Rebranding the AHDI Credentialing Exams

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If you have not heard, there are going to be some changes for the RMT and CMT certifications.    New credentials will be  RHDS or CHDS.  Below is the article from AHDI –
In late 2013, the current Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) and Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) exams will be rebranded and renamed to Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) and Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS). Please visit this webpage for updates and the most current information on the changes.

All new candidates taking and passing the credentialing exam offered through our current testing provider Kryterion, will receive their RHDS and CHDS upon the official release.

The transition for individuals who currently hold the RMT and CMT will vary based on when the credential was earned and personal preference. The options are detailed below

  • RMTs and CMTs who credentialed under the current exams (this includes those who passed the 2010 beta test) will automatically be changed to an RHDS or CHDS. A new certificate will be sent to reflect this designation when the rebrand takes place. You can begin using that designation upon receipt of their new certificate.
  • CMTs who earned their credential before the release of the current exam blue prints (before January 2011, with the exception of those who took the beta exam in fall of 2010), will have two options:
    • CMTs may choose to keep their transcription-specific credentials. AHDI will continue to service the CMT through the established recredentialing program. The CMT exam will no longer be offered to new candidates.
    • CMTs may choose to bridge over to the CHDS by taking an online continuing education course and quiz. The online course will cover the new areas introduced in the current exam blue prints. The online bridge course will be available only to current CMTs and will be optional. If the course is not successfully completed, the individual will retain their CMT and may take the online bridge course again after a 6 month waiting period. The pricing and details for the bridge course are not available yet.
  • RMTs who earned their credential before the release of the current exam blue prints (before January 2011, with the exception of those who took the beta exam in fall of 2010), will transition automatically to the RHDS designation through a revised recredentialing course.  The current RMT recredentialing course is being updated to include the additional blue print domains not previously covered as part of the course. Two options will be available:
    • RMTs can opt to take the recredentialing course as soon as it is released or at any time during their credentialing cycle. Successful completion of that updated recredentialing course will earn the RMT their new RHDS designation and trigger a new 3-year cycle.
    • RMTs can choose to wait until end of cycle to take the recredentialing course to recertify and earn their new RHDS credential.  Successful completion of that updated recredentialing course will earn the RMT their new RHDS designation and their new 3-year cycle will begin.

AHDI’s recredentialing program and policies will apply to all four credentials: RMT, RHDS, CMT, and CHDS. The information, policies, and guidelines will be updated and posted online when the rebranding is implemented.