Home » Certification » CHIME Foundation Certified Healthcare Executive (CFCHE)

ABOUT

The CHIME Foundation Certified Healthcare Executive (CFCHE) program is your opportunity as a CHIME Foundation representative to distinguish yourself and showcase your professional commitment, credibility and comprehensive understanding of the healthcare IT environment.

A CFCHE demonstrates advanced knowledge and skills within a healthcare provider setting. Earning the CFCHE designation is an invaluable resource that recognizes those who understand the various responsibilities and strategic vision of a healthcare leader.

Become a CFCHE, and start building more influential collaborative partnerships with CHIME members.

“The CFCHE credential is very important to me as a health CIO because it lets me know very quickly that the Foundation Rep has knowledge of healthcare and HIT issues. This credential helps to limit the educational requirements that normally precede the development of a working relationship between the vendor and CIO.”

– Randy McCleese, CHCIO, FCHIME, LCHIME – CIO of Methodist Hospital

PROGRAM ENROLLMENT

CFCHE Program enrollment is $649. Enrollment into the program includes:

♦   CFCHE program application
♦   The CFCHE exam study materials that include the reading materials divided by domain, a CFHCE practice exam and the CFCHE blueprint
♦   CFCHE exam registration

View the list of CFCHE Professionals (current as of January 20, 2022)
Looking to learn more? View ‘CFCHE- Your Questions Answered‘ webinar (Password: 1w*ACBC1)
(current as of May 2020)

Enroll in CFCHE Program Only

Enroll in CFCHE Program & Prep Course

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Who is eligible to participate in the CFCHE program?
To participate in the CFCHE program, an individual must be currently employed by a CHIME Foundation firm in good standing and meet the following requirements:

♦ Three years of professional experience at a CHIME Foundation member organization or other
qualified healthcare provider organization
OR
♦ One year of professional experience at a CHIME Foundation firm AND currently maintains CHCIO status

Is CFCHE accreditation right for you?
The CFCHE credential is designed for employees of CHIME foundation firms. Typically, the candidate:

♦ Has responsibility for the relationship to CHIME members and their organizations
♦ Leads and/or participates in the product development, communication or other relationship with
CHIME members

The credential focuses on firms that support the following types of CHIME members:

♦ Health Services Delivery Organization
♦ Healthcare Payer/Insurance Organizations
♦ Organizations related to healthcare IT whose primary business may include sales of hardware, software
software, or IT services to healthcare CIOs

* For questions regarding the CFCHE program please email certification@chimecentral.org or call 734.665.0000.

CFCHE Candidate Requirements

To enroll in the CFCHE program, applicants must:

♦ Be currently employee by a CHIME Foundation Firm in good standing
♦   Possess a baccalaureate degree – or be enrolled in a baccalaureate program (this requirement varies
by region and country)
♦   Complete the program enrollment form with program enrollment (This includes; CFCHE application,
study materials, practice exam and exam)

*The CFCHE program enrollment is active for one year. This is to ensure the most recent information is collected in the candidate’s record and that the candidate is using the most up to date study materials to prepare for and take the exam. In the event a program enrollment expires, there is a re-enrollment fee of $99.

Becoming CFCHE Certified
CFCHE certification status requirements*:
- Successfully pass the CHIME Foundation Certified Healthcare Executive (CFCHE) examination
- Be currently employed by a CHIME Foundation Firm in good standing and have three years of professional experience at a CHIME Foundation member organization or other qualified healthcare provider organization. OR one year of professional experience at a CHIME Foundation firm AND currently maintains CHCIO status.
- Complete 25 qualifying Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within the 24 months prior or 12 months after enrolling in the program(see CEU tab for additional information)
- Attest to uphold the CHIME Professional Standards of Conduct
*Applicants who do not meet all requirements listed above will qualify for CFCHE-Eligible status, and be given the opportunity to complete those requirements to apply for full CHFCHE status upon completion.
ENROLL NOW
Look Who’s CFCHE Certified!

Individuals from the following organizations have received their CFCHE designation. Don’t be left behind. Enroll today!

CFCHE EXAM & RESOURCES

The CFCHE examination consists of 100 multiple choice questions, including scenario-based and independent questions. The examination will be taken without the aid of study guides or other resources. The CFCHE examination is offered at CHIME in-person events in the United States AND at testing centers worldwide.

Register for an Upcoming In-Person Exam
- TBD
Online Exam

Testing Centers: CHIME has partnered with Kryterion to offer the CFCHE exam online at over 800 testing centers around the world. CHIME will coordinate your remote test at a Kryterion site after enrollment. To locate a testing center near you, click here

Remote Testing: Testing in the convenience of your office or home office is also available. Select “remote testing” when enrolling. Click on the device requirements to understand what is required for this type of home-based testing.

Exam Study Materials

Upon enrollment into the CFCHE program you will receive a link to the CFCHE exam study materials.

CFCHE Exam Blueprint

The exam blueprint takes you through the six domains which are comprised of 47 knowledge and skill statements, from which the exam was created.

ENROLL NOW
PREP COURSE

Studying for exams can create unnecessary stress, sifting through overwhelming loads of information, and uncertainty about study material and best ways to prepare. Our CFCHE Prep Course is designed to take you through the process of preparing for the CFCHE Exam and help you understand how to prepare and what to look for.

The Digital CFCHE Prep Course takes you on a deeper dive into the constructs of the CFCHE Examination. Students will learn from CFCHE-certified Foundation representatives, experienced in both the field and in the CFCHE program. This course transforms studying into application, providing clear peer-led sessions for each Domain area concentrating on critical topics and leaving the student with tangible insight.

This course includes:
- Peer-to-peer insight into the concepts learners will be tested on
- Flexible learning to meet each persons’ level of knowledge and availability
- Short sample quizzes to test level of understanding at each Domain
- Personalized guide and point of contact to walk you through this process
The CFCHE Prep Course is not a requirement to enrolling in the program nor passing the exam; it stands on its own as a peer-led study platform that guides you as you prepare and offers you real-world perspective, which is what the CFCHE Exam is designed to do. The CFCHE Exam asks questions based on the reading materials but written from experience. Gain a foundation of insight and application to carry you along in your studies, test your understanding, and train for further success in your career.

CFCHE Prep Course Begins August 19

Enroll in CFCHE Prep Course

*Access to Prep Course is active for 12 months from date of enrollment.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs)

The CFCHE program requires individuals to participate in professional development and educational activities. CHIME utilizes Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to measure participation.

CHIME recognizes ONE hour of professional development and educational activity participation as equivalent to ONE CEU.

Submitting CEUs for CHIME & Non-CHIME Events

Please select CHIME-based CEUs to submit credits for events and sessions sponsored by CHIME. All other submissions outside of CHIME should be reported as non-CHIME CEUs.

How to Submit CEUs:
♦   For non-CHIME submissions, please include provider’s name in the event title
♦   Archived submissions must include original date in description and date applied in start and end dates
♦   Multiple (up to three) events may be submitted on one form, but all must fall under the same
category, non-CHIME or CHIME events

SUBMIT CHIME EVENT SUBMIT NON-CHIME EVENT

Qualifying CEU Opportunities

CHIME Opportunities

– CHIME international conferences (eHealth Summits, WOHIT, CHIME Spring CIO Forum)
– CHIME workshops (Leadership Academy)
– CHIME audio/video conferences and webinars (College LIVE sessions)
– CHIME Foundation focus groups (online and in-person)
– CHIME Certification Committee participation (subcommittee work: item writing, job analysis, item
review panel, etc.)
– CHIME Committee participation
– Professional speaking and/or development of presentations (CHIME Fall CIO Forum track sessions,
College LIVE sessions)

Non-CHIME Opportunities

– Academic teaching, development of curricula, and/or attending classes* ^
– Publications (writing articles, chapters in books)
– Conferences, workshops, courses and other educational activities from other organizations
(e.g. ACHE, HIMSS, etc.)

* Completion of college or university courses must be from an accredited institution and topic area related to the healthcare CIO profession. Relevant courses include, but are not limited to: business, accounting, healthcare, marketing, IT/IS, human resources, informatics and healthcare informatics.

^Academic CEUs awarded (both teaching and/or attending as a student) will be determined by multiplying the number of credit hours earned for the course by a factor of 3. For example, if you complete a course that is worth four credit hours, the maximum CEUs you may request is 12 (4 x 3 = 12 CEUs). If you are submitting Academic CEUs for a course that you attended, please submit an official transcript upon completion of the course.

If you need help determining whether an activity qualifies for a CEU or how to calculate the number of CEUs, please email the CHIME certification team at certification@chimecentral.org.

CEU Reports/Transcripts

To view a current listing of your CEU record, please contact the CHIME professional development staff at certification@chimecentral.org. Requests will be filled within 48 hours.

Transcripts will include your certification date range, a break-down of CHIME credits and non-CHIME credits earned, as well as certification status as indicated by requirements fulfilled.

Activities and/or events that are eligible to receive education credits include: online educational events (i.e. Hosting a College LIVE or CHIME Foundation focus group), advocacy webinars/meetings, CHIME committees, and the Spring and Fall CIO Forums.

CFCHEs are required to participate in professional development and educational activities. CHIME utilizes Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to measure participation. The purpose of the CEU is to record and quantify the time CFCHEs participating in relevant professional development and educational activities.

CHIME recognizes one hour of participation as equivalent to one CEU.
CREDENTIAL MAINTENANCE

To maintain/renew your CFCHE status:

♦   Continue your employment with a CHIME Foundation Firm in good standing.
♦   Complete 45 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) with a minimum of ten credits per year, of
which 50% must be CHIME activities**+
♦   Submit renewal/maintenance fee of $199
♦   Adhere to the CHIME Professional Standards of Conduct
♦   In lieu of submitting CEUs, may sit for the CFCHE Exam

** If you have completed at least 80% of your CEUs within three years, you may apply for a six-month extension to complete the remaining credits.
+CFCHEs can retain the CFCHE credential should they or their organization leave CHIME and are therefore not able to maintain their membership. To keep their credential current, they would need to earn 45 CEUs. The requirement that half of the CEUs need to be from CHIME activities would be waived since they would no longer be eligible to attend CHIME events. The same does not apply to those with a CFCHE-Eligible status.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is eligible to participate?
To participate in the CFCHE program, you must be currently employed by a CHIME Foundation firm in good standing and meet the following requirements:

♦ Possess a baccalaureate degree – or be enrolled in a baccalaureate program
AND
♦ Three years of professional experience at a CHIME Foundation member organization or other
qualified healthcare provider organization
OR
♦ One year of professional experience at a CHIME Foundation firm AND currently maintains CHCIO status

What is the benefit to becoming certified?
Being CFCHE certified demonstrates to CIOs that you have advanced knowledge and skills within a healthcare IT environment. The designation will distinguish you from your peers and help build stronger collaborative partnerships with industry leaders.

What does the program entail?
The CFCHE program enrollment includes the application to the program, study materials for the exam, and the exam. The CFCHE exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions, including scenario-based and independent questions.

Who developed the exam?
The CFCHE exam was written and developed by a Committee comprised of both CHIME Foundation member representatives and CHIME CHCIO members. The exam was modeled after the CHCIO exam to relate perspectives on items and issues that an experienced healthcare IT service representative should know.

Does CHIME provide study materials?
Yes. Upon enrollment into the CFCHE program you will receive a link to the CFCHE exam study materials divided by domain. CHIME also offers an exam blueprint, the blueprint provides an overview of the six domains and knowledge and skill statements from which the exam was created.

Where can I take the exam?
The CFCHE examination is offered remotely online, at CHIME in-person events, and at local testing centers across the country. Click here to locate a testing center near you.

How much does it cost?
Program enrollment is $649 and includes:

♦ The CFCHE program application
♦ The CFCHE exam study materials that include the reading materials, a CFCHE practice exam and the
CFCHE blueprint
♦ CFCHE exam registration

How do I enroll?
There are two ways to enroll:
1. You can add the CFCHE program to any in-person CHIME event registration.
2. You can complete your CFCHE enrollment online at any time.

Once your application and payment have been submitted, you will receive a confirmation with access to the CFCHE examination study materials. A CHIME staff member will also be in touch to provide support throughout your certification journey.

When can I start?
You can begin your journey now! Enroll in the program and begin to prepare for the exam.

In-person exams will be held at the CHIME Spring CIO Forums, CHIME Partner Education Summits, and at our CHIME Fall Forums. For information on upcoming events, please visit https://chimecentral.org/events/forums-workshops/.

If I don’t pass, can I retake the exam?
You are able to retake the exam for a $99 exam fee. There is no time delay between the first and second attempt.