The Health Information Privacy and Security Act (HIPAA) is a set of federal regulations that govern how healthcare organizations store and share patient information. HIPAA compliance is imperative for healthcare organizations to operate, but the number of documents, policies, and procedures can be overwhelming.
The HIPAA certification exam can seem even more intimidating. However, with the proper preparation, you have a good chance of passing your first attempt. Read on to learn more about the logistics of bloodborne pathogens training and common pitfalls when studying for the HIPAA certification test.
Who Can Take the HIPAA Exam?
You can take the exam if you work in a position regulated by HIPAA, such as a healthcare provider, healthcare organization staff, or business associate. Other professionals, such as attorneys, risk managers, and accountants, also may be required to take the exam.
The exam is offered at least once a year, and the testing fee is $165. You can find testing locations at the contractor’s website that administers the exam.
How to Register for the HIPAA Exam?
The first step to take before you study for the HIPAA exam is to register for the exam. To do so, you must create an account on the website. You will be asked to enter your personal information, including your name, address, phone number, and Social Security Number. You will also be asked to enter your work information if you work in a regulated industry.
The Exam Format
The HIPAA certification exam is a computer-based test that lasts three and a half hours. The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions and one “hot spot” question. The hot spot question is a question that is randomly selected from a bank of questions and is the last question on the exam.
A “skyscraper” question also appears in a separate window. This question is not part of the bank of questions and does not count against your 100-question maximum. If you finish the exam with time remaining, you will be given a randomly generated question from the bank of questions.
Study Habits for Passing the HIPAA Exam
You may feel a little overwhelmed if you are just beginning to prepare for the exam. You may not even know where to begin. Take a deep breath, stay calm, and try to relax. This is a challenging exam, but you can pass the first time with the right approach. The following are a few key points to keep in mind while studying for the exam.
Build a study schedule
You have nine months to prepare for this exam. It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon. It’s best to pace yourself to avoid burnout and mental exhaustion. Make sure that you schedule time for both short-term and long-term studying. You want to be in full-on study mode a few weeks before the exam.
You also want to give yourself enough time to absorb your learning information. Don’t learn the information cold; try to get a feel for the material first.
Take breaks
This is especially important when you’re in study mode. Your brain needs a break now and then. You don’t want to get burned out or depressed from studying for too long. Taking regular breaks will help keep your mind fresh and help you to retain the information better.
Choose your study materials wisely
Some are better than others. You want to find materials that are accurate and current. You also want to find materials that are written at an appropriate level.
Some materials are too basic, while others are too technical. You also want to make sure that they are consistent. Some study guides are excellent, while others are not. Look online to see which materials are the most popular. You can also talk to others who have taken the exam to see what worked for them.
Take a practice exam
Once you’ve chosen your study materials, try to take a practice exam to get an idea of the difficulty level of the exam. You want to see which areas you need to focus on the most.
You also want to get used to the exam format, so you’re not surprised or thrown off when test day comes. A practice exam can also help you relax, even if it’s just a little bit.
Key Point: Don’t panic!
You may feel like you don’t have enough time or don’t know enough to pass. You may feel like you don’t have the money to pay for the test. Keep in mind that you’re not alone. Many other people are feeling the same way.
Many people have taken the test more than once and passed on their second attempt. The exam is designed to be challenging, but it’s also designed to be beatable. You just have to make sure that you’re prepared.
Stay Calm and Breathe
As we’ve discussed, you may feel stressed and nervous about taking the exam. You may feel like you are not prepared enough to pass the exam. The best thing you can do is to remain calm and relaxed.
You want to try to reduce the stress you put on yourself. Try meditating or doing yoga before your exam. You can also try taking a few deep breaths when you feel stressed. Deep breathing can help to reduce stress.
Taking a few deep breaths can help to calm your nerves. You can try closing your eyes and taking a few minutes to yourself. Focus on your breathing and try to let all of the stress melt away.
Don’t be afraid to use the online answer guide
Many people are apprehensive about using the online answer guide. The online answer guide can be a great asset to you. You can use it as a guide to mark your selection on the exam. You can use it to mark the questions you are unsure about so that you can go back and review them.
You can also use it to mark the questions that you are entirely sure about so that you don’t spend unnecessary time on those questions. Many people simply don’t know what to expect when taking the exam.
You may feel like you don’t know what to do when facing the online answer guide. You may be unsure about how to use it to your advantage. Don’t be afraid to use the online answer guide as guide.
Don’t study for vocabulary or idioms unless you already know them
Many people make the mistake of trying to learn common vocabulary and idioms before they take the exam. This can be a mistake because you don’t have time to learn these words, and you don’t have time to commit them to memory before the exam. Your best bet is to simply try to understand the meanings of the words and recognize them when you see them.
You don’t want to spend too much time committing the words and their meanings to memory because this can be difficult and time-consuming. You want to ensure that you have enough time to understand the concepts.
Summing up
If you follow these tips, you have a good chance of passing your first attempt at the exam. You can also speed up your studying by doing practice questions and using a study guide. You can find practice questions and study guides online or at your local library.
You can also ask others for advice on how they passed the exam. Don’t be afraid to try again if you don’t pass the exam on your first attempt. Many people study for this exam for years before they pass. You’re not alone; you can pass if you stay positive and prepare well!
