Strategizing Your Way To CHDA - Approaches to Study and Take the AHIMA Certified Health Data Analyst Exam

Sep 27, 2026

A session outlines practical approaches to studying for and taking AHIMA’s Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) credentialing examination. The content breaks down exam domains and preparation best practices, explains why CHDA matters, and lists core skills aligned with analyzing healthcare data, including reporting, analytics, and interpretation. It also covers eligibility requirements to sit for the exam and highlights healthcare informatics growth and the need for ongoing education.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Session Description

Exam Domains for Preparation

Why CHDA?

Skills and Practice Focus

Eligibility Requirements

Data Management, Analytics, and Reporting Domains

The Path to Prep

4/28/2016 |

Strategizing Your Way To CHDA
| | --- | |

| | Julie Dooling, MSHI, RHIA, CHDA Brenda Fosmire, MSCIT, CHDA
Senior Consultant Analytics Architect | Session Description • This session will provide attendees with approaches to studying for and taking AHIMA’s Certified Health Data Analyst credentialing examination. • Faculty will cover exam domains to help attendees structure their study and they will share experiences and best practices in preparing for the examination. 4/28/2016 | | | --- | |
Accurate and consistent information | |
Source: AHIMA 2016 Informatics and Data Analytics Products | | | | | --- | --- | | | | | 􀂃 Overview from AHIMA’s Certification Guide:
􀂃 “..provides practitioners with the knowledge to acquire, manage, analyze, interpret, and transform data into accurate, consistent, and timely information, while balancing the“big picture” strategic vision with day-to-day details.” | | | | | 4/28/2016 Informatics and data analytics • This sector in healthcare will continue to grow as organizations need to find creative solutions to meet demands and lower healthcare costs. • Evaluate your career path and find time and space for additional education and training. • Stay current on how informatics and data analytics are changing the way healthcare organizations approach information | | | --- | |
Why CHDA?

• AHIMA’s Certified Health Data Analyst specialty credential sets the stage for future skills needed:
▫ Business management and financial analysis
▫ IT systems design, integration, and selection
▫ Information analytics
▫ Healthcare informatics
▫ Clinical process analysis | |
▫ Ensuring data security and patient privacy | 4/28/2016 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | Why CHDA?
• The credential sets you apart from other healthcare professionals and adds to your professional offering.
• It shows that you have a special skill set and knowledge centered around the complexities and the analysis of healthcare data. | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | |
Skills?

• Calculate average wait time in the emergency department
• Calculate readmission rates
• Analyze case mix index
• Monitor complication (MCC/CC) rates
• Monitor mortality rates
• Analyze patient evaluation scores | | |
• Measure the cost per episode of care
Wiedemann, Lou Ann. "Are You a Data Analyst and Don’t Know It?" Journal of AHIMA 86, no.10 (October 2015): 52-53. | | 4/28/2016 | | | --- | |
Skills?
• Monitor data dictionary statistics
• Trend public health data
• Analyze performance improvement trends
• Identify MS-DRG changes as a result of ICD- 10-CM/PCS
• Trend the average length of stay
• Identify the primary zip code of patients
• Identify patients for follow up with stratified random sample | |
Wiedemann, Lou Ann. "Are You a Data Analyst and Don’t Know It?" Journal of AHIMA 86, no.10 (October 2015): 52-53. | | | | --- | |
Eligibility
• Candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements to sit for the CHDA examination:
▫ Healthcare information management credential (RHIT®) and minimum of three (3) years of healthcare data experience
▫ Baccalaureate degree and a minimum of three (3) years of healthcare data experience
▫ Healthcare information management credential (RHIA®)
▫ Master’s in Heath Information Management (HIM) or Health Informatics from an accredited school | |
▫ Master's or higher degree and one (1) year of healthcare data experience
[http://www.ahima.org/certification/chda](http://www.ahima.org/certification/chda) | 4/28/2016 | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Data Management
Data Analytics
Data Reporting | | | | | | | | | | | Domain 1 Data Management 30-34% • Assist in the development and maintenance of the data arch

FAQs

What is the purpose of this CHDA exam preparation session?

It provides approaches for studying for and taking AHIMA’s Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) credentialing exam, including domain coverage and preparation best practices.

What are the main exam domains mentioned for CHDA preparation?

The session describes three domains: Data Management (30–34%), Data Analytics (35–39%), and Data Reporting (29–33%), along with key tasks in each domain.

What eligibility requirements are needed to sit for the CHDA exam?

Candidates must meet at least one set of requirements, such as an RHIT credential with three years of healthcare data experience, an RHIA credential, a bachelor’s degree with three years of healthcare data experience, or a master’s degree with one year of healthcare data experience.

Sep 27, 2026

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