Why get HL7 Certification?
In my opinion, if you’re building a career in healthcare IT, investing your time and resources in HL7 certification is absolutely worth it. I vividly remember the moment I realized its importance.
Years ago, I had just moved to Calgary for a job with a consulting company. My account manager took me to meet a major client, and as we sat in the cafeteria discussing my background and past projects, I could tell he wasn’t particularly eager to expand his team—budget constraints were clearly a concern.
As he flipped to the second page of my resume, he casually asked about the co-op program I had completed in Edmonton. I started to answer, but he suddenly cut me off mid-sentence. He sat up straight, his entire demeanor shifting.
“Oh, you’re HL7 certified?”
“Yes, sir.”
Immediately, he became engaged, asking me about the exam and how difficult it was. My account manager and I both felt the change in the air. The interview wrapped up shortly after, and I was asked to report for work the following week.
That moment taught me a valuable lesson: HL7 certification earns you instant recognition. It signals to hiring managers that you know your stuff, giving them a compelling reason to choose you over other candidates. And in this dog-eat-dog world, you need every competitive edge you can get.
Which HL7 Certification is right for you?
Broadly, HL7 certification can be grouped under these categories:
HL7 v2.x Certification: Focuses on the widely used HL7 v2.x messaging standard.
HL7 V3 RIM (Reference Information Model) Certification.
HL7 CDA Certification: Focuses on Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) for document-based data exchange.
HL7 FHIR Certification: Focuses on the modern Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard.
The choice ultimately comes down to HL7 v2.x certification or FHIR. Ignore HL7 v3 (too complicated; zero adoption) and CDA (a niche; not a lot of demand).
FHIR is undoubtedly the future of HL7, and if you're young, ambitious, and looking to switch jobs, FHIR certification is the way to go. Most new projects will be on FHIR.
However, v2.x is still the backbone of healthcare IT, widely implemented across the industry. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon, and there will be consistent demand for resources to maintain the existing infrastructure.
If you're currently working with v2.x, getting certified will cement your role within your team and give you a strong edge for career advancement.
How to get certified?
The certification process is managed by HL7 International and is available globally through Kryterion, a professional testing service. There are two ways to take the certification exam:
Online from your own computer – Requires an external webcam that meets Kryterion's specifications.
Onsite at Kryterion testing centers – Available at various locations worldwide.
HL7’s International’s website is your one stop for all the details regarding the certification, and I highly recommend visiting their certification page, which has tons of useful information.
Certification Preparation
To increase your chances of success, I strongly recommend taking the HL7 Certification Exam Preparation Courses offered by HL7 International. The courses include mock exams, which are incredibly valuable for familiarizing yourself with the types of questions that appear on the actual test.
If you take only one course, make it the Exam Prep course—it’s well worth the investment. Trust me on this!
Note: Check with your country’s HL7 organization for any available exam discounts. In Canada, HL7 Canada has previously offered discounts for members - so consider joining to take advantage of potential savings.