Results, Retakes, and RHIA Maintenance
Key Takeaways
- The current RHIA passing score is 300, not a raw-percentage formula.
- The RHIA exam fee is $229 for AHIMA members and $299 for non-members, and the retake fee is the same as the exam fee.
- After an unsuccessful attempt, RHIA candidates submit a new application and fee, then wait 30 days before the retake application is approved and scheduling can occur.
- RHIA credential maintenance uses a 2-year certification period with required CEUs and a recertification fee.
After the RHIA Exam
The current RHIA passing score is 300. Treat that as the official pass point, not as a raw percentage. The exam includes scored and pretest items, and AHIMA reports the passing standard as a score. Final review should therefore focus on mastering decisions across the outline rather than trying to calculate a specific number of correct answers.
If you pass, the next responsibility is credential maintenance. The RHIA credential has a 2-year certification period with required continuing education units and a recertification fee. That means certification is not a one-time task. It becomes part of your professional calendar, and the same administrator-level habits you used for exam preparation should be applied to maintenance tracking.
If you do not pass, use the result as structured feedback. The current retake process requires a new application and exam fee. RHIA candidates wait 30 days before the retake application is approved and they can schedule. The retake fee is the same as the exam fee, so plan both time and cost before choosing a new date. That waiting period is useful review time when it is organized around documented weak domains.
Current RHIA fees in the brief are $229 for AHIMA members and $299 for non-members. These amounts apply to the exam fee and the retake fee. Because fees and rules can change over time, use the official AHIMA and MyAHIMA sources when actually applying, but use the current values from this guide when studying these logistics.
| Post-exam item | Current RHIA fact |
|---|---|
| Passing score | 300 |
| Current exam fee | $229 AHIMA member or $299 non-member |
| Retake fee | Same as the exam fee |
| Retake process | New application and new fee after an unsuccessful attempt |
| RHIA retake timing | 30-day wait before retake application approval and scheduling |
| Maintenance | 2-year certification period with required CEUs and recertification fee |
A good retake plan is specific. Sort weak areas by current domain, review missed decision patterns, and build practice around the tasks that caused difficulty. If you were weak in management, practice change management, HR, budgets, and projects. If you were weak in analytics, practice reports, visual displays, databases, data mining, SDLC, HIE, and statistics validation.
Avoid emotional overcorrection. Do not abandon strong domains entirely, and do not study only the domain that felt worst. The exam covers all five domains. Your retake plan should preserve strengths while spending more time on confirmed weak areas and high-weight content.
Maintenance planning should begin soon after passing. Track CEUs, keep records organized, and watch renewal timing. A certified RHIA who manages credential maintenance well is practicing the same documentation and compliance discipline expected in HIM leadership.
What is the current RHIA passing score listed in the brief?
A non-member needs to retake RHIA under the current fee facts. What fee should be expected?
What happens after an unsuccessful RHIA attempt?