Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

CCB is an independent body made up of compliance and ethics professionals who determine what obligations you need to fulfill prior to and after certification. This body understands the importance of impartiality, managing conflict of interest and ensuring the objectivity of its certification and accreditation activities. Accordingly it makes decisions relating to certification, including the granting, maintaining, recertifying, expanding and reducing the scope of the certification, and suspending or withdrawing the certification.  

CCB offers three similar healthcare compliance certifications:

• Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC)®
• Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance (CHRC)®
• Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC®)

CHC certification is geared toward general healthcare compliance while CHRC is geared toward compliance professionals in the research realm. Likewise, the CHPC is best suited for compliance professionals in the healthcare privacy arena.

Membership with SCCE or HCCA is not necessary to attain, maintain or renew a CCB certification.

SCCE or HCCA membership dues do not include the cost of becoming CCB certified or renewing a CCB certification. SCCE or HCCA membership and CCB certification are two separate renewal processes. CCB certification fees are paid prior to the initial certification and every two years for certification renewal.

The cost of attending an SCCE or HCCA Academy or other event does not apply toward the cost of initial certification or certification renewal. Certification costs are in addition to the event fees, even when you are planning to take the optional certification exam at the end of the event, such as at an Academy or national conference.

The initial exam fee is $350 for members, $450 for non-members, and $75 for re-exams if the re-exam is taken within your exam eligibility period. Exam fees are subject to change. 

The exam is largely based on compliance work experience; an official study guide is not available for this exam. However, CCB recommends you review the “Exam resources” and the “Detailed Content Outline” for the corresponding exam you want to sit for.

CCB requires 5-7 business days to process your exam application. Once processed, CCB will email the candidate an approval or denial email with next step details.

Your exam eligibility period is based on when you acquired your CEUs and are valid for 12 full months. You need to sit for your exam by the end of your exam eligibility period.

You can take your examination at select SCCE or HCCA event, opt to take a Computer Based Test (CBT) at a local PSI testing center or via the Remote Online Proctor option. Find more information about your testing options how to schedule these examinations in a way that best meets your needs.

By adding additional CEUs prior to your current exam eligibility period expiring and then emailing ccb@compliancecertification.org before your current eligibility period expires. You will need 20 CCB CEUs (minimum of 10 live) earned in the last 12 months. If CEUs are added after your current eligibility period expires, you will need to submit a new exam application and pay the full exam fees.

You will need to add 20 CCB CEUs (minimum of 10 live) and submit a new exam application and pay the full exam fees.

You can reapply to sit for the exam immediately following receiving your score report. If you fail two exam attempts within a 180‑day period, you must wait 180 days from your most recent exam date before applying to retake the exam. The application fee to retake the exam is based on your submitted CEUs. Keeping your CEUs current and submitting additional CEUs as needed to maintain 20 CEUs prior to your eligibility expiration will prevent you from having to pay the full exam application fee.

As many times as it takes while working within the required 180 Day Waiting Period policy. See, “What is a 180 Day Waiting Period?”

If you do not receive a passing score on your second exam attempt and your first two exams were taken back-to-back (within 6 months of each other), you are required to wait 180 days for your third attempt.

No, this is a standing policy and required for all test takers due to exam exposure and needing to protect the integrity of the exam.

The same CEUs may be used to sit for a retake if they are still valid. CEUs are valid for up to 12 months from the date on which they were accrued.

You may apply the same CEUs towards sitting for multiple examination types (CCEP, CCEP-I, CHC, CHRC, or CHPC) if they are still valid. CEUs are valid for up to 12 months from the date on which they were accrued.

Only if you completed a CCB Accredited University Compliance and Ethics Programs within the last 12 months.

Exam refunds are only provided to applicants who need to cancel a SCCE or HCCA event and their exam eligibility was based on earning the required CEUs at that event (making them now ineligible). Applicants with prior approved CEUs that meet the CEU requirements regardless of attending the cancelled SCCE or HCCA event, are not eligible for a refund. In addition, refunds are not provided to exam candidates that fail to schedule and/or sit for their exam prior to their exam eligibility period expiring.

No, staff have processed and approved your exam application which was sent to our testing vendor. You have the option to forfeit your exam fee or sit for the exam within your exam eligibility period.

Candidates who sat for an exam at a SCCE or HCCA Event: Our PSI testing vendor will mail your exam score report to the address listed on your exam application within 4-6 weeks of taking the exam. Candidates who sit for an exam at a local PSI testing center or take an online remote proctored exam typically receive immediate results.

• Go to https://test-takers.psiexams.com/ccb/
• Click on the Sign In/Create an Account link at the top right of the page
• Scroll down to where it says, Don’t have an account? Create Account
• Click on the link to Create Account
• Complete the required fields and hit the Create Account button at the bottom of the page
• Navigate to the Manage tab
• Scroll to the check for score report button and click on it
• Download score report
• Enter Exam ID #

You will receive an email with a digital badge and a link to a copy of your certificate within 2 weeks of passing the exam. In addition, you will receive a hard copy of your certificate in the mail within 4-6 weeks after receiving your digital badge.

CCB and PSI comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and strive to ensure that no individual with a disability is deprived of the opportunity to take the exam solely by reason of that disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such impairment. PSI will provide reasonable accommodation for candidates with disabilities.

Verification of the disability and a statement of the specific type of assistance needed must be made in writing to CCB prior to your desired exam date by completing the Request for Special Exam Accommodations and the Documentation of Disability-Related Needs forms found within the candidate handbook or you can email ccb@compliancecertification.org for the required forms. Please allow up to 45 calendar days prior to your desired exam date and our receipt of your completed forms to process.

If you pass an exam, CCB cannot add your designation to your online account, cannot issue a digital badge, you will not receive a copy of your certificate, and CCB cannot verify your designation. In addition, you are not permitted to use the designation until this required step is complete. If you fail the exam, CCB cannot allow you to re-test. Please add the event CEUs into your online account by selecting all the sessions you attended as soon as possible after the event. Our testing vendor may also hold your exam score until the CEU requirement has been met in your online account.

• Go to https://test-takers.psiexams.com/ccb/
• Click on the Sign In/Create an Account link at the top right of the page
• Scroll down to where it says, Don’t have an account? Create Account
• Click on the link to Create Account
• Complete the required fields and hit the Create Account button at the bottom of the page
• Navigate to the Manage tab
• Scroll to the check for score report button and click on it
• Download score report
• Enter Exam ID #

You need to meet both the compliance work requirement and the CEU requirements or have completed a CCB Accredited University compliance program as outlined below.

Work Experience:

• You have at least one year in a full-time compliance position or 1,500 hours of direct compliance job duties earned in the two years preceding your application date and;
• Your job duties directly relate to the tasks reflected in the “Detailed Content Outline” (DCO pg 22-24 of the candidate handbook)

Continuing Education Units (CEUs):

• You must earn and submit 20 CCB approved CEUs
• Minimum of 10 earned from “live” training or events
• Earned within the 12-month period prior to your exam date

CCB Accredited University Option:

Students who successfully complete a compliance certificate program from one of CCB Accredited University Compliance and Ethics Programs will:

• Have fulfilled the continuing education units (CEUs) requirement to take a CCB certification exam for 12 full months from completion date. 
  • After 12 months from completion date, you will need to add 20 new CCB CEUs with a minimum of 10 live CCB CEUs.
• Have fulfilled the professional work experience requirement to take a CCB certification exam for 24 full months from completion date.

Issues: Unacceptable time delay to start testing beyond a 30-minute wait past my scheduled appointment time, unacceptable noise levels, or unresolved technical issues that go beyond 30 minutes?

Yes, if you do not begin the exam or immediately discontinue taking the exam upon encountering the issue. First, see the onsite exam proctor to receive a PSI tech support ticket number which should confirm the technical issues you have encountered. 

Immediately email ccb@compliancecertification.org with the details of your experience including date, time, location, and tech ticket number so we can assist with resolving the issue in a timely manner.

Whether you choose to discontinue or continue the exam process, your exam score may count as an exam exposure and the pass or fail score may stand as is. Please see SCCE or HCCA Exam Information & Rules and Certification Policies and Legal Disclaimers. 

Issues: Continued technical issues at no fault of my own (PSI related tech issues – not due to using an unsupported device i.e. a work computer) or an unacceptable time delay to start testing beyond a 30-minute wait past my scheduled appointment time?

Yes, if you do not begin the exam or immediately discontinue taking the exam upon encountering the issue. First, work with the online proctor and contact PSI tech support to receive a PSI tech support ticket number which should confirm the technical issues you have encountered. Immediately email ccb@compliancecertification.org with the details of your experience including date, time, and tech ticket number so we can assist with resolving the issue in a timely manner.

If you choose to continue the process, your exam may count as an exam exposure and the pass or fail score may stand as is.

Please note, CCB recommends using a personal home computer (not a work device) for this testing modality. If you use an unsupported device, there may be a $75 re-exam fee. Please see SCCE or HCCA Exam Minimum System Requirements, Remote Testing Violations, Exam Information & Rules, and Certification Policies and Legal Disclaimers.

Yes, if you do not begin the exam or immediately discontinue taking the exam upon encountering the issue. First, contact PSI to receive a tech support ticket number to confirm the issues you have encountered and notify ccb@compliancecertification.org immediately so we can assist in the process of ensuring your special accommodation/s are provided with your next exam appointment. If you choose to continue the process, your exam score may count as an exam exposure and the pass or fail score may stand as is.

Local PSI Testing Center Exams Please see SCCE or HCCA Exam Information & Rules and Certification Policies and Legal Disclaimers.

PSI Online Remote Proctored Testing Exams Please see SCCE or HCCA Exam Minimum System Requirements, Remote Testing Violations, Exam Information & Rules, and Certification Policies and Legal Disclaimers.

The Compliance Certification Board follows basic International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as it relates to commonly accepted practices for renewal of its certifications. Once you have earned the required 40 CCB Continuing Education Units (CEUs) with a minimum of 20 live within your two year certification period, complete the online renewal application, the required attestations regarding your earned CEUs on file, reporting of any felony criminal convictions as well as your awareness and understanding of the current renewal policies & procedures of the Compliance Certification Board (CCB), Professional Code of Ethics specific the certification you actively hold, and submit the renewal application fee.

Once you have completed the online renewal application and submitted the renewal application fee, you will then be renewed into your next certification period. Note, should you renew your certification early, your current renewal period will continue to show in your account and the start of your next renewal period will not be reflected until the future start date has arrived.

The certification renewal fee is $125 for members and $245 for non-members. Certification Renewal fees are subject to change.

A digital badge is an electronic representation and verification of a professional accomplishment. Digital badges are a great way to quickly showcase your knowledge and expertise to a broad audience. Your badge will help to verify your certification status with your current organization or highlight your achievement and compliance knowledge for a future employer. Digital badges protect the integrity of our credential by providing a link to verified data from the issuing organization that cannot be falsified. The personalized badge URL can be posted to or shared on various social media platforms, such as LinkedIn.

1. Click on the “LinkedIn (Quick add URL)” link in the “Access Your Certificate and Digital Badge” Email.
2. This link will auto populate your certification information into the “Add license or certification” fields within LinkedIn. You will want to be logged into LinkedIn prior to this.
3. The link found in the Credential URL field needs to be the link found within your Access Your Digital Badge email for your certification to be verifiable to others.
4. Click Save.
5. Your badge will be added to the LinkedIn Licenses & Certifications section.
6. The logo shown in the Licenses & Certifications section should be the type of certification you hold.
7. To verify a badge, click on the “Show Credential” button. If this button is not there or does not lead to the BadgeCert verification page, then the information seen on LinkedIn cannot and is not verified correctly.

The CEUs that you accumulated prior to passing an exam are considered redeemed once you pass an exam, and do not carry over into your renewal period. You will need to earn and submit the required 40 CCB CEUs (minimum of 20 live) within your two-year renewal period in order to maintain your certification designation.

Excess CEUs earned beyond the required 40 CCB CEUs (minimum of 20 live) do not carry over into the next renewal period. CEUs submitted towards certification renewals must be earned within the two-year renewal period.

CCB provides an automatic one-month grace period. In addition, you can purchase a 1-month or 2-month (two month maximum) extension beyond your renewal date to earn and submit the required 40 CCB CEUs (minimum of 20 live) by completing the online Renewal Extension request from your online account. Login with your username and password > Click Certification > Click Purchase Extension > and select the 1-month $50 or 2-month $100. You can purchase one month first ($50) and if additional time is needed, then purchase the second month ($50). Please know, refunds are not provided for unused extension requests.

The Compliance Certification Board (CCB)® accepts compliance related continuing education from any organization as long as it meets at least one of the 10 CCB subject area and documentation requirements. The “How to Earn CEUs” is a guideline and may change at any time. CEU values or type may be adjusted once a CCB certification specialist has viewed submissions. CCB CEUs cannot be awarded for networking, social activities, breaks, meals, or time spent in non-instructional activities like question-and-answer sessions. Individuals cannot submit direct job-related duties or functions (Example: Annual Internal Compliance related training or general software training) for the purpose of continuing education. CCB accepts relevant CEUs from any organization or event sponsor as long as the education is compliance related.

For purposes of continuing education, the term “live” training is any training that is being conducted by the speaker with attendee participation in real‑time. Examples of “live” training include a face‑to‑face training events, real‑time virtual events and webinars.

CEU credits should be submitted to CCB as soon as possible, preferably within 30 days of the activity.

SCCE and HCCA regularly apply to outside organizations for pre-approval of continuing education for its events. In addition to being CCB pre-approved, SCCE and HCCA events are often pre-approved for Continuing Legal Education, RN and NASBA/CPE credits. Continuing education details are listed in the event brochure and on the “Certification” tab of the event page on the SCCE and HCCA website. 

It is any event that has been pre‑approved by CCB to offer CCB CEUs to participants. The event’s sponsor submitted the content to CCB prior to the event for CCB CEU consideration, and the CCB certification staff determined that CCB CEUs should be awarded for the event. Events may include conferences, workshops, webinars, and presentations, among others. At the end of the event, the event sponsor will distribute a certificate of attendance to all participants. The certificate lists the number of CCB CEUs earned for that activity.

You still can submit CEUs for activities and events that were not pre‑approved for CCB CEUs but are, at least in part, relevant to compliance. After completing the event, log into your account → then select “Claim CEUs” → then choose “Individual Accreditation Application” from the drop‑down menu. Follow the prompts to complete the upload of your supporting documentation and submit.

To receive CEUs for speaking, instructing, or authoring a published article you must submit an Individual Accreditation Application and a copy of your presentation, syllabi, or article. State speaker or instructor within event title field on submission form. Please allow up to 2-4 weeks for review.

You can easily track and view your CEUs by logging in to your online account with your username and password and click “My CEUs”. If you need to track how many CEUs you have earned within your certification period, please select “My Certification Profile”, click the arrow, and view how many live, non-live, and total number of CEUs you have earned within your certification period.