AMIA® - American Medical Informatics Association®

American Medical Informatics Association® (AMIA®) members have been leading the effort to transform healthcare through informatics practice, research, and education. AMIA is committed to advancing the field, supporting informatics professionals, and promoting informatics best practice to ensure that health data and information technology are used most effectively to promote health and healthcare.

AMIA established the AMIA Health Informatics Certification™ (AHIC™) program to address the needs created by the growing number and expanding role of health informaticians and the concomitant increased impact of their work in healthcare delivery, public health, and consumer health. The AHIC program enhances and promotes the health informatics profession by:

  • Establishing standards for professional practice;
  • Creating a fair, valid, and reliable examination process through which professionals can demonstrate their knowledge and skill;
  • Granting certification to those who meet the program’s standards; and
  • Communicating the value of the credential to employers and other key constituencies.

Demonstrate your expertise and experience as a Health Informatics (HI) professional to employers, patients, and other stakeholders through the AHIC™ program. AHIC is intended for professionals who:

  • Come from a range of educational and training pathways including, but not limited to, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, health informatics, and computer science
  • Use informatics concepts and tools to design solutions to complex problems or identify opportunities for improvement in health care, public health, or consumer health at the individual, unit, organization, or system level
  • Have health informatics experience that includes: Critical thinking and analysis; independent decision-making; project management; managing personnel, resources or partner relationships; leading or supporting teams; policy development; or strategic planning

AHIC assesses competence of health informatics professionals whose work may impact organizational performance or affect public safety. As a result, the AHIC program emphasizes operational, rather than research-focused dimensions of informatics.

For information on the AMIA certification programs, please visit https://amia.org/careers-certifications/amia-health-informatics-certification-ahic, email certification@AMIA.org, or call +1-301-637-3757.

The AHIC Certification Guide (accessible at https://amia.org/careers-certifications/amia-health-informatics-certification-ahic/ahic-certification-guide) contains valuable information regarding the certification program’s scope, eligibility requirements, application process, applicable fees, exam content, exam preparatory resources, exam administration logistics, and recertification requirements.

All candidates should carefully review the AHIC Certification Guide during the application process and before taking the certification examination.

There are now two ways to take an AMIA certification exam via computer. Candidates have the option to take the exam:

  • In person at a brick-and-mortar Exam Center (with locally compliant social distancing and sanitizing protocols in place), using the Exam Center’s computer equipment and internet connection; or
  • At the candidate’s home or office (or any qualifying location of the candidate’s choice) through a remotely-proctored internet-based testing platform, using the candidate’s own computer, webcam, microphone, and internet connection.

Your Candidate ID # and Client Authorization ID # (as they appear on your Authorization to Test (ATT) Notice) are required to schedule your exam.

How to Apply and Become Eligible for Certification

Before scheduling your exam appointment, you must apply for certification at https://amia.org/careers-certifications/amia-health-informatics-certification-ahic/amia-health-informatics-1, be deemed Eligible, and receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) Notice (with your Candidate ID# and Client Authorization ID #) from the AMIA Certification Department.

Your first (given) name and last (family) name as listed on your ATT Notice must EXACTLY MATCH your first name and last name as those appear on a currently valid, government-issued photo identification bearing your signature, which you must present at the exam center (or during the remotely-proctored exam administration); if there are any discrepancies during check-in, the proctor will not allow you to take the exam, you will be considered a “no show,” and you will forfeit your exam fee (i.e., you would need to pay the exam retake fee to reschedule your test).

If your first name and last name on your ATT Notice and the identification you will use to check in for the exam do NOT exactly match, please email the AMIA Certification Department at certification@AMIA.org at least ten (10) days prior to your test date. Please note that it is acceptable to have (a) middle name(s) or initial(s) which appear(s) on your identification but not on your ATT Notice (or vice versa). You do not need to modify your exam registration to add or delete middle names; only the first name and last name must match exactly.

Exam Accommodations

If you require any accommodations for testing, complete and submit the Request for Examination Accommodations (Appendix B of the AHIC Certification Guide, available at https://amia.org/careers-certifications/amia-health-informatics-certification-ahic/ahic-certification-guide) and submit the completed form with all supporting documentation to certification@AMIA.org within 15 days after submitting your certification application.

Scheduling your Exam

To schedule your exam (either at a brick-and-mortar Exam Center or via live, remote proctoring), please click the “Sign in” button in the sidebar of this webpage. If you are a first-time exam taker with Pearson VUE, you will need to first click on the “Create account” button.

To locate an exam center prior to scheduling your exam appointment, please click on the “Find a test center” link in the sidebar of this webpage.

To schedule your remotely-proctored, internet-based exam at your home, office, or other location of your choosing, using your own computer, webcam, microphone, and internet connection, first confirm your computer’s compatibility with the remote proctoring platform (“OnVUE”).

You must supply the computer that you will use for the certification exam. The computer must have a webcam (internal or external), microphone (internal or external), speakers (internal or external), and a stable internet connection, and you must be able to install the Pearson VUE OnVUE app on your computer on the day of your exam appointment.

Click here to verify that your computer and internet network will allow testing through OnVUE.

Please ensure that you have application installation (e.g., Admin) privileges on the computer you will be using for the certification exam.

After you have 100% passed (all green check-marks) the system test, you can proceed to schedule your remotely-proctored, internet-based exam.

If you are unable to 100% pass the system test and you had attempted to check your system through a VDI or VPN connection, please try directly from the computer rather than through the VDI or VPN; most candidates are unable to use the OnVUE® platform through a VDI or VPN.

Also, check to ensure that your microphone and webcam are enabled (and correctly connected, if external).

If you are still unable to pass the 100% system test, or if you will not have the necessary permissions to install the OnVUE app on your exam date, please schedule your exam at a brick-and-mortar Exam Center, instead.

After scheduling your exam, please review your appointment confirmation email and ensure that you have the correct exam, date, time, first name and last name matching your government ID, and (if testing at a brick-and-mortar Exam Center) testing location.

Rescheduling or Cancelling Exam

Reschedule Policy

You must contact Pearson VUE or access your online Pearson VUE account (by clicking “Sign in” in the sidebar of this webpage) to reschedule your exam at least 48 hours prior to your appointment. Exams cannot be rescheduled less than 48 hours prior to (that is, within 48 hours of) your appointment. Failure to reschedule in time—or failure to appear for—your appointment will result in the forfeiture of your exam fee. Rescheduled exam appointments must be within your eligibility period; if your eligibility period will expire before your exam is able to be rescheduled, you will need to pay the exam retake fee to schedule your exam for a new eligibility period.

Cancellation Policy

You must contact Pearson VUE or access your online Pearson VUE account to cancel your exam at least 48 hours prior to your appointment. Exams cannot be cancelled less than 48 hours prior to (that is, within 48 hours of) your appointment. Failure to cancel in time or failure to appear for your appointment will result in the forfeiture of your exam fee.

If you have rescheduled or cancelled within 48 hours of your appointment (or did not show up for your exam appointment), you will need to submit another application and pay the exam retake fee to reschedule your exam. Candidates applying to retake the exam will receive an updated eligibility determination from the AMIA Certification Department and (if deemed Eligible) a new ATT Notice with a new Client Authorization ID#.

What to Bring to the Exam Appointment (Exam Center or Remotely-Proctored)

We ask that you arrive at the test center (or log in to your exam appointment) 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This will give you adequate time to complete the necessary sign-in procedures. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be refused admission, and the exam fees will be forfeited.

You will be required to present one form of original (no photocopies), currently valid (unexpired), government-issued identification that includes your name, photograph, and signature. The first and last name that you used to register must match exactly the first name and last name on the identification that is presented on test day.

If there is a difference between your first name or last name as they appear on your ATT Notice and as they appear on the identification that you will present on test day, please contact the AMIA Certification Department immediately at certification@AMIA.org. Please note that it is acceptable to have (a) middle name(s) or initial(s) which appear(s) on your identification but not on your ATT Notice (or vice versa). You do not need to modify your exam registration to add or delete middle names; only the first name and last name must match exactly.

All identification presented must be issued by the country in which you are testing; alternatively, if you do not have a qualifying identification issued from the country in which you are testing, an International Travel Passport from your country of citizenship is required. If possible, please bring a second government identification (that matches the same requirements as the primary identification) to your exam appointment, in case there is an issue with your primary identification.

Please note that Pearson, as a USA-based business, is not allowed to do business with OFAC-sanctioned countries / regions. Thus, candidates who live in the following sanctioned countries / regions—and candidates who present identification issued by those countries / regions—cannot be admitted to an exam appointment either at a brick-and-mortar exam center or through live, remotely proctored exam administration (OnVUE):

  • Cuba
  • Iran
  • North Korea
  • Sudan
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • The Sevastopol / Crimea region of Ukraine

If you have any questions or concerns about the identification you are required to bring with you to the testing center for admittance to your exam, please contact Pearson VUE customer service at https://home.pearsonvue.com/Test-takers/Customer-service.aspx. To view the full identification policy, including any additional allowances to this policy, please visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/Policies/1/English.

No personal items may be taken into the testing room. This includes but is not limited to all bags, books not authorized by the sponsor, notes, phones, pagers, watches, and wallets.

For exam appointments at brick-and-mortar test centers: Unscheduled breaks are permitted during the exam. During an unscheduled break, the exam timer continues to run (i.e., the exam timer is not paused or extended, so any time used by a candidate during an unscheduled break is deducted from the candidate’s total exam time). During unscheduled breaks, a candidate may use the restroom at the exam center, and may be escorted to the candidate’s locker in the exam center to access medication, food, or water while being observed by exam center staff; no other personal items (including all communication devices, references, notes, etc.) may be accessed during unscheduled breaks. During unscheduled breaks, candidates may NOT leave the exam center at any time.

For exam appointments through live, remote proctoring (OnVUE): NO unscheduled breaks (including restroom breaks), food, or beverages are allowed during the exam. Please be prepared to complete the 4.5-hour exam (4 hours for exam content, plus 30 minutes for a pre-test tutorial, signing the non-disclosure agreement, and a post-test survey) without taking any breaks for bathroom, food, or beverages.

All personal items other than the identification document must be locked in a locker (at an Exam Center) and outside of the testing area, for exam security purposes.

For a detailed description of examination rules, please reference the AHIC Certification Guide.

For remotely-proctored internet-based testing, please click here to learn about the check-in process, security protocols, test environment requirements, prohibited items, and other exam administration procedures.

Important Exam Day Reminders

Pearson VUE is unable to provide a completely noise-free or otherwise distractionless environment. Consider using Exam Center provided headphones, if testing at an Exam Center. If testing via OnVUE, you are responsible for providing your own testing environment; it should be as distractionless as you can reasonably make it (sound, temperature, etc.). By scheduling your exam appointment via OnVUE, you assume the risk of any distractions from or interruptions to your exam administration and waive the liability of AMIA, Metacred, and Pearson VUE and their respective contractors, agents, and representatives for any such negative impacts to your exam experience or results.

By scheduling your exam (either at an Exam Center or via OnVUE), you are assuming the risk of and waiving AMIA’s, Metacred’s, and Pearson VUE’s (and their respective contractors’) liability for any harm or damages that you may suffer as a result of or in any way related to your exam administration, including without limitation acquiring the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (and its variants) that causes COVID-19.

For exam appointments at brick-and-mortar test centers: Unscheduled breaks are permitted during the exam. During an unscheduled break, the exam timer continues to run (i.e., the exam timer is not paused or extended, so any time used by a candidate during an unscheduled break is deducted from the candidate’s total exam time). During unscheduled breaks, a candidate may use the restroom at the exam center, and may be escorted to the candidate’s locker in the exam center to access medication, food, or water while being observed by exam center staff; no other personal items (including all communication devices, references, notes, etc.) may be accessed during unscheduled breaks. During unscheduled breaks, candidates may NOT leave the exam center at any time.

For exam appointments through live, remote proctoring (OnVUE): NO unscheduled breaks (including restroom breaks), food, or beverages are allowed during the exam. Please be prepared to take the entire exam without breaks, eating, or drinking. If you depart from the camera view / testing area at any time during the exam, your exam will be terminated immediately, and your score will be based on the exam items you have completed up to that point in time.

Exam Results

Candidates will receive exam results upon completing the exam—except inaugural / beta exam candidates, who will receive results after the inaugural / beta period concludes and the cut score (passing point) is set.

Please note that the number of exam items on the inaugural / beta exam forms may be higher than on the final, operational exam forms; inaugural / beta candidates will be scored only on the exam items that end up on the final, operational exam forms.

If you are a “regular” candidate (i.e., not an inaugural / beta candidate) and have not received your scores within two (2) business days after taking the exam, please notify the AMIA Certification Department by emailing certification@AMIA.org.

Last updated 2023-04-03