Are you ready to elevate your career in home care coding? Becoming a certified Home Care Coding Specialist – Diagnosis (HCS-D) can significantly enhance your professional credibility and expertise. This guide provides essential information about the HCS-D test, helping you understand the certification process and prepare effectively for the exam.
The American Home Care Coding Center (AHCC) offers the HCS-D certification, a highly respected credential in the home health industry. This certification validates your proficiency in diagnosis coding for home care, demonstrating to employers and clients your commitment to accuracy and excellence. If you are considering taking the Home Care Coding Specialist Diagnosis Hcs-d Test, this article will walk you through everything you need to know.
AHCC Certification Exams: An Overview
AHCC provides several specialized certifications tailored to different areas within home care. Besides the Home Care Coding Specialist – Diagnosis (HCS-D), they also offer:
- Home Care Coding Specialist – Hospice (HCS-H): Focused on coding within hospice care settings.
- Home Care Clinical Specialist – OASIS (HCS-O): Concentrates on the OASIS assessment and its clinical implications.
Each certification exam is designed to test specific competencies and knowledge crucial for professionals in their respective fields. To determine which exam aligns best with your career goals and to access detailed information, including the candidate handbook, visit About BMSC Credentials.
Registering for the HCS-D Test
To earn your AHCC credential, you must successfully pass the relevant exam. Registration for the home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test can be done in two convenient ways:
- Computer-Based Testing Center: Take your exam at a Prometric testing center, offering a secure and professional testing environment.
- Remote Proctoring: Opt for the flexibility of taking the exam from your home or office, monitored remotely.
To register for your home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test, proceed with online registration via online registration.
Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing instructions on how to schedule your exam appointment with Prometric, AHCC’s trusted testing partner.
Important Note for Remote Testing: Before choosing remote proctoring for your home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test, it is critical to ensure your system meets the technical requirements. Use the system readiness check tool at https://rpcandidate.prometric.com/ to verify compatibility. Incompatibility may necessitate rescheduling your exam at a testing center, potentially incurring fees. Review the fee structure at https://ahcc.decisionhealth.com/fees for complete details.
For those planning to take the home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test remotely, preparation of your testing environment is key. Further guidance on preparing for remote testing can be found here.
HCS-D Exam Format and Scoring
Understanding the exam format and scoring is crucial for effective preparation for the home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test.
-
Exam Duration: The HCS-D certification exam is allotted 3.5 hours.
-
Number of Questions: The exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions.
-
Passing Score: To achieve HCS-D certification, you must attain a passing score of 76%.
Similar to the HCS-D exam, both the HCS-O and HCS-H exams also contain 90 questions. The HCS-O exam is 3 hours long with a 76% passing score, and the HCS-H exam is 3 hours long with a 75% passing score.
What to Expect on Exam Day
Whether you choose to take your home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test at a testing center or via remote proctor, certain procedures and guidelines apply.
- Arrival Time: Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled exam time. For remote exams, ensure your system check and ProProctor application download are completed beforehand.
- Identification: You are required to present a valid, government-issued photo ID with your signature. Acceptable forms include a driver’s license or passport. If testing outside your country of citizenship, a valid passport is mandatory. Within your country, a passport, driver’s license, national ID, or military ID are acceptable. Temporary IDs are not permitted. Your name on the ID must exactly match your AHCC exam registration. Discrepancies require updates at least ten business days before the exam by contacting customer service at 1-800-650-6787. Failure to present matching ID will result in denial of testing.
- Allowed Materials: Only AHCC-authorized materials are permitted in the testing area.
Permitted Resources for the HCS-D Exam
For the home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test, specific resources are allowed to aid you during the examination.
Note: The HCS-D exam content is updated annually to reflect the ICD-10-CM code set updates effective October 1st.
- Complete Home Health ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding Manual, 2025
- Complete Home Health ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding Manual, 2024
- ICD-10 coding manuals from other vendors (2024 or 2025 editions)
AHCC recommends using the most current 2025 coding manual for the 2025 HCS-D exam.
In addition to a coding manual, you may also bring the FY2025 official guidelines, accessible via this link. Only these watermarked guidelines are permitted as an additional resource.
Important Restrictions: Electronic code look-up systems are strictly prohibited. Only hard copy coding manuals are allowed.
Your hard copy manual can include affixed alphabetic and tabular section dividers (A-Z). Annotations are allowed within the manual, including notes in the back, but they must not contain coding rules or guidelines from external reference materials like AHA’s Coding Clinic or similar resources.
Prohibited Items:
- Post-It notes
- Loose papers or any attached papers
Testing center staff or proctors have the final authority to disallow code books deemed to contain excessive markings or information that could provide an unfair advantage.
For the HCS-H exam, the allowed materials are identical to the HCS-D exam.
For the HCS-O exam, permitted materials are different and focus on OASIS guidelines, detailed in the original article.
AHCC Confidentiality Policy
AHCC is committed to protecting the privacy of exam candidates. Candidate applications and scores are confidential and will only be discussed with the candidate directly. Score results will not be shared via telephone or fax.
Official communication regarding applications and scores will be conducted via:
- US mail upon written candidate request.
- Email, provided the sender’s email matches the one on record.
Exam results will not be disclosed to educational institutions or employers without explicit written consent from the candidate.
Post-Exam Outcomes
Following your home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test, you will receive immediate feedback on your performance.
Successful Candidates will receive:
- A formal certification acknowledgement, suitable for framing, indicating your certification date, along with a BMSC lapel pin (mailed via USPS within 6 weeks to US addresses only. Printable certificate available in the CEU Tracker).
- Inclusion in the Directory of Certified Credential Holders.
Unsuccessful Candidates will receive:
- A score report detailing performance in each competency area, provided immediately after exam completion at testing centers or via remote proctoring.
- Instructions for retaking the exam.
For comprehensive details on exam scoring, consult your candidate handbook.
AHCC is dedicated to ensuring score validity and integrity. In cases of suspected computer malfunctions or candidate misconduct, AHCC reserves the right to void or withhold results, pending investigation. Candidate cooperation in any investigation is expected.
To maintain exam integrity, AHCC cannot release specific answers to exam questions or discuss rationales for correct answers.
Retaking the HCS-D Exam
If you need to retake the home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test, AHCC provides retake options. You can retake the exam within 90 days of your initial or previous attempt.
- Retake Fee (U.S. & Remote Proctor): $99 per attempt.
- Retake Fee (International Testing Centers): $199 per attempt.
To schedule a retake for your HCS-D, HCS-O, or HCS-H exam, log into the CEU Tracker and select “Retake Now.” For login assistance, contact customer service at 1-800-650-6787.
By understanding these guidelines and preparing thoroughly, you can confidently approach your home care coding specialist diagnosis hcs-d test and take a significant step forward in your home care coding career.
