Retiring Your Credential(s)
Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialists (RHDSs), Certified Medical Transcriptionists (CMTs), Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialists (CHDSs), and Certified Healthcare Documentation Professionals (CHDPs) with or without Auditor (CHDP-A) or Scribe (CHDP-S) micro-credentials who choose to retire or leave the industry may opt to carry a retired credential status moving forward.
- RHDS-R (Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist–Retired)
- CMT-R (Certified Medcal Transcriptionist–Retired)
- CHDS-R (Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist–Retired)
- CHDP-R (Certified Healthcare Documentation Professional–Retired, Certified Healthcare Documentation Professional Auditor–Retired, Certified Healthcare Documentation Professional Scribe–Retired)
Click the respective link below for the credential type you hold to learn more about the process, fees, and submitting an application.
NOTE: Those who hold multiple credentials may opt to retire just one credential while keeping another active. Or they may choose to retire all of their credentials at the same time. When retiring more than one credential, an application form and the associated fee must be submitted for each credential type that is held.
Retiring Your RHDS
Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialists (RHDSs) who choose to retire or leave the industry may opt to carry a retired credential status moving forward.
RHDS-R (Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist–Retired)
How it Works
An RHDS no longer practicing in the healthcare documentation field may choose to retire their credential and maintain the designation of RHDS-R. The RHDS-R signifies an individual has a history of sustaining a credentialed status through continuing education during his/her years of active employment in the industry but is no longer working in the industry.
Once a credential is retired, individuals are prohibited from using the RHDS alone (which would imply active employment within the healthcare documentation industry and a commitment to continuing education) and are required to include the “-R” designation with use of RHDS from that point forward.
Credentials may be retired at any point during the credentialing cycle (i.e., you do not have to wait until the end of your 3-year cycle).
Effective January 1, 2021, retired RHDSs who want to reinstate an active credentialed status will be required to recertify by examination.
Individuals who wish to retire their credential must submit an application form and a one-time processing fee of $45.00.
Download the Form
If Your Credential Lapses
RHDSs who wish retire their credential but do not submit the proper form and fee to the AHDI office by their expiration date will be considered lapsed and will no longer be eligible to identify themselves as an RHDS.
You will receive a lapsed notice if you do not recredential by the end of your cycle. There is a 90-day grace period from the date your credential expires to complete the requirements to retire your credential. There is a $50 late fee due at the time you submit your application to retire your credential (separate from the processing fee to retire your credential).
RHDSs are responsible for knowing when their cycle ends. This information is sent at the time of initial certification and recertification and can be found on the RHDS certificate or Validation of Recertification. RHDSs are responsible for notifying AHDI of changes to your name, address, phone number, and email address.
NOTE: Those who hold multiple credentials may opt to retire just one credential while keeping another active. Or they may choose to retire all of their credentials at the same time. When retiring more than one credential, an application form and the associated fee must be submitted for each credential type that is held.
Retiring Your CMT
Certified Medical Transcriptionists (CMTs) who choose to retire or leave the industry may opt to carry a retired credential status moving forward.
CMT-R (Certified Medical Transcriptionist–Retired)
How it Works
CMTs no longer practicing medical transcription or healthcare documentation may choose to retire their credential and maintain the designation of CMT-R. The CMT-R signifies an individual has a history of sustaining a credentialed status through continuing education during his/her years of active employment in the industry but is no longer working in the industry.
Once a credential is retired, individuals are prohibited from using the CMT alone (which would imply active employment within the healthcare documentation industry and a commitment to continuing education) and are required to include the “-R” designation with any use of CMT from that point forward.
Credentials may be retired at any point during the credentialing cycle (i.e., you do not have to wait until the end of your 3-year cycle).
Effective January 1, 2021, retired CMTs who want to reinstate an active credentialed status will be required to recertify by examination. Please note, the CMT exam is no longer available and has been replaced by the CHDS; thus, you will need to take the CHDS exam. If you have retired your CMT or CHDS credential within the past 6 years, you will be allowed to bypass taking the RHDS exam and be granted eligibility to sit for the CHDS exam to reinstate your CHDS credential.
Individuals who wish to retire their credential must submit an application form and a one-time processing fee of $45.00.
Download the Forms
If Your Credentials Lapse
CMTs who wish retire their credential but do not submit the proper forms and fees to the AHDI office by their expiration date will be considered lapsed and will no longer be eligible to identify themselves as a CMT.
You will receive a lapsed notice if you do not recredential by the end of your cycle. There is a 90-day grace period from the date your credential expires to complete the requirements to retire your credential. There is a $50 late fee due at the time you submit your application to retire your credential (separate from the processing fee to retire your credential).
CMTs are responsible for knowing when their cycle ends. This information is sent at the time of initial certification and recertification and can be found on the CMT/CHDS certificate or Validation of Recertification. CMTs are responsible for notifying AHDI of changes to your name, address, phone number, and email address.
NOTE: Those who hold multiple credentials may opt to retire just one credential while keeping another active. Or they may choose to retire all of their credentials at the same time. When retiring more than one credential, an application form and the associated fee must be submitted for each credential type that is held.
Retiring Your CHDS
Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialists (CHDSs) who choose to retire or leave the industry may opt to carry a retired credential status moving forward.
CHDS-R (Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist–Retired)
How it Works
CHDSs no longer practicing medical transcription or healthcare documentation may choose to retire their credential and maintain the designation of CHDS-R. The CHDS-R signifies an individual has a history of sustaining a credentialed status through continuing education during his/her years of active employment in the industry but is no longer working in the industry.
Once a credential is retired, individuals are prohibited from using the CHDS alone (which would imply active employment within the healthcare documentation industry and a commitment to continuing education) and are required to include the “-R” designation with any use of CHDS from that point forward.
Credentials may be retired at any point during the credentialing cycle (i.e., you do not have to wait until the end of your 3-year cycle).
Effective January 1, 2021, retired CHDSs who want to reinstate an active credentialed status will be required to recertify by examination. If you have retired your CHDS credential within the past 6 years, you will be allowed to bypass taking the RHDS exam and be granted eligibility to sit for the CHDS exam to reinstate your CHDS credential.
Individuals who wish to retire their credential must submit an application form and a one-time processing fee of $45.00.
Download the Forms
If Your Credentials Lapse
CHDSs who wish retire their credential but do not submit the proper forms and fees to the AHDI office by their expiration date will be considered lapsed and will no longer be eligible to identify themselves as a CHDS.
You will receive a lapsed notice if you do not recredential by the end of your cycle. There is a 90-day grace period from the date your credential expires to complete the requirements to retire your credential. There is a $50 late fee due at the time you submit your application to retire your credential (separate from the processing fee to retire your credential).
CHDSs are responsible for knowing when their cycle ends. This information is sent at the time of initial certification and recertification and can be found on the CHDS certificate or Validation of Recertification. CHDSs are responsible for notifying AHDI of changes to your name, address, phone number, and email address.
NOTE: Those who hold multiple credentials may opt to retire just one credential while keeping another active. Or they may choose to retire all of their credentials at the same time. When retiring more than one credential, an application form and the associated fee must be submitted for each credential type that is held.
Retiring Your CHDP, CHDP-A, or CHDP-S
Certified Healthcare Documentation Professionals (CHDPs), Certified Healthcare Documentation Professional Auditors (CHDP-As), and Certified Healthcare Documentation Professional Scribes (CHDP-Ss) who choose to retire or leave the industry may opt to carry a retired credential status moving forward.
CHDP-R (Certified Healthcare Documentation Professional–Retired)
How it Works
Any CHDP, CHDP-A, or CHDP-S no longer practicing healthcare documentation may choose to retire their credential and maintain the designation of CHDP-R. The CHDP-R signifies an individual has a history of sustaining a credentialed status through continuing education during their years of active employment in the industry but is no longer working in the industry.
Once a credential is retired, individuals are prohibited from using the CHDP, CHDP-A, or CHDP-S alone (which would imply active employment within the healthcare documentation industry and a commitment to continuing education) and are required to include the “-R” designation with the use of CHDP from that point forward.
Credentials may be retired at any point during the credentialing cycle (i.e., you do not have to wait until the end of your 3-year cycle).
Individuals who wish to retire their credential must submit an application form and a one-time processing fee of $45.00.
Download the Forms
If Your Credentials Lapse
CHDPs, CHDP-As, and CHDP-Ss who wish retire their credential but do not submit the proper forms and fees to the AHDI office by their expiration date will be considered lapsed and will no longer be eligible to identify themselves as a CHDP.
The CHDP-R application and the processing fee must be received in the AHDI office by the individual’s recertification deadline. CHDPs, CHDP-As, or CHDP-Ss have up to 90 days from their original expiration date to submit the application and fees to retire their credential. Applications received past their recertification deadline will be charged a $50 late fee in addition to the normal processing fee of $45. Beyond the 90-day grace period, the lapsed CHDP credential holder forfeits their right to retire their credential and use “CHDP-R,” and the only way to become certified again is by successfully passing the CHDP exam.
If a CHDP, CHDP-A, or CHDP-S credential has been retired and the holder wishes to reinstate an active credentialed status, they will be required to recertify by re-taking the CHDP examination (and then the Auditor and/or Scribe micro-credentialing exam(s), if desired, to reinstate their micro-credential also).
NOTE: Those who hold multiple credentials may opt to retire just one credential while keeping another active. Or they may choose to retire all of their credentials at the same time. When retiring more than one credential, an application form and the associated fee must be submitted for each credential type that is held.
Retiring Your CVHDP
The Certified Veterinary Healthcare Documentation Professional (CVHDP) credential is still being developed. Further information about this credential and future retirement of this credential will be updated in the coming months.
