The purpose of this certification is to promote ethical and professional medical billing through certification of qualified individuals by formally recognizing proficiency demonstrated by having passed the CMRS (Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist) exam, encouraging continued professional and personal best development and providing a national standard assessment based on industry knowledge. Certification demonstrates to physicians, employers and others that you have taken proactive steps to advance your education, knowledge and skills. 

About our Exam

Our exam is a voluntary, credential that was created specifically for the medical billing professional. We've been providing this industry certification and designation for over 10 years.

The CMRS designation is awarded by the Certifying Board of the American Medical Billing Association (CBAMBA). Although there is no state or Federal requirement of a medical billing professional to become certified to practice medical billing, it is our goal to provide a professional certification exam that upholds a high ethical standard of knowledge that recognizes the competency of a certificant.

Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialists (CMRS) are skilled in facilitating the claims paying process from the time a service is rendered by a health care provider until the balance is paid. The CMRS is knowledgeable in ICD9, CPT4 and HCPCS Coding, Medical Terminology, Insurance claims and billing, appeals and denials, fraud and abuse, HIPAA, OIG Compliance, information and web technology, reimbursement, and much more. CMRS Billers play a critical role in a health care provider's daily business operations.

Why Certification?

Certification provides knowledge and credibility to the biller and to potential health care providers as well as employers. It demonstrates your commitment and dedication in providing the highest standards possible in Claims Management and Medical Billing. Certification presents solid confirmation of your desire to offer qualified services in an industry that is complex and demands specialized training. Certification provides verification of competency and assurance of continued education to maintain the credential. CMRS testing is provided on a national level. Our credential allows billers to empower themselves by taking steps to improve confidence and enhance value to the industry and the doctors they work with.

More and more physicians and other healthcare providers are looking for certified professionals that understand regulatory and business issues that affect their practices. CMRS's have the knowledge, skills and confidence to be more effective in increasing revenue, preventing fraud and abuse and researching and finding information that helps practices succeed in today's environment and economy.

More Information

Our idea of an exam meant that it would need to be thorough, complete and most of all -- credible. We wanted it to be reflective and representative of our industry, resulting in 16 sections ranging from Medical Terminology to Compliance, requiring over 800 answers with a cut score of 85% accuracy to pass and earn the CMRS credential designation.

The CMRS Exam is divided into 16 Sections:

        Medical Terminology
        Anatomy and Physiology
        Information Technology
        Web and Information Technology
        ICD-9-CM Coding
        CPT-4 Coding
        Clearinghouses
        CMS 1500
        Insurance
        Insurance Carriers
        Acronyms
        Compliance
        Fraud and Abuse
        Managed Care
        General
        Case Study

The CMRS Exam is taken online through our secure Learning Management System. You'll have 45 days access to complete the exam. Each section can be reviewed before submission. Upon submission, a grade for that section will be provided. Once you have completed the exam, your final score is available immediately. CMRS Certifications are mailed upon completion and arrive in about 3 to 4 weeks and are valid for one year from the date you complete the exam. Each year, you will be required to submit 15 continuing education units (CEUs) in order to extend your credential for another year. A current certificate is sent each year.

Two free retakes are allowed with a mandatory 30 day waiting period between retakes (but not more than 60 days). 

Schools and teaching facilities that would like to make our exam available to their students can be set to easily administer the exam from our secure management system. Contact Us for more information.

Study materials are optional and available through the AMBA in .pdf format that will assist you in taking the exam. The study materials are priced at $199 and are available through our online store. The Study Guide follows the exam layout listed above and includes actual test questions after each section.

In order to take the exam, you must be a member of AMBA and you will be required to maintain an annual membership to AMBA as well as maintaining the required 15 (CEUs)  You should have experience in billing or have a good foundation of knowledge in medical billing to successfully pass the exam. You are required to have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Recommended optional resources for taking the exam:

The CMRS Study Guide is optionally available through the AMBA in .pdf format that will assist you in taking the exam. The study materials are priced at $199 and are available through our online store. The Study Guide follows the exam layout listed above and covers about 85% of the questions on the exam.

Books You May Need for the exam

Note: You can also use our coding software, AMBACode to look up your answers on our exam. AMBACode includes all three sets of codes plus more. Get a 14 day free trial. Using this software would replace the need for you to purchase code books.

You will need the current year's HCPCS, CPT4 and ICD9 Code Books or access to all three sets of codes from a coding software product.

85% of the exam material can be found in the CMRS Study Guide

15% of the exam material can be found in the 2013 ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS

You will be required to earn 15 continuing education units (CEUs) each year to maintain your CMRS Certification along with a membership to AMBA.  Fifty percent of your annual CEUs must come through the Association.

If you have a product you would like to submit to AMBA for prior CEU approval consideration or know of one please let us know.

To apply for the CMRS Exam, complete the Registration Form and mail or fax it to our office along with your payment

Registration Form

Purchase Online

CEU Submission Form (PLEASE DO NOT FAX IF MORE THAN 10 PAGES)

CMRS Rules and CEU Requirements

Pre-Approved CEUs

Get your Course or Publication Pre-Approved For CEUs

CMRS Registration Form

List of Certified Members