100+ Free CHA Healthcare Auditor Practice Questions

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What does the acronym PERC stand for in the context of healthcare internal auditing?

Plan, Execute, Report, Corrective Action

Prepare, Evaluate, Review, Close

Plan, Examine, Record, Communicate

Prioritize, Execute, Report, Confirm

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CHA Healthcare Auditor Exam

100

Exam Questions

AIHC

Exam Duration

AIHC

80%

Passing Score

AIHC

Open-note

Testing Format

AIHC

92%

First-Attempt Pass Rate

AIHC (within 4 weeks)

6 CEUs/yr

Maintenance Requirement

AIHC

AIHC's CHA exam is a 100-question, open-note, 3-hour online proctored certification requiring 80% to pass. It tests five domains spanning audit planning, execution, reporting, and corrective action with emphasis on OIG compliance standards and medical record documentation. The first-attempt pass rate is 92% when taken within 4 weeks of completing the required Auditing for Compliance course.

Sample CHA Healthcare Auditor Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CHA Healthcare Auditor exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What does the acronym PERC stand for in the context of healthcare internal auditing?

A.Plan, Execute, Report, Corrective Action

B.Prepare, Evaluate, Review, Close

C.Plan, Examine, Record, Communicate

D.Prioritize, Execute, Report, Confirm

Explanation: PERC stands for Plan, Execute, Report, Corrective Action — the four fundamental phases of an internal business system audit. This framework structures the entire audit process from initial planning through final remediation. Exam Tip: PERC is the backbone of the CHA exam; every audit question maps to one of these four phases.

2What does the acronym OIG stand for in the federal healthcare oversight context?

A.Office of Insurance Governance

B.Office of Inspector General

C.Organization for Internal Governance

D.Office of Institutional Guidelines

Explanation: OIG stands for Office of Inspector General, specifically the HHS-OIG (Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General). The OIG is responsible for protecting the integrity of federal healthcare programs by detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse. Exam Tip: The OIG Work Plan is a core reference for healthcare auditors.

3What does the abbreviation CMS stand for in healthcare regulation?

A.Certified Medical Standards

B.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

C.Compliance Management System

D.Central Monitoring Service

Explanation: CMS stands for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Healthcare.gov marketplace. CMS sets the coverage guidelines and reimbursement policies that healthcare auditors must understand. Exam Tip: Know the relationship between CMS, OIG, and DOJ in healthcare enforcement.

4What does the abbreviation RCA stand for in healthcare quality and auditing?

A.Regulatory Compliance Audit

B.Risk Control Assessment

C.Root Cause Analysis

D.Remedial Corrective Action

Explanation: RCA stands for Root Cause Analysis, a structured methodology used to identify the fundamental cause of a problem or adverse event. In healthcare auditing, RCA is used after audit findings to trace problems back to their origin rather than just addressing symptoms. Exam Tip: RCA is part of the Reporting and Corrective Action phases of PERC.

5What does the abbreviation CAP stand for in the context of audit follow-up?

A.Compliance Action Protocol

B.Corrective Action Plan

C.Clinical Assessment Program

D.Comprehensive Audit Procedure

Explanation: CAP stands for Corrective Action Plan, a documented plan that identifies what actions will be taken to correct deficiencies found during an audit. A CAP includes specific steps, responsible parties, timelines, and metrics for measuring success. Exam Tip: CAP development is a key element of the Corrective Action (C) phase in the PERC methodology.

6What does the acronym PDCA stand for in quality improvement?

A.Plan, Do, Check, Act

B.Prepare, Document, Certify, Assess

C.Plan, Direct, Control, Analyze

D.Prevent, Detect, Correct, Assess

Explanation: PDCA stands for Plan, Do, Check, Act — also known as the Deming Cycle or Shewhart Cycle. This continuous improvement framework is used in healthcare to systematically test and implement changes. In auditing, PDCA guides the corrective action process after audit findings are reported. Exam Tip: PDCA and PERC both start with 'Plan' — know how they differ and complement each other.

7In healthcare compliance, what does the acronym AKS refer to?

A.Audit Knowledge Standards

B.Anti-Kickback Statute

C.Accreditation Key Standards

D.Administrative Knowledge System

Explanation: AKS refers to the Anti-Kickback Statute, a federal law that prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving anything of value to induce or reward referrals for services covered by federal healthcare programs. Violations can result in criminal penalties, civil monetary penalties, and exclusion from federal programs. Exam Tip: Know the difference between AKS (criminal statute) and Stark Law (civil statute).

8What does HFMEA stand for in the context of patient safety and risk assessment?

A.Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis

B.Health Facility Management and Evaluation Assessment

C.Hospital Financial Management and Expense Analysis

D.Healthcare Framework for Medical Error Avoidance

Explanation: HFMEA stands for Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis, a proactive risk assessment tool adapted from the manufacturing industry's FMEA. It is used to identify potential failures in healthcare processes before they occur and prioritize actions to prevent them. Exam Tip: HFMEA is a proactive tool; RCA is a reactive tool used after an event has occurred.

9What does the abbreviation SAC stand for when analyzing risk in healthcare auditing?

A.Standard Audit Checklist

B.Safety Assessment Code

C.System Accountability Control

D.Sentinel Action Category

Explanation: SAC stands for Safety Assessment Code, a matrix analysis tool used to assess risk based on the severity of an event and its probability of occurrence. The SAC matrix helps prioritize which issues require immediate action versus ongoing monitoring. Exam Tip: The SAC matrix combines severity and probability to produce a risk score that guides resource allocation.

10What does the acronym FCA stand for in healthcare fraud enforcement?

A.Federal Compliance Agency

B.False Claims Act

C.Fraud Control Administration

D.Financial Compliance Assessment

Explanation: FCA stands for the False Claims Act, a federal law that imposes liability on persons and companies that defraud the federal government, including through false billing to Medicare or Medicaid. The FCA includes qui tam provisions that allow private citizens (whistleblowers) to file lawsuits on behalf of the government. Exam Tip: The FCA is the government's primary tool for recovering fraudulent healthcare payments.

About the CHA Healthcare Auditor Exam

The CHA credential from the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC) validates expertise in healthcare auditing, including planning business system audits, executing audit fieldwork, medical record documentation review, reporting audit findings, root cause analysis, and implementing corrective action plans. The certification covers OIG compliance standards, attorney-client privilege in auditing, self-disclosure protocols, and the PERC audit methodology.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

80%

Exam Fee

$1,250 (non-members) / $750 (members) (AIHC)

CHA Healthcare Auditor Exam Content Outline

15%

Acronyms and Terms

Key healthcare auditing terminology, abbreviations, and foundational concepts used throughout the audit process

25%

Planning the Business System Audit

Audit planning activities, leadership, sample size determination, OIG Work Plan, OIG compliance standards, and the ASQ 20 basic audit principles

25%

Executing the Audit

Audit execution, project management, attorney-client privilege, medical record documentation standards, E/M coding, and evidence gathering

20%

Reporting Audit Results

Audit report writing, root cause analysis, sentinel events, self-referral disclosure protocol vs. OIG self-disclosure protocol, and monitoring audits

15%

Corrective Action

Corrective action plans (CAP), Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) methodology, tracing problems to root causes, and compliance risk management

How to Pass the CHA Healthcare Auditor Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 80%
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 3 hours
Exam fee: $1,250 (non-members) / $750 (members)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CHA Healthcare Auditor Study Tips from Top Performers

1Organize your open-note materials before exam day — download and create PDFs of all course lessons and practice using Ctrl+F to search terms quickly

2Master the PERC audit methodology (Plan, Execute, Report, Corrective Action) as it is the framework for the entire exam

3Study the OIG Work Plan thoroughly and understand what the OIG monitors and audits by provider type

4Review root cause analysis tools including RCA, HFMEA, and the Safety Assessment Code (SAC) Matrix

5Practice with the mock exam included in your course to calibrate your pacing for the 3-hour time limit

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AIHC CHA exam format?

The CHA exam is a 100-question, open-note, 3-hour online proctored certification exam. You need 80% or higher to pass. The exam is taken remotely by appointment with a professional proctor.

What are the prerequisites for the CHA certification?

You must complete AIHC's Auditing for Compliance online course before taking the CHA exam. The course is a 4-month self-paced program. One exam attempt is included in the course tuition, provided it is taken within 3 months of completing the course.

What topics are tested on the CHA exam?

The exam covers five domains: Acronyms and Terms, Planning the Business System Audit (including OIG compliance standards), Executing the Audit (including medical record documentation and attorney-client privilege), Reporting Audit Results (including root cause analysis), and Corrective Action (including PDCA methodology).

How much does the CHA certification cost?

The Auditing for Compliance course (which includes one exam attempt) costs $1,250 for non-members or $750 for AIHC members. Additional exam attempts can be purchased if needed, up to 3 total attempts within 1 year.

What is the CHA exam pass rate?

AIHC reports a 92% first-attempt pass rate when the exam is taken within 4 weeks of completing the Auditing for Compliance course. The overall first-attempt pass rate within 3 months of course completion is 85%.

How do I maintain my CHA credential?

CHA holders must earn 6 continuing education units (CEUs) annually to maintain the credential. AIHC offers free and low-cost CEU programs for members.