Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist
The Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist (CPCS) is typically employed or contracted by a healthcare organization including, but not limited to, hospitals (health systems), health plans, ambulatory care settings, group practices, and credentialing verification organizations.
A CPCS is an integral part of a credentialing team whose responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Maintaining compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies;
- Participating in the development and implementation of credentialing processes and procedures;
- Credentialing of physicians, allied health, and other practitioners;
- Overseeing or participating in the development of and adherence to:
- Governance bylaws;
- Department rules and regulations;
- Policies pertaining to medical staff, practitioner/provider, and the organization; and
- Collecting and maintaining an accurate practitioner database and analyzing verification information.
Why Certify?
Certification by NAMSS puts you in the driver’s seat: It increases your potential for advancement in any healthcare environment and indicates to your supervisor(s) and accreditation surveyors that you are an expert in the field, both of which enhance your value and job security. Here are some other reasons for credentialing specialists to seek certification by NAMSS:
- More than 27% of current certificants received a salary increase as a result of their certification by NAMSS.
- By achieving your CPCS designation, you gain confidence and demonstrate professional competence in the application of your knowledge.
- CPCS certificants cite recognition and respect from peers and supervisors as a top value of certification.
Certified Professional Medical Services Management
The Certified Professional Medical Services Management (CPMSM) is typically employed or contracted by a healthcare organization including, but not limited to, hospitals (health systems), health plans, ambulatory care settings, group practices, or credentialing verification organizations.
A CPMSM is an integral part of a credentialing team whose responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Maintaining compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies;
- Developing and implementing credentialing/privileging processes and procedures;
- Developing and implementing provider enrollment processes and procedures;
- Overseeing the development of and adherence to
- Governance bylaws;
- Department rules and regulations; and
- Policies pertaining to medical staff, practitioner/provider, and the organization
Why Certify?
Certification by NAMSS puts you in the driver’s seat: It increases your potential for advancement in any healthcare environment and indicates to your supervisor(s) and accreditation surveyors that you are an expert in the field, both of which enhance your value and job security. Here are some other reasons for medical services managers to seek certification by NAMSS:
- By achieving certification as a CPMSM, you gain respect from physicians and medical staff leaders and validate your experience in the management of medical services.
- The knowledge necessary for certification as a CPMSM may require experience beyond your current healthcare environment. By increasing your breadth of knowledge beyond one particular healthcare environment, you increase your marketability, should you choose to seek new employment.
- Certificants with the CPMSM designation have proven their in-depth knowledge of medical staff bylaws, hospital procedures, and standards, management processes and accreditation standards, policies, and procedures, which will help them communicate better with physicians and all key stakeholders.
You may review exam eligibility requirements on the National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) website.
Interested in what scholarships are available to you as a member?
Click here for the Certification Exam Scholarship Application
CERTIFICATION EXAM SCHOLARSHIP POLICY
Purpose: The certification exam scholarship shall be provided to six (6) individuals within the calendar year in the amount of $400 each. Fees on the NAMSS website differ based on whether the applicant is a current NAMSS member or a non-member. WAMSS does not require an applicant to be a current member of NAMSS.
Eligibility: Any current member of WAMSS who is not currently a board member of the WAMSS organization, may apply for the certification scholarship. The applicant must not have received any scholarship funds within the last three (3) years. There is no geographic requirement placed upon the applicant (i.e. the applicant is not required to live or work directly within Washington State.)
Criteria: The applicants must:
- Have commitment towards educational growth as a medical staff services professional
- Have commitment towards the enhancement of professionalism in the field of medical staff services
- Be enthusiastic in supporting the goals of WAMSS
- Explain future benefits to WAMSS resulting from educational assistance
- Actively study for the exam, either by involvement in a study group or using study guide materials
- Contribute to the WAMSS community
- Represents the profession to the public in a positive manner