AHIP Certification | How to get AHIP Certified
By Forrest Klein
Reviewed by Bryan Smith, Licensed Insurance Agent, NPN 17265128
Written by Forrest Klein Health Insurance & Medicare Marketing Specialist December 20, 2024 6 min. read
What is the AHIP certification?
The AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) certification is a required credential if you want to sell Medicare insurance. Becoming AHIP Certified means completing the Medicare training courses and passing a Medicare certification exam. If you're just here for the exam, take it here.
AHIP certification is accepted by all carriers and required by most, meaning it is required for you to be ready to sell. Insurance agents, current or prospective, must have their AHIP designation.
The best time to get your AHIP certification is before the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). AEP is the best time to sell insurance, so being certified and ready to go is your best bet for a successful year.
Carriers also often have carrier-specific requirements to selling their policies, and the AHIP certification is often the pre-requisite. Check out carrier-specific requirements for the carriers you want to sell for more details.
This certification should be an integrated part of your insurance continuing education program.
How do I Get AHIP Certified?
AHIP certification requires that you take and pass an AHIP Exam. The exam is taken online, and in order to take the exam, you must register through the AHIP website.
The AHIP 2026 certification season started on June 23, 2025. Make an account on ahip.org using your National Producer Number (NPN). Use our link below to get a $50 discount on the certification.
The test is 50 questions, and is an open book test. The test has a 2 hour time limit. You must pass both parts of the test to be AHIP certified for the current year.
The test normally costs $175 to take. You will have three attempts to pass, and a passing score is 90% or higher. If you fail all three attempts, you will need to apply and pay again for another three attempts. You can get a discount by taking the exam through Agent Boost Marketing.
It is important to note that even if you pass on the second three attempts, many carriers will not accept three failures in a given plan year. If you don’t pass on the first three attempts, most carriers would not allow you to sell their products for that plan year, even if you did go on to pass the AHIP test.
Upon completion of the AHIP certification, you would then upload it to the website of each carrier you wish to work with. Once your certification is uploaded, each carrier will have their own training and certifications that you must complete in order to sell.
What are the benefits of getting AHIP certified?
Once obtained, the AHIP acknowledges your qualification and preparedness to sell. Additionally, you will learn to become an expert about Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, which will allow you to be a knowledgeable and trusted advisor for the people you serve. It's both necessary and beneficial if you want to sell Medicare.
What to expect from the AHIP Medicare Training?
The Medicare training material is meant to test your understanding of a variety of relevant Medicare topics.
Some of the topics and trainings that will be covered in the AHIP Course Modules include:
The basics of Medicare fee-for-service eligibility and benefit
The different types of Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans
Eligibility and coverage
Nondiscrimination training
Marketing and enrollment under the Medicare Advantage and Part D program requirements
What to expect from the AHIP Medicare Fraud Waste and Abuse Training (FWA)?
The Waste and Abuse FWA online course will cover many relevant and important topics, including:
How to identify FWA
Industry efforts in detecting fraud
Legal tools to combat FWA
The human and financial cost of FWA
Medicare Parts C and D Fraud, Waste, and Abuse and General Compliance requirements
Who commits FWA
Reporting FWA; loopholes and obligations
Regulations change in the Medicare space from year to year. As such, it is not a bad idea to take the training each year and ensure that you are up to date on all the changes.
How do I prepare for the AHIP Certification?
There are a number of ways to prepare for the AHIP exam.
The first time you take it, you can study through the considerable amount of self-study insurance education courses available online. There are many resources you can find online to prepare for these tests. These training modules cover the same material for example, and help you review questions you may get asked.
Additionally, if you are an independent agent, you may consider signing with an FMO. FMO’s typically offer trainings, agent support, and tools, and can assist you through your career. Some FMO’s even cover a cost of the exam, making it a cheaper investment for you.
Join the nations top health insurance provider in helping seniors get great health care.
Frequently asked questions about AHIP
Getting AHIP Certified is a pre-requisite to selling in the health insurance industry. This often comes with questions from newcomers to the industry. These are the most common questions we get and how you can quickly become ready to sell.
How hard is the AHIP Exam?
It's not necessarily difficult, but it does require preparation. The test is open book, but you'll still be required to understand Medicare rules and compliance guidelines.
What is a passing score on the AHIP exam?
A passing score is 90%. The exam is 50 questions with a 2 hour time limit.
How much does the certification cost?
The standard is $175, but you can get a discount through Agent Boost by taking the exam HERE.
Do you have to take the AHIP exam every year?
Yes. You are required to complete the training and exam each year to continue selling Medicare Advantage Plans.
After completing the AHIP exam, am I ready to sell?
There are a couple more steps, including getting contracts with carriers, and potentially other compliance certifications. If you'd like our support in getting ready to sell, connect with us! We have a contracting team dedicated to helping you get contracts & support your process.
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Where can I learn more about Agent Boost Marketing?
We hold a weekly webinar where you can learn about you opportunities, infrastructure, commissions, and any other questions you may have. Register here.
How long does the contracting process take?
You can fill out a contract whenever you would like. The contracting process typically takes about 2 weeks to complete. You will need to stay on top of your emails and complete the links that get sent to you and then you will wait on a ‘Ready to Sell’ Status from the carriers.
How much commission will I receive and does Agent Boost Marketing take any of my commissions?
As a Traditional Field Agent, you will receive full FMV commissions. You will also own your book of business from day one, so you will receive renewals for each person that remains on your book of business come the following year. As an LOA Agent, you will receive a flat rate commission with opportunities to make more per sale depending on how many sales you make in a month.