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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CHMSP Exam

100

Exam Questions

AIHC CHMSP Info Packet 2025

3 hrs

Time Limit

AIHC

80%

Passing Score

AIHC

92%

Typical First-Attempt Pass Rate

AIHC (within 4 weeks of training)

2 attempts

Included with Enrollment

AIHC CHMSP Info Packet

6 CEUs/yr

Annual Renewal

AIHC

The CHMSP is AIHC's HIPAA certification specifically built for IT-side Business Associates. The 100-question, open-note, professionally proctored online exam runs 3 hours with an 80% passing score. The exam covers three domains: HIPAA Acronyms/Terms, HIPAA & HITECH/Privacy/Security/BAAs for MSPs, and Vendor Risk Management. Training is delivered exclusively by HIPAA For MSPs, with the AIHC exam fee bundled into course tuition; the credential renews annually via 6 HIPAA CEUs.

Sample CHMSP Practice Questions

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

1Under HIPAA, when does a managed service provider (MSP) become a business associate of a healthcare client?
A.Only when the MSP signs a Business Associate Agreement
B.When the MSP creates, receives, maintains, or transmits PHI on behalf of the covered entity
C.Only if the MSP can decrypt the PHI
D.Only when the MSP touches paper PHI
Explanation: Per 45 CFR 160.103, a business associate is any person or entity that creates, receives, maintains, or transmits PHI on behalf of a covered entity (or another BA) for a function or activity regulated by HIPAA. MSP status as a BA is triggered by the activity, not by the contract; the BAA simply documents an obligation that already legally exists.
2An MSP only routes encrypted ePHI between hospitals using a VPN appliance and never stores the data. The MSP claims the conduit exception. Is this claim valid?
A.Yes, transmission-only services qualify for the conduit exception
B.No, encrypted data is never covered by the conduit exception
C.Only if the MSP is a telecommunications carrier
D.Yes, because encryption automatically removes BA status
Explanation: Per HHS OCR guidance, the conduit exception applies to entities that provide transmission-only services for PHI, including any temporary storage incidental to transmission. A pure routing service that does not maintain ePHI may qualify. However, OCR construes the exception narrowly — true conduits are typically the U.S. Postal Service, telephone carriers, and ISPs. If the MSP also stores or processes the data beyond transient transmission, it is a BA.
3Which of the following is REQUIRED content of a Business Associate Agreement under 45 CFR 164.504(e)?
A.The BA's Errors and Omissions insurance policy limits
B.A description of permitted and required uses and disclosures of PHI
C.Audited financial statements of the BA
D.Pricing terms and renewal schedule
Explanation: 45 CFR 164.504(e)(2) lists the mandatory content of a BAA: establish permitted/required uses and disclosures, prohibit other uses/disclosures, require appropriate safeguards including Security Rule compliance for ePHI, require reporting of unauthorized uses or breaches, ensure subcontractors agree to the same terms, make PHI available for individual access/amendment/accounting, make books and records available to HHS, and require return or destruction of PHI at termination.
4An MSP subcontracts cloud backup to a third-party SaaS vendor. Under HIPAA, what is required?
A.Nothing extra — the MSP's BAA with the covered entity covers the subcontractor
B.The covered entity must sign a separate BAA directly with the subcontractor
C.The MSP must execute a BAA with the subcontractor that is at least as restrictive as the upstream BAA
D.Subcontractors are exempt if they only store encrypted data
Explanation: Per 45 CFR 164.502(e)(1)(ii) and 164.504(e)(5), a business associate must obtain satisfactory assurances from any subcontractor that creates, receives, maintains, or transmits PHI on its behalf. The requirements of 164.504(e)(2) through (e)(4) apply to the BA-subcontractor agreement in the same manner as they apply to a CE-BA agreement. This is commonly called the 'flow-down' rule.
5Which event marked the change that made business associates DIRECTLY liable for HIPAA Security Rule compliance?
A.The HITECH Act of 2009 and 2013 Omnibus Final Rule
B.The original 1996 HIPAA statute
C.The 2003 Privacy Rule effective date
D.The 2024 NPRM on cybersecurity
Explanation: The HITECH Act (2009) and HHS's 2013 Omnibus Final Rule extended direct liability under the HIPAA Security Rule and certain Privacy Rule provisions to business associates and their subcontractors. Before HITECH, BAs were only contractually accountable to their covered-entity clients; now OCR can investigate and penalize BAs directly.
6An MSP technician needs administrative access to a hospital's electronic medical record (EMR) database server to apply patches. The MSP has a signed BAA. What HIPAA principle most directly limits the technician's access?
A.The conduit exception
B.The minimum necessary standard
C.The Privacy Rule's right of access
D.The Breach Notification Rule
Explanation: The minimum necessary standard (45 CFR 164.502(b) and 164.514(d)) requires covered entities and business associates to limit uses, disclosures, and requests of PHI to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose. For an MSP technician, this means using role-based access tied to the specific maintenance function — not blanket access to PHI tables.
7Under 45 CFR 164.308(a)(1), the Security Management Process standard requires which REQUIRED implementation specification?
A.Encryption and decryption
B.Risk analysis
C.Automatic logoff
D.Password management
Explanation: 164.308(a)(1)(ii) lists four required implementation specifications under the Security Management Process: (A) Risk Analysis, (B) Risk Management, (C) Sanction Policy, and (D) Information System Activity Review. All four are 'required' (not 'addressable').
8What does 'addressable' mean for a HIPAA Security Rule implementation specification?
A.Optional — entities may ignore it without documentation
B.Mandatory only for covered entities, not business associates
C.Must be implemented if reasonable and appropriate, or alternative measure documented
D.Required only when ePHI exceeds a certain volume
Explanation: Per 45 CFR 164.306(d)(3), an addressable specification requires the regulated entity to (i) assess whether the specification is a reasonable and appropriate safeguard in its environment, (ii) implement it if so, or (iii) implement an equivalent alternative if not, AND document the rationale. Addressable is never 'optional'.
9An MSP performs an annual risk analysis. Which NIST publication is the foundational methodology that NIST SP 800-66 Rev 2 references for risk assessment?
A.NIST SP 800-53
B.NIST SP 800-30
C.NIST SP 800-171
D.NIST CSF 1.0
Explanation: NIST SP 800-66 Rev 2 (February 2024) — the HIPAA Security Rule implementation guide — references NIST SP 800-30 (Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments) and the NIST IR 8286 series as the foundational risk-assessment methodology for HIPAA risk analysis.
10Which of the following BEST describes the scope of a HIPAA risk analysis under 45 CFR 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A)?
A.Only the EMR application
B.Only systems exposed to the public internet
C.All ePHI created, received, maintained, or transmitted by the regulated entity
D.Only systems located in the primary data center
Explanation: An accurate, thorough risk analysis must cover all ePHI the regulated entity creates, receives, maintains, or transmits — across all systems, applications, devices, and media, including endpoints, mobile devices, backups, and third-party-hosted environments. Scope-limited risk analyses are a frequent OCR enforcement finding.

About the CHMSP Exam

The CHMSP (Certified in HIPAA for Managed Service Provider) credential is awarded by the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC) and recognizes IT consultants and Managed Service Providers who function as Business Associates under HIPAA. The certification validates competency in HIPAA Security Rule implementation, business associate agreement obligations, and downstream vendor risk management for healthcare clients.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

80%

Exam Fee

Bundled with HIPAA For MSPs course tuition (AIHC (training by HIPAA For MSPs))

CHMSP Exam Content Outline

Domain 1

HIPAA Acronyms, Terms and Definitions

Foundational HIPAA terminology, covered entities versus business associates, ePHI versus PHI, and the regulatory framework (Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Breach Notification Rule, HITECH).

Domain 2

HIPAA & HITECH, Privacy, Security, Business Associate Agreements for MSPs

HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule provisions as applied to MSPs, HITECH Act direct liability for business associates, BAA required content under 45 CFR 164.504(e), administrative/physical/technical safeguards under 164.308/310/312, breach notification timing, and ransomware/incident-response obligations.

Domain 3

Vendor Risk Management

Subcontractor and downstream BAA flow-down, cloud BAAs and the conduit exception, shared-responsibility model with major cloud providers, due diligence (SOC 2, HITRUST), and ongoing vendor monitoring.

How to Pass the CHMSP Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 80%
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam fee: Bundled with HIPAA For MSPs course tuition

Keys to Passing

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

CHMSP Study Tips from Top Performers

1Treat the open-note format as a search advantage: build a single PDF or notebook with HIPAA acronyms, 45 CFR section anchors (164.308/310/312/402/410/504(e)), and required-vs-addressable specification lists you can Ctrl-F during the exam.
2Master the Security Rule structure: administrative (164.308), physical (164.310), and technical (164.312) safeguards. Memorize which implementation specifications are REQUIRED vs ADDRESSABLE for each standard.
3Know the Business Associate Agreement essentials: 45 CFR 164.504(e) required content, satisfactory assurances, subcontractor flow-down per 164.502(e)(1)(ii), and the narrow scope of the conduit exception per HHS OCR guidance.
4Drill the Breach Notification Rule: BA-to-CE notice ≤60 days, four-factor risk assessment under 164.402, OCR's 2016 ransomware presumption, and the 500-individual threshold for HHS and media notice.
5Study the cloud shared-responsibility model and OCR's Cloud Computing Guidance — encrypted ePHI in a CSP still triggers BAA requirements; the CSP secures the cloud, the customer secures IN the cloud.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CHMSP exam format?

The CHMSP exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions administered online with a professional AIHC proctor. It is open-note and you have 3 hours to complete it. The exam is divided into three domains: HIPAA Acronyms and Terms; HIPAA & HITECH, Privacy, Security, and BAAs for MSPs; and Vendor Risk Management.

What score do I need to pass the CHMSP?

You need a score of 80% or higher to pass the CHMSP certification exam. According to AIHC, the typical first-attempt pass rate for candidates who take the exam within 4 weeks of completing the HIPAA For MSPs training is 92%.

What are the prerequisites for the CHMSP certification?

You must successfully complete the CHMSP training delivered by HIPAA For MSPs (the exclusive AIHC training partner for this credential). The certification is limited to experienced IT professionals such as IT consultants and Managed Service Providers acting as Business Associates. You must schedule and pass the exam within 3 months of completing your training.

How many exam attempts do I get?

Two (2) certification exam attempts are included when you enroll through HIPAA For MSPs, provided you take the first attempt within 3 months of completing the training. An additional paid attempt is available within 1 year of your initial certification exam enrollment date if needed.

How much does the CHMSP certification cost?

Your AIHC exam fee and a 1-year AIHC membership are bundled into the HIPAA For MSPs course tuition, so there are no separate AIHC fees to pay at registration. Pricing for the HIPAA For MSPs course is published by HIPAA For MSPs at hipaaformsps.com.

How do I maintain the CHMSP credential?

You must earn 6 HIPAA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) annually. CEUs earned through HIPAA For MSPs are accepted, and AIHC offers free and low-cost CEU programs on its website. AIHC membership is also required, which is paid by HIPAA For MSPs while you remain enrolled with that organization.

What topics does the CHMSP exam cover?

The exam covers three domains: (1) HIPAA Acronyms, Terms and Definitions; (2) HIPAA & HITECH, Privacy, Security, and Business Associate Agreements for MSPs (including Security Rule administrative, physical, and technical safeguards under 45 CFR 164.308/310/312); and (3) Vendor Risk Management (subcontractor BAAs, cloud-provider risk, and shared-responsibility model).