In April 2010, ONC awarded $6 million in a two-year cooperative agreement to Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) to develop health information technology (health IT) competency examinations for individuals completing short-term, non-degree training programs, and members of the workforce with relevant experience or others types of training. 

These competency examinations will enable health IT professionals, employers, and other stakeholders to assess their own health IT competency levels or the competency of their health IT staff members, as appropriate. The examinations may also be used by employers to identify training gaps and personnel needs integral to achieving meaningful use of electronic health information.

The Health IT Professionals Exams will be open to individuals beginning on May 20, 2011. The six exams, aligned with the roles and training provided by the Community College Consortia, will each consist of 125 multiple-choice questions to be completed in three hours. The exam blueprints below detail the topics covered in each exam:

The test specialist Pearson Vue will hold each exam at one of  its 230 nationwide test centers (locate the nearest center ). Individuals taking the May exam will receive their results in the mail four-to-six weeks after they take it. The September exam will provide live scoring.

Individuals can make reservations to take exams with Pearson Vue either by telephone (888-944-8776) or online . At that point, individuals may cancel or reschedule their reservations up to 48 hours before the appointment. In the absence of an emergency, individuals who fail to make their appointment will be charged a fee and will lose the free voucher.

The cost of the first exam for individuals without a voucher is $299. The cost for individuals re-taking an exam or taking an additional exam for another role is $199.

Free exam vouchers, enabling individuals to take their first exam at no cost, will be available for students trained through the Community College Consortia program and for other individuals with relevant experience, training, or education in health care or IT. Vouchers will be available soon through Pearson Vue’s Voucher Store and may be ordered by the following institutions:

These institutions may distribute vouchers to individuals who meet the aforementioned criteria. The vouchers will expire four months after being ordered.

• Get the facts about the Health IT Workforce Development Program

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Original Funding Announcement