NAMSS Credentialing Specialist (CPCS®) Study Guide + NAMSS Comparison of Accreditation Standards Grid

The NAMSS Credentialing Specialist (CPCS®) Study Guide is a PDF reference guide designed to help medical services professionals prepare for the CPCS® exam. This comprehensive resource covers exam topics, including credentialing and privileging; primary source verification; compliance with standards; and medical services operations. In addition, these topics are reviewed from the perspective of a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, credentials verification organizations (CVOs), managed care organizations (MCOs), and ambulatory care settings. MSPs are able to access the full spectrum of information they will need to know for the CPCS® exam in one organized guide.

This product includes access to the NAMSS Comparison of Accreditation Standards Grid product.

Who Should Purchase:

• MSPs planning to take the Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist (CPCS®) Certification Exam and/or MSPs new to the field who are looking for an go-to resource. NAMSS members and non-members are welcome to purchase the guide.

Contents:

• Principles of credentialing and re-credentialing, including bylaws, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations;
• The application process;
• Credentials verification, including board certification and licensure;
• Clinical privileges;
• Peer review and performance improvement;
• Re-credentialing, reappointment, and reappraisal;
• Operations and information management;
• Medical staff management;
• Healthcare law, including medical staff appointments and privileges, the medical record, and the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA); and
• Exam study strategies and self-check questions.

What You Will Learn:

• How to increase your knowledge of the credentialing process;
• How to improve your understanding of each medical environment and its patients;
• Relevant exam-related information organized by topic so that you can carefully review areas in which you are lacking knowledge;
• Familiarity with the types of questions included on the CPCS® exam; and
• An accessible reference to help answer your questions in the workplace.

This bundle includes access to the NAMSS Comparison Grid of Accreditation Standards Grid Product, which is a downloadable digital reference tool providing “plain-language” interpretations of the credentialing standards for The Joint Commission (TJV), the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Utilization Review Accreditation Commission  (URAC), the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care  (AAAHC), American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (Quad A), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ), as well as the Medicare Conditions of Participation.  

This product includes two versions of the grid: 

• The 2024 NAMSS Comparison of Accreditation Standards Grid**
  • Current with the Fall 2025 through Summer 2025 Exam Content Outlines for CPCS®, CPES, and CPMSM®. 
  • Last updated: August 2024.
• The 2025 NAMSS Comparison of Accreditation Standards Grid**
  • Current to standards released as of July 1, 2025. This grid will not be reflected on certification examinations until Fall of 2026 for CPCS®, CPES, and CPMSM®. 
  • Last Updated: September 2025.

**IMPORTANT: Individuals preparing to take the CPCS®, CPES, and/or CPMSM® exam(s) should review the candidate handbook for standards referenced in their appropriate examination window.

Cost: 

• Hover over the "Register" button in the top right corner to see the price

Note: The Certification Commission of NAMSS (CCN) does not develop, administer, sponsor, endorse, or financially benefit from any type of exam review, preparatory course or published materials related to the content of the certification examinations. The purchase and/or use of any exam preparation material does not guarantee a passing score on the exam.