VA to provide Veterans with Vouchers for Health IT Competency Exams

The VHA Office of Rural Health (ORH) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Rural Health Policy to create jobs in rural America by promoting and distributing health IT training materials to Veterans.

ORH is providing Veterans with free vouchers to take one of the six health IT competency exams. The six exams currently available include:

• Clinician/Practitioner Consultant
• Implementation Manager
• Implementation Support Specialist
• Practice Workflow & Information Redesign Specialist
• Technician/Software Support Staff
• Trainer

Each of these exams can help assess competency levels for those who have relevant work experience, training, or education in health care or IT. Learn more about these competency exams.

There are 230 nationwide test centers offering the exams and vouchers are accepted at all Pearson Vue test centers. Find the test center closest to you.

HIT Voucher Program Update - December 2012

Since June 2012, ORH has received over seventy inquiries from Veterans requesting more information about the health IT competency exam voucher program. So far, 39 Veterans have received free vouchers, 8 Veterans have confirmed registering for one of the six exams and 3 Veterans have passed one of the exams. These individuals have fulfilled the requirements of sending in all their information including their full name, city, state, zip code, e-mail address, and a copy of their DD214 for confirmation of their Veteran status. The program has expanded from just rural Veterans to all Veterans throughout the United States. Voucher requests are continuously pouring in and vouchers are being sent out with information on how to register for the exam on a daily basis. Learn more about the Health IT Workforce Development Program.

Vouchers expire 4 months from the date they are issued. Voucher expiration dates cannot be extended. The exam must be taken by the expiration date provided by Pearson VUE. The HIT Pro voucher program ends April 1, 2013. Vouchers are invalid for use after this date.