ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship

ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship

Overview

The Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) is proud to offer a certificate program for those seeking to enter the CDI profession

The ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship is comprised of foundational CDI education paired with a review of core compliance and ethical principles. Candidates who pass the final exam receive a certificate of CDI foundational training and are allowed to designate themselves as an ACDIS-Approved CDI Apprentice. Designation as an ACDIS CDI Apprentice demonstrates to potential employers that an individual has foundational knowledge of CDI and familiarity with the ACDIS Code of Ethics and other guiding principles for compliant query practice.

ACDIS has identified the top topics and clinical conditions new CDI specialists need to learn in order to hit the ground running, as well as the principles they must master to ensure compliant practice. The ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship can be used to:

• Introduce new CDI specialists to their roles and responsibilities and ensure foundational competence
• Provide accurate training on important topics and clinical conditions, such as querying and sepsis
• Save time and resources developing internal training for new employees who are inexperienced with CDI

Take the first step on the path to holding the CCDS credential:

The ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship has also been designed as the first step on a journey that may lead to future Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) certification. Candidates interested in obtaining the CCDS credential must fulfill prerequisites, including at least two years of experience in clinical documentation integrity; thus, the CCDS is not an entry into the profession credential.
The ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship was designed so that candidates can obtain a certificate for entry into the profession and use this as a first step on their CDI journey, which may lead to a CCDS credential once the candidate has reached expert level and has at least two years' experience as a CDI professional.

Benefits of program & features:

• Structure: Each module in the library is interactive, with voice-over narration, and includes "Test Your Knowledge" questions throughout to reinforce major concepts. Upon completion of all modules, participants will be required to complete a 40-question final exam in order to receive completion certificates and CEUs.
• One-year access to instruction after purchase: You have one year to work through all modules and complete assignments.
• 24-hour access: Instruction is available at any time of day—you choose the time that works for you.
• Expertly designed course materials: Course materials are developed by an adult education expert. The curriculum uses a "how to" approach where participants learn how to apply concepts that they can then customize to their organizational needs. Content is regularly updated based on changing industry practices and participant feedback.
• Well-established program: Brought to you by the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS), this program from the industry’s only dedicated CDI association provides the best-in-class education you expect.

Contact sales:
For more detailed information, contact us at 800-650-6787 or email sales@hcpro.com.

405+ started a course from this library within All-Access: CDI

ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for those looking to enter the clinical documentation integrity (CDI) field or those who have recently accepted a CDI role or been assigned CDI responsibilities. This foundational-level education provides a strong knowledge base for those new to CDI.

This education does not lead to a formal AHIMA or ACDIS certification. Candidates who pass the final exam receive a certificate of CDI foundational training and are allowed to designate themselves as an ACDIS-Approved CDI Apprentice.

ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship

Continuing Education

The following types of Continuing Education are offered only after the completion of all courses and the successful completion (80% pass rate) of the final exam. Upon achieving a passing exam score, users will be directed to a course evaluation that will open in a separate window which will need to be completed and submitted for both instant download and email delivery of all applicable CE certificates.

AAPC
This program has prior approval of AAPC for 4.5 continuing education unit(s) (CEUs).  Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by AAPC of the program content or the program sponsor.

ACDIS
This program has been approved for 4.5 continuing education unit(s) towards fulfilling the requirements of the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) certification, offered as a service of the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS).

AHIMA
This program has been approved for 4.5 continuing education unit(s) (CEUs) for use in fulfilling the continuing education requirements of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

ANCC
AHIMA is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

This educational activity for 4.5 nursing contact hours is provided by AHIMA.

Disclosure Statement

Please note the planners, presenter(s), and contributors to this activity have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial companies pertaining to this activity.

ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship

Faculty

Sarah Matacale, BSN, RN, CCS, CCDS, is the query education and compliance specialist for ACDIS and AHIMA, based in Chicago, Illinois, where she manages the Query Template Library services and is a subject matter expert for ACDIS. She has been a nurse for the past 29 years, specializing in a variety of inpatient and outpatient roles, including critical and home hospice care. She began her career in CDI in 2017 and has been a member of ACDIS and AHIMA ever since. Matacale was president of the North Carolina local ACDIS chapter for more than three years and is a member of the ACDIS Events Committee. She also serves as an ANCC nurse planner for ACDIS. Prior to joining ACDIS and AHIMA, she was the mortality review nurse and a CDI professional for a large health system, working closely with (and educating) members of the quality, coding, and CDI departments.

Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC, is an experienced CDI subject matter expert, former interim ACDIS director, and former CDI education director at HCPro. While at ACDIS and HCPro, she was also the lead developer and instructor for the CDI Boot Camps as well as a member of the CCDS-O certification committee and the ACDIS Advisory Board; she also frequently spoke on the ACDIS Podcast and at ACDIS conferences and webinars. She is the author of The Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist's Complete Training Guide and the ACDIS Pocket Guide series. Prescott has served in a variety of health systems and settings since joining the nursing profession in 1985 and she developed and implemented a CDI program in 2007.

Deanne Wilk, MPS, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CCS, is a clinical documentation integrity (CDI) education specialist for ACDIS at HCPro. She serves as a full-time instructor for the CDI Boot Camps and as a subject matter expert for ACDIS. Wilk is an accomplished healthcare professional with a diverse background in health information, medical coding, nursing, and CDI. With a strong passion for making a difference, Wilk has dedicated her career to improving the quality and integrity of clinical documentation within the healthcare environment for improved patient care. Having received a master's degree from Penn State University in leadership and a BSN from Drexel University, she acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to establish CDI programs, direct CDI departments from community hospitals to quaternary large academic medical systems, and educate throughout the CDI profession. Over the years, Wilk has worked on numerous projects aimed at advancing CDI education, growth, and awareness.

ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship

Course Preview

Preview this course

Explore a sample of this course below. The interactive preview is available for 10 minutes.

ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship

Resources: 2026 ACDIS Pocket Guide

Order your 2026 version today!

CDI professionals need a day-to-day reference when conducting their medical record reviews—one that can provide trusted clinical indicators for compliant and effective physician queries and easy-to-use reference tables.

The 2026 ACDIS Pocket Guide is your essential CDI resource. It includes updates to clinical diagnostic standards, Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, ICD-10-CM codes, and CDI critical thinking tips! The 2026 ACDIS Pocket Guide is co-written by industry veteran Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC, and James Manz, MD, CCDS-O, a practicing physician at Mayo Clinic steeped in the latest physician documentation terminology. The 2026 ACDIS Pocket Guide is a winning combination of practical, tailored CDI tips and resources and clinical, regulatory, and coding guidance adapted from the official sources

The 2026 ACDIS Pocket Guide offers the latest information CDI professionals need to know including:

• Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 guidelines
• AHA 2025 Coding Clinic guidance
• Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)–2 Score criteria, released in October 2025
• New provider tips from James Manz, MD, CCDS-O of Mayo Clinic
• Updated critical thinking tips, treatment protocols, and diagnostic criteria
• The latest updates related to social determinants of health
• 75+ conditions—now including neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
• And more!

For bulk orders and discounts, please contact us at information@hcpro.com or 800-650-6787.

Published: November 2025

Page Count: 602 + 5 Tabs
Format: Print, Spiral with tabs
ISBN: 978-1-963512-68-7

Click here to learn more.

ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship

Frequently Asked Questions

See the Course Content tab for the course description and total duration.

1. How long will the online content remain accessible?
   The online portal for your class sessions and materials is accessible for 180 days from your purchase date.
   
   

2. Does this education lead to a formal AHIMA or ACDIS certification?
   No, this education does not lead to a formal AHIMA or ACDIS certification. Candidates who pass the final exam receive a certificate of CDI foundational training and are allowed to designate themselves as an ACDIS-Approved CDI Apprentice.
   
   

3. Is there a discount for ACDIS, NAHRI, or AHIMA members?
   Yes, ACDIS, NAHRI, or AHIMA members receive $100 off the registration fee. Contact us at 800-650-6787 or email sales@hcpro.com.