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CMC Learning Formats

Live Classroom

The CMC preparatory program is hosted in leading hospitals, medical societies and colleges across the country, taught over several days by a PMI Instructor. Benefits include live, face-to-face training and class networking, and a set training schedule. The certification exam is administered during the last class meeting date.

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Self-paced Training

Study for the CMC certification at your own pace. PMI’s Self-paced Training package includes the full course manual shipped to your address, and access to a series of 12 pre-recorded lectures streamed to your computer, anytime. Perhaps the best feature of this format is the help while you learn. Each certification has a faculty designate that will conduct a live question and answer session twice monthly and access to a Self Study Forum on PMI’s Web site. Candidates may take up to a year to study prior to scheduling the certification exam. The Independent Study package includes one live proctored certification exam, administered in a community near you.

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Live Webinar

Offered once annually, Live Certification Webinars include twelve 90-minute learning sessions taught in a live Webinar format via your computer. Interact, ask questions and get answers real-time. This option includes the full course manual shipped to the candidate’s address plus access to live webinars and recorded versions to review anytime. Once the candidate is ready to take the exam, he/she will make arrangements with PMI for an exam proctor to administer the test live in a nearby community.

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Certification by Exam

Experienced professionals who have hands-on experience may opt to forgo the training classes and take the certification exam. PMI offers an “Exam Only” option for $299 exam fee. The exam is proctored live in hundreds of locations across the country. Review the exam preparation handbook.

Candidates may take up to six hours to complete the CMC exam. Codes must be hand-written according to the highest degree of specificity. Most organizations offer a multiple-choice coding exam but PMI has found the “fill-in-the-blank” format to be a more accurate measure of a coder’s skills. This eliminates the possibility to “guess” the correct answer by deselecting from choices provided on the exam. If the candidate cannot code from scratch, he/she won’t pass the exam. A passing score of 70% or better will confer with CMC certification. Review the exam preparation handbook.

PMI’s professional services team and advisory board stand behind the CMC exam as the best tool available to accurately measure coding competency.

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