Recertification Process

Recertification Process

When you pass the certification exam, you will immediately be recognized as a Certified Healthcare Internal Audit Professional® (CHIAP®).

Your two-year Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Renewal Cycle will begin January 1 of the following calendar year.

Renewal Requirements

The AHIA requires active CHIAP certificants to renew their certification by December 31 every two years, including reporting they have met the CPE requirements to continue using their CHIAP credential. No CPE is required to be documented for the calendar year in which the initial certification is granted. CPE must be reported and your certification renewed by the third December 31 after initially obtaining the CHIAP certification. Certificants are subject to audit to verify compliance with renewal requirements. Supporting documentation does not need to be submitted with your renewal; however, documentation will be required if your renewal is selected for audit.

Recertification Application

The certificant will attest the information in their profile and the CPE activity submitted are accurate when remitting the renewal fee. Certificants will be contacted via email three months prior to the end of their renewal cycle with further instructions. AHIA will audit a sample of recertification applications submitted for each renewal cycle. Failure to comply with an audit request or pass the audit will result in the certificant’s credential being revoked.

Recertification Fees

  • Active Certificant $100

    AHIA Member Fee

  • Active Certificant $150

    Non-Member Fee

Renewal Requirements

AHIA requires active certificate holders to earn 40 hours of CPE every two years, including two hours related to ethics. Each year shall include at least 10 hours of continuing education credits. Carryover of continuing education credit hours to future recertification renewal periods is not allowed. A certificant classified as “Retired” status is not required to renew their certification.

  • 40 hours of CPE over the two-year reporting cycle
  • At least 10 hours in each reporting year
  • Two hours related to ethics during the two-year reporting cycle

Failure to renew your certification and report CPE requirements by the reporting deadline will result in you automatically being placed in “Suspended” status. This will result in your loss of the privilege to use your credential until all renewal requirements are met. You may convert your certification to “Active” status within six months, by reporting your continuing education hours and penalty hours, if applicable, paying the renewal fee, plus paying an additional 50% penalty fee. If your certification status remains as Suspended for more than six months, your certification will be classified as “Expired” and you will have to reapply for certification, including retaking the certification examination. 

Electing Inactive Status at Renewal

At the time of renewal, if a certificant has temporarily left the healthcare internal audit profession or is unable to meet the recertification requirements due to unusual and/or extenuating circumstances they may request a change to Inactive Status and pay the Inactive Renewal Fee (50% the active renewal fee). An inactive certificant may request a return to Active status and may complete a renewal application with the required CPE without retesting. 

Failure to Meet Continuing Education Requirements by December 31

Failure to fully adhere to the AHIA CPE requirements for renewal of the CHIAP will result in a CPE Penalty of eight additional hours of continuing education.  Non-compliance would include not meeting one or more of the following requirements:

  • 40 hours of CPE over the two-year reporting cycle
  • At least 10 hours in each reporting year
  • Two  hours related to Ethics during the two-year reporting cycle


The eight CPE Penalty hours must be completed and reported before the end of the six-month Suspended status period (in the example above this would be June 30, 2022), otherwise the certificant’s credential expires. The credits earned towards the CPE Penalty requirement may not be counted towards CPE requirements for the subsequent renewal recertification reporting period.

Qualifying CPE Activities

  • Training courses that are approved/provided by the following groups qualify for continuing education credits:‎
    • Approved by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)‎
    • Approved/accepted by an individual State licensure board
    • Provided by AHIA, the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and Association of ‎Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)‎
  •  Authoring or Contributing to Publications
  • Presentations at Professional Association Events
  • Teaching College Courses

View the complete policy on qualifying CPE activities in the Candidate Handbook

Reporting your CPE Credits

After you are certified, you can report your CPE in the Certification Management System (CMS) at any time during your two-year renewal cycle on My CHIAP Profile page.

Click here for Step-by Step Instructions on CPE Reporting in the Certification Management System.

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Complaints and Appeals Processes

AHIA has established  comprehensive complaints and appeals processes in an effort to provide fairness to all applicants, candidates and Certified Healthcare Internal Audit Professionals (CHIAP). View these complete policies in the Candidate Handbook.

Special Accommodations

If you require speical assistance to renew your certification, contact AHIA Education Manager Melanie Hein at info@ahia.org or 1-847-686-2325 to inform us of your needs.

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns, contact us at info@ahia.org. or view the FAQs.