Fact · Dictation for work and study
AHDI says that current Certified Medical Transcriptionists may skip the RHDS exam and sit for the CHDS exam directly.
Checked against its source on October 16, 2026
In the source's own words
“Current CMTs may bypass the RHDS exam and sit for the CHDS exam.”
Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS), AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity), n.d., Eligibility section.
Open the original- What it measures
- The RHDS is the entry-level exam and the CHDS is the advanced exam. Current CMTs are the people who already hold the older medical transcriptionist certification.
- What it does not show
- The page does not show a date, and it does not say how a CMT proves current status. Check the current rules with AHDI before you apply.