How to Prepare for the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators Certificate Exam

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The National Association of Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC) Certificate Exam validates your knowledge and proves to current and future employers that you have achieved a specific skill level. Your credential is recognized throughout the healthcare industry and can help you stand out from other candidates during your job search. To pass your exam, you need to prepare. Here are a few tips to help you get ready for your NAHUC exam:

Enroll in a Health Unit Coordinator Training Program 

You aren’t just preparing for a test—you’re getting ready for a rewarding healthcare career. To learn everything you need to know about the role of a health unit coordinator, enroll in a career training program. Through lessons and coursework, you learn how the healthcare delivery system works and what laws govern patient care. You discover the skills you need to organize a hospital unit, oversee patient care, and communicate effectively with staff, patients, and families. Choose a training program taught by instructors who have worked in the industry as they can give meaningful insights not found in a textbook. You should also look for a program that incorporates test prep into the curriculum and offers the proctored test on campus. 

Download a Copy of the Official Exam Handbook

To help students understand the exam material, the NAHUC offers the Health Unit Coordinator Exam Candidate Handbook, which can be downloaded from the NAHUC website. This handbook lists the topics covered in the exam, provides 50 practice questions, and includes further resources that can help you study. Use this handbook as a guide to plan and focus your study sessions. 

Create a HUC Exam Study Schedule

When it’s time to study, it can be easy to procrastinate. But if you create a study schedule, you’re more likely to hold yourself accountable. Use a favorite calendar app or planner and set aside three to five hours a week to study. Take some time every day or block off larger chunks of time, depending on your schedule. Pro tip: Set recurring notifications or reminders so you don’t miss your next session. 

Form a Health Unit Coordinator Study Group

Create a study group with your classmates. Since you’ve been through the same training program and are prepping for the same exam, you can provide support to each other. You can organize study sessions in-person or virtually and discover together where your strengths and weaknesses might be. And when you help others, you learn while you teach.  

Enlist the Support of Friends and Family

Even if it’s not a classmate, a buddy can help you study. Find a friend or family member who can support you during your study sessions. They can help you create flashcards and go through important medical terms, laws, or protocols with you. They can time you while you run through the sample questions in the NAHUC handbook. They can even live quiz you or proctor practice exams to discover what might trip you up. 

Sit for the NAHUC Exam

You need to register and pay ($205) to sit for the NAHUC exam and there are two ways to take it. You can take it at your school with its proctors or your place of business where your employer serves as an independent proctor. Or you can take the exam at home, using a webcam proctor. Whether at home or onsite, to begin the exam, you need to present two forms of identification. And you need to show up on time. If you’re more than 15 minutes late, you cannot sit for the exam and you forfeit your registration and all fees paid. 

Have you ever considered working in health care? Health Unit Coordinators are important members of the medical team who provide valuable services to their facility and the patients they serve. And certification by the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators can give you a competitive edge in the job market. If you’re ready to start a new career, Charter College offers a Certificate in Health Unit Coordinator that can train you for the job and get you ready for the exam. The program can be completed online in as few as 10 months, and we offer the proctored exam on our campus for your convenience. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.