Realizing the Benefits of Certification

Individuals pursue professional certification for a variety of reasons, chief among them is reaping the many benefits that come with the acronyms next to one’s name. Some of the most desirable are Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS), Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS), Certified Professional in Digital Health Transformation Strategy (CPDHTS), or another professional certification. Let’s review some of the common benefits.

Certification may be an entry level requirement for a job or role. Occasionally, employers may make certification a stipulation of hiring, requiring that candidates achieve the certification within a certain timeframe, such as six months or a year from the start of employment. If these jobs are in your desired career pathway, then possessing a certification can be a strong motivator. Other times, certification may be preferred or required for a role and becoming certified can differentiate you among the candidates. A certification can be important to be competitive in the job market.

Some organizations offer a career ladder within a role focus area, such as application analyst or developer. Advancing along the career ladder usually requires demonstrated knowledge, skills, and relevant certifications. Building a timeline to achieve certification can help align with your plans for career advancement. Some individuals have reported salary increases upon achieving certification, but others still reported a bonus for achieving one even when it’s not related to your career ladder.  Some also are reimbursed for the required certification fees and for job-related or required review courses. Talk with your manager or human resources representative to see what options your organization may offer.

Some people pursue certification as a personal goal or as a desire to meet a professional standard. Whatever the reasons, a certification represents having a baseline level of knowledge in a given subject area. After achieving my Informatics Nursing certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), I decided to pursue the CPHIMS. I saw value in the CPHIMS as a certification that information technology professionals, informatics specialists, and nursing informaticists could all pursue. It set a common standard across healthcare information technology, allowing candidates to validate their knowledge and competence.

Some pursue professional certification for the recognition it offers. Online profiles can be updated with certification status, digital badges and listing in certification directories. A certification demonstrates professional credibility and offers opportunities for professional growth.

Maintaining a certification is a commitment to ongoing learning. Recipients are required to continue their professional development in many ways through continuing education, academic credits, presentations, publications and professional service. The options for recertification are varied, giving everyone an opportunity to pursue ongoing learning and professional growth in an area of interest.

In sum, certifications provide many benefits, including meeting job requirements, competitiveness in the job market, career advancement, salary increase, bonus payment, professional satisfaction, recognition, personal growth and ongoing professional development. If you are ready to pursue a certification, start with a look at the certifications that HIMSS offers by visiting https://www.himss.org/resources-certification/overview

References:

Klinedinst, J. (2022). The handbook of continuing professional development for the health informatics professional. Productivity Press.