RHIA

The exam has 150 multiple-choice questions, of which 130 are scored and 20 are pretest items that are randomly distributed and do not count toward your score. Candidates are allowed three hours and thirty minutes to complete the exam, and may move back and forth between items once an answer is selected.

The passing score for the RHIA is 300. Because the score is reported on a scaled basis, your raw number of correct answers is not the same as your reported score. AHIMA does not publish a conversion table, so plan to answer as many scored items correctly as possible rather than aiming at a target count.

You must complete the baccalaureate-level or master's-level academic requirements of a Health Information Management program accredited by CAHIIM, or a CAHIIM-approved HIM Certificate of the Degree (post-baccalaureate) program, or graduate from an HIM program approved by a foreign association with which AHIMA has a reciprocity agreement. AHIMA states that health informatics programs are not currently supported for the RHIA.

The RHIA exam costs $229 for AHIMA members and $299 for non-members. Test retake fees are the same as the cost of the exam, so a second attempt means paying the full fee again along with submitting a new application. There is also a separate $75 processing fee if you request a refund.

You must submit a new application and the applicable exam fee. RHIA candidates must wait 30 days before their application is approved and they can schedule the retake. Transcripts stay on file and do not need to be resubmitted. AHIMA states it is not authorized to waive retest periods because of test security policies.

Among first-time testers, 67% passed in 2025 (860 testers), 71% in 2024 (727 testers), and 64% in 2023 (760 testers). Roughly one in three first-time candidates does not pass, so a structured study plan across all five domains matters more than last-minute review. AHIMA does not publish per-domain score feedback.

Start with the published Exam Content Outline and rate your confidence on each domain's tasks, then study your weakest areas first while keeping a maintenance pass over the rest. The five domains are Information Governance, Compliance with Uses and Disclosures of PHI, Data Analytics and Informatics, Revenue Management, and Management and Leadership. Do not neglect the leadership domain just because it feels less technical.

Yes. You can cancel or reschedule up to 15 business days before your scheduled date at no charge. Between 14 days and 24 hours before the exam, Pearson VUE charges $30. You cannot reschedule less than 24 hours before the appointment. Candidates who do not arrive, or arrive more than 30 minutes late, are treated as no-shows and forfeit their fees.

You schedule with Pearson VUE within 120 days of eligibility. Seats at testing centers vary by location and date, so book as soon as your authorization to test is issued rather than waiting until the end of your window. The exam is delivered only in computer-based format at a Pearson VUE testing center.

There are no required books or resources for the day of the exam. After passing, you maintain the RHIA over a two-year certification period by completing the required continuing education units and paying the recertification fee. Plan your CEUs across the full cycle rather than cramming them near the deadline.