CHIM NCE guide
The Canadian College of Health Information Management is the certifying body for health information national certification examinations in Canada. CHIMA, Canada’s health information management association, is the examination host and is responsible for delivering an online proctoring service to all candidates.
Please read this Certified in Health Information Management (CHIM) national certification examination (NCE) guide in full before applying.
Section 1: About the CHIM NCE
The CHIM NCE consists of 154 multiple-choice questions and is 210 minutes in duration.
A passing grade is based on the following two requirements:
- An overall grade of 60% or higher, and;
- All sectional grades to be 50% or higher.
The following table outlines the section(s) each practice area falls in:
| Practice area | Section(s) |
|---|---|
| Biomedical sciences | 1 |
| Health information science (including coding theory) | 1 |
| Health information analysis | 2 |
| Information systems and technology | 2 |
| Access and security | 3 |
| The health care system in Canada | 3 |
| Ethics and practice | 1, 2, 3 |
Re-examination
A candidate who is unsuccessful writing the CHIM NCE on the first attempt may re-write the examination twice more
(for a total of three times). Regular pricing applies for subsequent attempts. The exam candidate must complete the entire
examination each time. If a candidate has failed all three attempts, a further review will be conducted.
Section 2: Examination application
Quick links
Please review the following information before applying for the CHIM NCE:
- About certification with the Canadian College of Health Information Management
- Why certification matters
- CHIM certification
- National certification examination policies, rules & regulations
- Canadian College of Health Information Management code of ethics
- CHIM NCE eligibility and dates
- CHIM NCE frequently asked questions
- Learning Outcomes for Health Information Management
Ensure CHIMA membership is active
An active membership with CHIMA is required during both the application process and when writing the CHIM NCE.
Submit application and payment
In order to register for the CHIM NCE, candidates must submit an application and provide payment. Payment will need to be received on or before the application deadline. To access the CHIM national certification application, please follow these steps:
- Sign in to your CHIMA account, accessible in the top right corner of the screen
- Click on your name to access your dashboard
- Scroll down to ‘Canadian College of Health Information Management’ and select ‘Manage’
- Navigate to ‘National certification applications’ and click learn more
- Navigate to ‘CHIM’ and select ‘Apply here’
Applicants are responsible for reviewing all information to ensure it is correct in both the application and the CHIMA membership profile.
Approved candidates will receive an email from CHIMA 2-3 days* following the application deadline to schedule an examination date and time. Please see Section 5: Writing the examination for additional details.
* At times, the College could run outside of these service level agreements due to extenuating circumstances.
Transcript requirement
This is a one-time submission to the Canadian College of Health Information Management.
Transcripts are required to be received on or before the application deadline. CHIMA is not able to request a candidate’s transcript from an institution as they contain personal information. It is suggested that candidates confirm their program’s policy for submitting transcripts to CHIMA. Candidates will not be notified of the receipt of their transcript.
| Eligibility pathway | Transcript required |
|---|---|
| Accredited health information management program | Yes |
| Reciprocal agreement (HIMAA, AHIMA, KAHIME) | Not applicable |
For transcript submission, choose from one of the following methods:
Electronic
Electronic transcripts are accepted only when received directly from an institution. They must be scanned individually as a PDF, saved as ‘lastname_firstname_institution,’ and emailed to exam@echima.ca.
Mail-in
Both an institution and exam candidate can mail a sealed, original copy to the following address:
CHIMA
Attn: Examinations
301-50 Ottawa Street South
Kitchener, Ontario
N2G 3S7
Section 3: Studying for the examination
Studying
The following resources may help prepare candidates with writing the CHIM NCE:
Section 4: Preparing for examination day
Preparing for examination day
Here are a few things you will need to bring:
Government issued photo ID
Arrive prepared with one form of valid (not expired) government-issued photo identification for the proctor. It must contain the candidate’s photograph and signature.
Calculators
Candidates writing the CHIM NCE may bring battery-operated, non-programmable, non-scientific calculators into the
examination with basic arithmetic functions.
Proper technology
Conduct the quick tests for internet speed, microphone, camera, and proctoring software found on the CHIMA NCE online proctoring guidelines page.
Paper
Candidates may use pencils and a piece of scrap paper during the examination. Candidates must dispose of all scrap paper immediately following the examination.
Please reach out to support@echima.ca for any questions that you may have related to the technical requirements in preparation for your examination.
Section 5: Writing the examination
Booking an examination date and time
Approved candidates will receive an email from CHIMA to schedule an examination date and time. The time slots will be based on availability during eastern standard time business hours (Monday to Friday, with the exception of statutory holidays). This email is sent out 2–3 days following the application deadline.*
Once candidates book their time slot, an email will be sent out with additional details and reminders when preparing for examination day. Please check spam/junk folders for this email.
* At times, the College could run outside of these service level agreements due to extenuating circumstances.
Section 6: Receiving results
Candidates will be able to view their grades by signing in to their CHIMA dashboard. Please select ‘National Certification Examinations’ and navigate to ‘Examination history’. Grades are posted approximately 20 business days* after the examination period ends. Candidates who passed will receive an official certificate from the Canadian College of Health Information Management and a welcome letter in the mail within 45 business days*.
* At times, the College could run outside of these service level agreements due to extenuating circumstances.
For those who pass, click here to see when you are required to pay your upcoming membership dues with the CHIMA.
For those who do not pass, your current membership with CHIMA will remain the same.
Last updated 2022-03-22
