Taking Courses
Selecting your Core Curriculum
The first step is to select your Core Curriculum courses. On the Select Your Core Curriculum page you will designate the 12 courses you will study to earn AMS accreditation – your customized Core Curriculum. Go to the Select Your Core Curriculum page»
You may change your selections at any time before you take the exam. The AMS exam you take will include questions based on all 12 courses in your selected Core Curriculum.
Preparing for the AMS exam
To prepare for the AMS exam, you should read and study each of your selected Core Curriculum courses. The progress checks in each course are helpful for exam preparation. In addition, you can test your mastery using the online prep tests that accompany each course.
Review the Exam Preparation page»
Registering to take the AMS exam
Online testing for individual candidates
The AMS exam is administered online at scheduled testing dates and times. (View the scheduled dates) To sign up for a scheduled exam, go to the AMS exam registration page and fill out all of the required fields and click “submit”. Your exam will be scheduled and confirmed within 3 working days. Please register at least two weeks prior to the testing date.
Go to the Registration page»
Online testing for sales teams
HIDA’s staff can also work with licensee companies to schedule additional exam times to suit the needs of specific sales teams. To do so, a company manager or trainer must contact support@hida.org at least one month prior to the desired test date, and exam registrations must be completed online for each candidate no less than 2 weeks prior to the test date.
Proctoring requirements for online testing
All online testing requires an in-person proctor to monitor the exam process and the candidate or his/her manager may arrange for proctoring. The proctor may be a company manager, supervisor, trainer, or a member of the HR staff. A proctor may not be a family member or co-worker. HIDA must approve the proctor choice and reserves the right to contact proctors and to reject requests for a specific proctor. See the Administrator Guidelines page» and the Proctor Info & Agreement form»
The proctor must visually monitor the exam-taker(s) while they are taking the exam. The proctor’s role is to ensure the integrity of the testing process by verifying:
- The identity of the exam candidate
- That the exam is taken without use of course materials, notes, or use of online resources
- That the exam content remains confidential
- That the test is working properly and Internet connectivity is maintained
Taking the exam
To take the AMS exam online, candidates will log on to the HIDA AMS website using their regular ID and password. The exam will be available for 90 minutes total, only during the scheduled exam time frame. The exam includes 84 multiple-choice questions. The candidate automatically receives his or her grade after completing the exam. A passing grade is 72% or higher.
Retaking the exam
Candidates who do not pass the exam may apply to retest by completing the online exam registration again and submitting a $99 retesting fee. A minimum four-week period is required between exam attempts to allow each candidate to adequately review the material before retesting. To protect exam-takers’ privacy, HIDA publishes only the names of candidates who pass the exam and does not publish the names of those who do not.
Maintaining AMS Accreditation
Earning AMS points
You must earn 5 AMS points each year to maintain your AMS designation. Extra points do not roll over from one year to the next. This ensures that accredited reps stay current and continuously seek opportunities to increase their competence through professional education.
See the Earn AMS Points page»
Passing the AMS exam earns accreditation for one year beginning February 1 or July 1 following the exam, whichever comes first. For instance, if you pass the AMS exam in April, your accreditation will remain valid until July of the following year; you must earn your first 5 points by this date in order to maintain your accreditation.
Ways to earn AMS points for continuing accreditation
- AMS courses: Courses on the AMS website can be used to earn AMS points. To earn the point, log on to the AMS website, study the course, and take the online test for that course. A passing score of 75% is required for credit. If you fail the test, you may study the course further and take the test again.
- Each course is worth 1 AMS point.
- Courses studied in your AMS Core Curriculum may not be repeated for AMS points.
- HIDA Streamlining Healthcare Conference: Education sessions at the HIDA Streamlining Healthcare Conference qualify for AMS points. An AMS professional can earn the full 5 points required for the year at the conference. To receive points, AMS-holders must fill out an evaluation form for each session and include their name and company on the form.
Find out about the HIDA Streamlining Healthcare Expo and Business Exchange»
- HIDA-approved training programs: HIDA can approve other training programs for credit on a case-by-base basis. To request credit, submit the AMS Point Approval Form and provide proof of attendance. The program content must be relevant to healthcare sales. HIDA has sole authority to determine whether a program qualifies for AMS points.
Download the AMS Point Approval Form»
- HIDA webinars: HIDA offers webinars on a variety of topics and most are eligible for AMS points. All webinars are free to AMS licensees. View HIDA Webinars»
Lapse of accreditation
If you fail to earn the required 5 AMS points by the deadline you will lose your accreditation, and all rights and privileges associated with this distinction will be revoked. If you cannot complete the point requirement by the deadline, you may, in extenuating circumstances, request an extension during which AMS point requirements will continue to accrue. If accreditation lapses without a request for extension, you must retake the AMS exam to become accredited again. Contact support@hida.org for further information.
Also see: AMS Frequently Asked Questions