Taking the RCMS exam
The RCMS examination consists of questions regarding the correct application of ICD-10-AM, SBS, and AR-DRG codes used to meet the Saudi Arabia coding and billing standards.
Students who successfully pass the RCMS certification exam will be awarded a Certified Revenue Cycle Management Specialist credential.
Who should take the RCMS exam?
You should take the opportunity to gain certification by registering for the RCMS exam if you have already completed the RCMS training course (or a comparable course in medical coding), or if you're an experienced medical coder, medical auditor, medical biller, RCM specialist, or CDI specialist.
What to expect on exam day
The exam has a total of 135 multiple-choice questions and 15 case studies. People often wonder if the RCMS exam is hard. We'll say this: If you have taken the training course, studied, and are familiar with your code books, the test will be demanding, but not difficult.
Here's a quick overview of what you can expect:
Before you begin the test, take a moment and breathe. You have prepared for this. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your coding expertise.
You’ll have four hours to complete the exam. You can save time by reading the answer choices before reading each question and by saving the more difficult questions for last. It’s important to answer every question, even if you aren’t sure. Your best guess is better than no answer at all.
The questions assess several areas of knowledge, most of which are presented as coding scenarios to test application of ICD-10-AM, SBS, and AR-DRG codes. The end of the exam has 15 case studies (case analyses of various RCM stages).
For online exams
Our exam is a 4-hour live, remote-proctored examination completed in one sitting and proctored by Examity. You can take the exam at home or at another quiet and private location of your choosing.
If you do not have a location that meets the exam requirements, you will have the option to schedule your exam at a central exam location in Riyadh.
On the day of the exam, you will log into your Meazure Learning account, then connect with your Examity proctor to complete a security check and take your exam. Your results will be posted within 7-10 business days from the date you complete your exam.
Equipment required: Reliable internet connection and an external webcam that can be positioned to show your face, hands, keyboard, and the area around the keyboard (about 10 inches)
Location: At home in a quiet, private location
Exam format: 135 multiple-choice questions and 15 cases delivered in one sitting
Time allowed: 4 hours
Proctor to examinee ratio: 1 to 2
Cancellation fee: No fee charged if cancelled 24 hours in advance
Reschedule fee: No fee charged if rescheduled 24 hours in advance
No show fee: If you do not show up to your scheduled exam OR you do not meet the requirements to take the exam, your exam voucher will be cancelled, and you will need to purchase a new voucher in order to take the exam.
Availability: Schedule now
Passing grades
An overall score of 70% or higher is required to pass the certification exam. If you don’t pass, you will be notified of the categories/areas to study so you can prepare for retesting.
Your results will be shared with you online in your My AAPC Account Dashboard under My Exams. You can expect the results within 7-10 business days after taking the exam. Once you have passed, your certificate will be sent to you in the mail.
Breakdown of the RCMS exam
During the RCMS exam, you will need to correctly identify the domains below:
Patient access (31 questions)
Medical billing (45 questions)
Compliance and data security (15 questions)
Electronic health records and data quality (11 questions)
Accounts receivable (18 questions)
Case studies (15 questions)