This page is for candidates preparing for the National Healthcareer Association electronic health records exam. It offers free practice sets on topics such as privacy and security, interoperability, revenue cycle and clinical workflow, plus worked questions, a study plan and the key exam facts: 100 scored questions, 125 minutes and a scaled passing score of 390.
The EHR has 100 questions and takes about 125 minutes[1] (National Healthcareer Association, verified Oct 25, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 100 scored + 25 pretest items[1] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Time limit | 125 minutes[1] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Passing score | Scaled score of 390 (range 200–500)[2] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake fee | Full exam price per retake[2] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake policy | 30-day wait; 3 attempts, then 1-year wait[2] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Validity | 2 years[3] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Renewal | 10 CE credits every 2 years + recertification fee[3] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delivery | School, PSI test center, or live remote proctoring[3] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Eligibility | HS diploma/GED plus training or work experience[3] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Score release | Within two days of scoring (online exams)[3] | National Healthcareer Association · Oct 25, 2026 |
According to National Healthcareer Association, “Scaled scores range from 200 to 500 and require that you meet a scaled passing score of 390 or higher to pass any examination covered in this Handbook.”[2]
The National Healthcareer Association offers this certification for people who work with electronic health records in clinics, hospitals and billing offices. It checks that you can handle the records, workflow, compliance and reporting tasks that come up in daily practice.
You take the exam at your school, at a PSI testing center, or through live remote proctoring at the location of your choice. The test has 100 scored questions plus 25 pretest items, and you get 125 minutes. Scores are scaled from 200 to 500, and you need 390 or higher to pass. For online exams, NHA posts results to your account page within two days of scoring.
Eligibility is a high school diploma or GED plus training or work experience in the field. The exact rules and the exam price can change, so confirm both on the official NHA certification page before you register.
If you do not pass, you must re-register and pay the full exam price for each retake. You wait at least 30 days between attempts. After 3 attempts, a 1-year wait applies. The certification is valid for 2 years. Renewal takes 10 continuing education credits and a recertification fee.
The content areas below are copied from the official EHR content outline published by National Healthcareer Association. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Clinical Operations[4] | EHR Clinical Workflow & Data Management Practise how orders, documentation and patient data move through the record, and who is allowed to change what. |
| Non-Clinical Operations[4] | EHR Training & User Adoption Practise scheduling, front-desk tasks, user training and the everyday administrative use of the system. |
| Regulatory Compliance[4] | EHR Regulatory Compliance & Standards Practise privacy, security, access control and audit questions, and learn which rule applies to which situation. |
| Reporting[4] | EHR Data Analytics & Population Health Practise pulling and reading reports, and understand what a given measure actually counts. |
| Revenue Cycle/Finance[4] | EHR Revenue Cycle & Billing Integration Practise how a visit turns into a claim, and how coding, charges and payments connect to the record. |
Prepare for the EHR - Electronic Health Records Program Certification exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: A practice wants to track which staff member modified a patient's medication list and when. Which EHR feature provides this information?
Answer: B. Audit log or audit trail
Explanation:
The answer is the audit log or audit trail. It records who accessed or changed a record, what they did and when, so it is the feature that shows which staff member modified a medication list. Portal messaging history only shows communication between the practice and the patient. Billing transaction history tracks charges and payments, not clinical edits. The appointment calendar tracks scheduling, not changes to the chart. Rule to remember: when a question asks who did what and when, think audit trail. It supports accountability and compliance, and it is separate from messaging, billing and scheduling tools.
Question: What does 'patient activation' measure in the context of portal engagement?
Answer: B. The degree to which a patient understands and takes action in managing their own health
Explanation:
Patient activation describes how well a patient understands and acts on managing their own health: their knowledge, skills and confidence. That makes the second option correct. Counting portal logins measures usage, which can be high without the patient doing anything useful. Completing enrollment only shows that an account exists. Following appointment schedules is one behavior, not the whole idea. Rule to remember: activity counts such as logins or sign-ups measure use of a tool, while activation measures the patient's capability and willingness to manage care. Portal tools aim to raise the second, not just the first.
Question: What does CPOE stand for in the context of EHR systems?
Answer: A. Computerized Provider Order Entry
Explanation:
CPOE stands for Computerized Provider Order Entry. It lets clinicians enter medical orders electronically instead of writing them by hand, which reduces transcription errors. The other options are invented phrases that sound plausible. Clinical Patient Outcome Evaluation sounds like quality measurement, Certified Pharmacy Order Exchange sounds like pharmacy messaging, and Comprehensive Patient Order Entry swaps the word provider for patient. Rule to remember: in CPOE the person entering the order is the provider, and the point of the system is to replace handwritten or verbal orders. Learn the common EHR acronyms word by word, because the wrong options often change only one word.
Start with the official NHA test plan and candidate handbook so you know the content areas and the rules for scoring and retakes. Then take the full practice test once without notes to find your weak areas.
Use that result to choose topic sets. If privacy and access questions cost you points, work through Health Information Privacy & Security. If billing questions were weak, try Revenue Cycle & Billing Integration. Other useful sets are Interoperability and Clinical Workflow & Data Management.
These questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to build understanding, not to predict what will appear.
The exam has 100 scored questions plus 25 pretest items, according to the NHA test plan. You have 125 minutes to finish. Pretest items are not scored, but you cannot tell which ones they are, so treat every question as if it counts.
You need a scaled score of 390 or higher. Scaled scores run from 200 to 500, so the number is not a simple percentage of correct answers. The NHA candidate handbook explains how scaled scoring works.
You may attempt the exam 3 times, with at least 30 days between attempts. After 3 attempts, a 1-year wait applies. Each retake means registering again and paying the full exam price.
You can take it at your school, at a PSI testing center, or through live remote proctoring at the location of your choice. Availability and booking steps are on the NHA site, so check there before you schedule.
The certification is valid for 2 years. To renew, you need 10 continuing education credits and must pay a recertification fee. Check the NHA page for the current fee and how to submit your credits.
For online exams, NHA posts your results to your account page within two days of scoring. Check your account on the NHA site rather than waiting for an email.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.