CHS-C Certification: Certificate for HOPE Specialist–Clinical

Since 1999, OASIS Answers has been a trusted leader in educating providers on patient assessment data collection. As a CMS subcontractor for home health since 2006, and for hospice since 2015, we supported HIS implementation and contributed to the development, testing, and training of the new Hospice Outcomes & Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool.

Building on our 20+ years of leadership – including the launch of the COS-C Certification Program in 2004—OASIS Answers is proud to introduce the Certificate for HOPE Specialist–Clinical (CHS-C) Certification: the first nationally standardized exam for hospice providers that validates mastery of CMS HOPE guidance.

What Is CHS-C Certification?

The CHS-C Certification is a psychometrically managed, nationally standardized exam designed for hospice professionals. It demonstrates an individual’s ability to accurately apply CMS HOPE data collection rules and conventions in real-world patient scenarios.

With HOPE implementation required beginning October 1, 2025, CHS-C provides both individuals and hospice organizations with a way to prove accuracy, compliance, and quality in HOPE assessments.

Why the CHS-C Exam Matters

Accurate HOPE data collection is now a core Medicare requirement. The CHS-C exam helps:

• Organizations: Ensure staff who lead HOPE education, data collection, or audits have the knowledge to produce clean data for iQIES submission—reducing risks of APU payment reductions and inaccurate quality measure reporting.
• Individuals: Build professional credibility by earning a nationally recognized credential that signals leadership, accuracy, and compliance with CMS HOPE guidance.

Who Should Take the CHS-C Exam?

The CHS-C Certification Exam is designed for multidisciplinary hospice staff, including:

• Nurses, social workers, therapists, and chaplains
• Volunteers, supervisors, and QA/education leaders
• Professionals who assess patients, code or abstract HOPE items, audit clinical records, or train and orient staff

What’s Covered on the CHS-C Exam?

The CHS-C Exam focuses on the most critical aspects of HOPE accuracy. Exam content includes:

• HOPE-related regulations and CMS requirements
• HOPE data collection timepoints (including HUVs and SFVs)
• Patient populations included in HOPE assessments
• HOPE data collection conventions
• Item-level coding guidance for the HOPE tool
• Identifying and coding Symptom Follow-Up Visits

The CHS-C Exam exclusively tests current, published CMS HOPE guidance that hospice providers are expected to use daily.

How to Register for the CHS-C Certification Exam

Registration for the CHS-C Certification Exam is open now, with testing beginning November 1, 2025.

• Premier Launch Administration: The first in-person, paper-and-pencil CHS-C Exam will take place November 1, 2025, in New Orleans. An optional 4-hour HOPE in Action in-person training will be available before the exam.
• Computer-Based Testing (CBT): The most flexible option—choose from 300+ nationwide testing centers to take the CHS-C exam.

The CHS-C Exam is open-book, allowing candidates to bring paper-based HOPE references such as the HOPE Guidance Manual, CMS HOPE FAQs, HOPE in Action training handout, or the INSTANT HOPE Answers Book.

While no training is required, OASIS Answers offers CHS-C exam prep through our HOPE in Action curriculum.

Lead Hospice Quality with CHS-C

HOPE accuracy is now essential for compliance and quality reporting. The CHS-C Certification ensures your coding and data collection align with CMS guidance, giving you and your organization credibility and confidence.

Take the lead – earn your CHS-C Certification and make accuracy the standard in your hospice.

👉 Register now for the CHS-C Exam and set the bar for hospice quality and compliance.