one domain, such as analysis, while under-preparing for business needs assessment and data governance, which carry real weight on the blueprint.