8.4 After the Exam and Next Steps

Passing: Credential Issuance

A scaled score of 300 or higher (on the 100–400 scale) means you passed. You see an unofficial pass result on screen, and AHIMA posts the official score and credential to your AHIMA account, typically within a few days. Once issued, you may use the RHIT designation after your name and you are listed as an active credential holder.

Your 2-year recertification cycle begins on the day you pass. Plan early: rather than scrambling at the end, log CEUs as you earn them. New RHITs sometimes immediately pursue an AHIMA membership (if not already a member) because members get reduced CEU and event pricing — and you already paid the lower member exam fee if you joined before testing.

Maintaining the RHIT: CEUs and Recertification

AHIMA credentials are maintained through continuing education units (CEUs) reported in the AHIMA CEU Center. For a single credential, the RHIT requires 20 CEUs per 2-year cycle.

Key rules: CEUs must be earned within the cycle — anything earned after the cycle end date cannot roll forward. AHIMA audits a sample of credential holders, so retain documentation for every activity. Missing the requirement moves you to inactive/revoked status, after which the only path back is retaking the exam.

If You Do Not Pass: Retake Process

A failing result is recoverable. The score report includes domain-level feedback showing relative strengths and weaknesses — use it to target your re-study toward the weakest domains (often statistics, coding, or revenue cycle).

To retake, you reapply through AHIMA and pay the exam fee again ($229 member / $299 non-member). There is a mandatory waiting period of 30 days between attempts, and AHIMA limits the number of attempts within a rolling time window (you cannot test indefinitely back-to-back). Do not simply re-sit cold: rebuild your weakest domains, redo timed practice assessments, and re-drill the cold-recall facts from Section 8.2 before booking the next appointment.

Career Progression from RHIT

The RHIT is an associate-degree-level credential and a launchpad, not a ceiling. Common advancement paths:

Many RHITs move into coding, CDI, data analytics, release-of-information supervision, or HIM department management, then layer on a specialty credential or the RHIA. Each new AHIMA credential adds to your CEU obligation but expands your scope, title, and earning potential — the RHIT is the foundation the rest of an HIM career is built on.

How CEUs Actually Work

Not every learning activity counts the same, and knowing the categories prevents a last-minute shortfall:

• AHIMA programming — webinars, the annual conference, AHIMA Academy courses, and journal-based CEU quizzes are the most common, pre-approved sources.
• External activities — employer in-services, college coursework, and other approved continuing education in the HIM/HIIM domains can qualify.
• Annual progress — although the cycle is 2 years, AHIMA encourages roughly half (about 10 CEUs) by the midpoint so you are not racing the deadline.
• Carryover limits — a small number of CEUs may carry into the next cycle under AHIMA policy, but anything earned after the cycle closes is lost.

Inactive and revoked status

If you miss the requirement, the credential moves to inactive, then revoked after the grace/revocation period. Once revoked, the only route back to active status is to retake and pass the RHIT exam again — a strong reason to log CEUs steadily rather than gambling on a final-month sprint.

Why the ladder matters

Earning a second credential (say, CCS for coding depth or CHDA for analytics) does not double your CEU burden; AHIMA sets a combined requirement for multiple credentials. Layering credentials is how RHITs move from technician roles into coding leadership, CDI, privacy/compliance, and HIM management — each step backed by the verified competency the credential represents.

First moves as a new RHIT

In the weeks after passing, three actions pay off. First, update your resume, badge, and email signature to add "RHIT" — many HIM job postings list it as a requirement, so the credential immediately widens your options. Second, set a CEU plan now: schedule the AHIMA webinars or journal quizzes that will cover the cycle so you are not scrambling at month 23. Third, pick a specialization direction — if you gravitate to coding, start tracking the experience and study that lead to CCS; if you prefer data, aim at CHDA; if records management and privacy interest you, build toward CHPS or an RHIA.

The RHIT proves you can manage the legal health record, protect patient information, support the revenue cycle, and use health data — every higher credential and leadership role builds directly on that foundation.