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Exam Review

Key Facts: CHCO Exam

100

Exam Questions

AIHC

3 hrs

Time Limit

AIHC

80%

Passing Score

AIHC

92%

Typical First-Attempt Pass Rate

AIHC (within 4 weeks of course)

3

Exam Domains

AIHC

6 CEUs/yr

Annual Maintenance

AIHC

The CHCO is AIHC's flagship HIPAA compliance certification. The 100-question, open-note, proctored online exam covers three domains: Acronyms and Terms, Privacy Rules, and Security Rules and Management of Risk. Candidates must complete the AIHC HIPAA Privacy & Security course before sitting for the exam, and the typical first-attempt pass rate within four weeks of course completion is 92%.

Sample CHCO Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CHCO exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What does the acronym HIPAA stand for?
A.Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
B.Health Information Privacy and Access Act
C.Healthcare Industry Protection and Accountability Act
D.Health Insurance Protection and Authorization Act
Explanation: HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, enacted in 1996 as Public Law 104-191. It established national standards for protecting health information. Exam Tip: Know the full name and the year of enactment — these are foundational facts that appear frequently on the exam.
2Which of the following is NOT considered a covered entity under HIPAA?
A.A hospital that transmits claims electronically
B.A health insurance company
C.A healthcare clearinghouse
D.A janitorial company that cleans a clinic
Explanation: Covered entities under HIPAA include health plans, healthcare providers who transmit health information electronically, and healthcare clearinghouses. A janitorial company is not a covered entity, though it could be a business associate if it has access to PHI. Exam Tip: Remember the three categories of covered entities — health plans, providers, and clearinghouses.
3What does PHI stand for in the context of HIPAA?
A.Private Health Indicators
B.Protected Health Information
C.Personal Healthcare Identification
D.Patient Health Index
Explanation: PHI stands for Protected Health Information, which is individually identifiable health information that is created, received, maintained, or transmitted by a covered entity or business associate. Exam Tip: PHI includes any information that can identify a patient and relates to their health condition, treatment, or payment.
4Which federal agency is primarily responsible for enforcing HIPAA regulations?
A.Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
B.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
C.Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
D.Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Explanation: The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the primary enforcement agency for HIPAA. OCR investigates complaints, conducts compliance reviews, and imposes penalties. Exam Tip: While CMS handles certain HIPAA transaction standards, OCR handles Privacy and Security Rule enforcement.
5What does the acronym ePHI stand for?
A.Essential Protected Health Information
B.Electronic Protected Health Information
C.Encrypted Patient Health Information
D.External Protected Health Indicators
Explanation: ePHI stands for Electronic Protected Health Information — any PHI that is created, stored, transmitted, or received in electronic form. The HIPAA Security Rule specifically addresses the protection of ePHI. Exam Tip: The Security Rule applies only to ePHI, while the Privacy Rule covers PHI in all forms (electronic, paper, and oral).
6What is a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)?
A.A contract between two healthcare providers to share patients
B.A written arrangement between a covered entity and a business associate that establishes the permitted uses and disclosures of PHI
C.An agreement between an employer and an employee regarding health benefits
D.A partnership agreement between two hospitals
Explanation: A BAA is a written contract between a covered entity and a business associate that establishes what the business associate can and cannot do with PHI. It must include provisions for safeguarding PHI and reporting breaches. Exam Tip: A BAA is required before a covered entity can share PHI with any business associate.
7Which of the following is an example of a business associate under HIPAA?
A.A patient who requests their medical records
B.A third-party billing company that processes claims for a hospital
C.A physician employed directly by the hospital
D.A patient's family member who picks up a prescription
Explanation: A business associate is a person or organization that performs functions or activities on behalf of a covered entity that involve access to PHI. A third-party billing company handling claims is a classic example. Exam Tip: Other common business associates include IT vendors, cloud service providers, medical transcription services, and attorneys.
8What does HITECH stand for?
A.Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health
B.Healthcare IT Enhancement and Compliance Harmonization
C.Health Insurance Technology for Electronic Care Handling
D.Healthcare Information Transparency and Electronic Communication Hub
Explanation: HITECH stands for Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, enacted in 2009. It strengthened HIPAA enforcement, expanded breach notification requirements, and extended HIPAA obligations directly to business associates. Exam Tip: HITECH significantly increased civil and criminal penalties for HIPAA violations.
9Which of the following is considered one of the 18 HIPAA identifiers that make health information individually identifiable?
A.Blood type
B.Social Security number
C.Diagnosis code
D.Medication dosage
Explanation: HIPAA defines 18 specific identifiers that, when combined with health information, create PHI. Social Security number is one of these identifiers. Others include names, dates, phone numbers, email addresses, and medical record numbers. Exam Tip: Memorize all 18 identifiers — the exam frequently tests whether a specific data element is an identifier.
10What is the primary purpose of the HIPAA Privacy Rule?
A.To regulate the electronic transmission of healthcare claims
B.To establish national standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information
C.To set standards for health plan coverage portability
D.To define criminal penalties for healthcare fraud
Explanation: The Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other individually identifiable health information. It addresses the use and disclosure of PHI by covered entities and gives patients rights over their health information. Exam Tip: The Privacy Rule applies to PHI in all forms — electronic, paper, and oral.

About the CHCO Exam

The CHCO (Certified HIPAA Compliance Officer) credential is awarded by the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC) to professionals who demonstrate mastery of HIPAA privacy and security regulations. The certification validates competency in protecting health information, managing compliance programs, and mitigating risks under federal law.

Exam sponsor: AIHC. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

80%

Exam / Certification Fees

$1,250 non-member / $950 member (includes course + 1 exam attempt)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

~30%

Acronyms and Terms

HIPAA terminology, key definitions, covered entities, business associates, and foundational regulatory concepts.

~35%

Privacy Rules

HIPAA Privacy Rule, permitted uses and disclosures, minimum necessary standard, patient rights, Notice of Privacy Practices, and state law preemption.

~35%

Security Rules and Management of Risk

HIPAA Security Rule safeguards (administrative, physical, technical), risk analysis, breach notification, HITECH Act, and OCR enforcement.

Preparing for the CHCO Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 80%
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: $1,250 non-member / $950 member (includes course + 1 exam attempt) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CHCO: Suggested Study Strategy

1Create a searchable reference of HIPAA acronyms and terms since the exam is open-note — practice using Ctrl+F to quickly locate definitions during mock exams.
2Focus heavily on the Privacy Rule: know the 12 national priority purposes for permitted uses and disclosures, the minimum necessary standard, and patient rights (access, amendment, accounting of disclosures).
3Master the three categories of Security Rule safeguards — administrative, physical, and technical — and be able to identify which safeguard category a given control belongs to.
4Study the HITECH Act and Breach Notification Rule together, including the risk assessment factors for determining whether a breach is reportable and the notification timelines (60 days for individuals, annual HHS report).
5Take the AIHC mock exam under timed conditions to practice pacing yourself within the 3-hour time limit and get comfortable with the question style.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CHCO exam format?

The CHCO exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions administered online with a professional proctor. It is open-note, meaning you may reference your course materials during the exam. You have 3 hours to complete it.

What score do I need to pass the CHCO?

You need a score of 80% or higher to pass the CHCO certification exam. The typical first-attempt pass rate for candidates who take the exam within four weeks of completing the course is 92%.

What are the prerequisites for the CHCO certification?

You must complete the AIHC HIPAA Privacy & Security online course before sitting for the exam. AIHC recommends the certification for experienced HIPAA Privacy Officers and Medical Compliance Professionals. The exam must be taken within 3 months of completing the course.

How much does the CHCO certification cost?

The HIPAA Privacy & Security course tuition is $1,250 for non-members or $950 for AIHC members. One certification exam attempt is included in the tuition. Additional attempts cost $75 each, with a maximum of 3 total attempts within 1 year of enrollment.

How do I maintain the CHCO credential?

You must earn 6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) annually to maintain your CHCO credential. AIHC offers free and low-cost CEU programs for members.

What topics does the CHCO exam cover?

The exam covers three domains: Acronyms and Terms (HIPAA terminology and definitions), Privacy Rules (Privacy Rule provisions, patient rights, permitted uses and disclosures), and Security Rules and Management of Risk (Security Rule safeguards, risk analysis, breach notification, and HITECH Act).