The exam begins with a short biographical data questionnaire that takes less than five minutes to complete. The paper-and-pencil exam administered at Congress in March, 2008 will include 250 multiple choice question examination consisting of 200 scored questions and 50 pretest questions. The computerized version of the exam will be expanded to 230-250 questions beginning August, 2008. Candidates will have up to six hours to complete the exam. Each question has four possible answers and a candidate’s score is based on the number of scored questions on the examination. The pretest questions do not affect a candidate’s score.
Pretest questions are included in order to evaluate them for possible use as scored questions on future examinations. The pretest questions are placed throughout the examination and cannot be identified during the examination.
Since there is no penalty for incorrect answers, it is to your advantage to answer every question, even when uncertain of the correct answer. No credit is given for questions with more than one response. Click here for sample questions from past versions of the exam.
The knowledge areas identified as pivotal for the practice of healthcare management are defined below. (For more specific information on the types of questions asked for each knowledge area, click here.)
Governance and Organizational Structure
This area deals with the development and analysis of the organizational structure and with delineating responsibility, authority, and accountability at all levels of the organization. Functions include the development and implementation of policies and procedures for the governance process.
Human Resources
This area deals with assessing the need for and the supply of professional and other personnel. Functions include recruitment, selection, training, compensation, and evaluation of such personnel and examining ways to evaluate productivity and monitor accountability for results.
Finance
This area deals with the planning, development, establishment, analysis, and assessment of financial management processes for an organization's capital, budget, accounting, and related reporting systems.
Healthcare Technology and Information Management
This covers both management information and clinical information systems, including computer-based support for management, assessing how current technologies and major innovations are changing the way healthcare executives manage, using information systems for short- and long-range planning, using clinical information systems, and information systems acquisitions.
Quality and Performance Improvement
This area deals with the development, implementation, and evaluation of organizational accountability including TQM/CQI programs, quality assessment and assurance philosophies, policies, programs, and procedures.
Laws and Regulations
This area deals with identifying and interpreting the impact of government regulations and law on the organization; identifying the need for and working with others to develop new regulations and laws; investigating, monitoring, documenting, and enforcing existing statutes; and maintaining communication and cooperation with both public and private organizations.
Professionalism and Ethics
Professionalism deals with the development, monitoring, and maintenance of procedures to ensure that the needs of professional staff are met. Ethics includes identifying, monitoring, and disseminating codes of professional conduct; understanding the implications of ethical decisions, providing procedures to monitor standards of behavior within the organization; and determining, maintaining, and monitoring accountability procedures.
Healthcare
This area includes a broad range of organizations and professions involved in the delivery of healthcare. Included are managed care models, healthcare trends, and ancillary services provided.
Management
This area covers general management principles, planning, organizing, directing, and controlling in addressing overall organizational objectives.
Business
Knowledge that pertains to specific areas/concepts of the organization (e.g., marketing, business planning, strategic planning).
