CIRS™ AMA Guides 6th Edition
Certification Exam.
The CIRS™ AMA Guides 6th Edition exam is the AMA Guides 6th Edition national credential for physicians producing impairment ratings in jurisdictions that have adopted the AMA Guides 6th Edition. It is open to any physician; no AAEME course is required for registration.
Who Is the CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition Exam For?
The CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition exam is for physicians who produce permanent impairment ratings under the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 6th Edition, in jurisdictions that have adopted that edition. Passing the exam earns the CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition credential, AAEME's national AMA Guides 6th Edition certification.
How Is the CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition Exam Structured?
The CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition exam is delivered online and self-scheduled. It contains 50 questions in mixed formats (multiple choice, calculation, and case-based) drawn from the methodology and clinical scenarios covered by the AMA Guides 6th Edition. Candidates have 4 hours to complete the exam in a single sitting and must achieve 75% to pass.
- 50 questions in mixed formats: multiple choice, case-based scenarios, and impairment calculations
- 4 hours total time, one sitting; the timer runs continuously
- One question at a time; you cannot return to a previous question after answering
- 75% passing score required; result is calculated and displayed at the end of the exam
- Online, self-scheduled; sit when you are ready, from your own location
- 90-day window from purchase to sit the exam
- Up-to-date web browser required; update Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Opera before you begin, with JavaScript and cookies enabled
- The AMA Guides 6th Edition; the exam is open book, physical or digital copy permitted
- A calculator; physical, on-screen, or web-based
- Personal notes from your independent preparation
- Any reference materials you find helpful; there is no restricted-resource list
- What is tracked: IP address, exam start and end times, time spent, session activity, and answer pattern. Video proctoring is not used at this time
- What is not allowed: assistance from another person. The exam tests your competency, not collective
What Does the CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition Exam Cover?
The CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition exam tests applied knowledge of AMA Guides 6th Edition impairment rating methodology across all major specialties and body systems. The AMA Guides 6th Edition introduced a different organizing framework than the 5th, including diagnosis-based impairment grids, functional history adjustment, and the ICF model. The exam reflects that framework directly.
The exam emphasizes applied methodology (case scenarios, calculations, and judgment under the Guides) over rote memorization. Candidates should be comfortable navigating the AMA Guides 6th Edition while answering. The exam is shorter than its AMA Guides 5th Edition counterpart but covers the same breadth of content.
How Should I Prepare for the CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition Exam?
AAEME does not currently offer an AMA Guides 6th Edition preparation course or study guide. Candidates should prepare independently using the AMA Guides 6th Edition itself, peer-reviewed materials, and their own clinical experience with AMA Guides 6th Edition methodology. A AMA Guides 6th Edition Advanced course is in development at AAEME but not yet available.
A AMA Guides 6th Edition Advanced course is in development at AAEME. When it becomes available it will be announced through our newsletter and listed on the courses page. Until then, the exam is open to any physician confident in their applied knowledge of the AMA Guides 6th Edition.
What Happens After I Take the Exam?
Your score is calculated automatically and displayed at the end of the exam. If you achieve 75% or higher, your CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition certificate is issued on AAEME's twice-monthly schedule. If you do not pass, you will need to re-register to sit again. Exam fees are non-refundable regardless of result.
- Digital certificate emailed to you on AAEME's twice-monthly schedule
- Physical certificate available by mail for an additional fee
- E-Eval Provider Network access: Helps national clients find you. You choose whether to be listed.
- Recognized credential for use in workers' compensation hearings, depositions, motor vehicle cases, and other liability proceedings under the AMA Guides 6th Edition
- CME credit for the AMA Guides 6th Edition exam is pending
Your score is displayed at the end of the exam. If you do not achieve 75%, you will need to re-register to sit again. There is no free retake. The exam fee is non-refundable regardless of result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition certification exam, including how it differs from the AMA Guides 5th Edition exam and what preparation is available.
What does CIRS stand for?
CIRS stands for Certified Impairment Rating Specialist. It is the national credential AAEME issues to physicians who pass a certification exam demonstrating applied command of AMA Guides impairment rating methodology. The credential is edition-specific: CIRS AMA Guides 5th Edition and CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition match the two AMA Guides editions in current use. The CIRS™ designation signals to courts, insurers, and referral sources that a physician's impairment ratings follow the Guides correctly.
Do I need to take a course before sitting the CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition exam?
No. The CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition exam is open to any physician confident in their AMA Guides 6th Edition methodology. AAEME does not currently offer an AMA Guides 6th Edition preparation course; one is in development.
If I pass the CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition, do I also get the CIRS AMA Guides 5th Edition?
No. The AMA Guides 5th and 6th Edition exams test different methodologies and issue separate credentials. Physicians who need both must sit both exams. Only NIRSAT carries a dual-credential outcome (NIRSAT + CIRS AMA Guides 5th Edition).
Why does the AMA Guides 6th Edition exam have fewer questions than the AMA Guides 5th Edition?
Because the AMA Guides 6th Edition uses a more compact diagnosis-based framework than the AMA Guides 5th Edition, it is more complex and its questions take longer to answer. 50 questions are sufficient to test applied competency across the major body systems and the new framework's diagnostic grids. Both exams allocate the same 4-hour window, so candidates have ample time per question on the AMA Guides 6th Edition exam.
What browser do I need to take the exam?
Any current version of a major web browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Opera. Update your browser before you start the exam, and make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled (they are on by default in modern browsers). Mac and iPad users can take the exam in Safari without issue.
Is the exam open book?
Yes. You may use the AMA Guides 6th Edition (physical or digital), a calculator, and any personal reference notes during the exam. The exam tests applied methodology, not memorization. Assistance from another person is not permitted; your competency is what is being assessed.
How long do I have to sit the exam after purchasing?
You have 90 days from the date of purchase to sit the exam. Because the window is fixed, AAEME recommends purchasing the exam when you are ready to take it rather than registering far in advance.
What happens if I fail the exam?
If you do not pass, you will need to re-register to sit again. There is no free retake. The retake follows the same format: 50 questions, 4 hours, single sitting, 75% to pass. The exam fee is non-refundable regardless of result.
When will I receive my certificate?
AAEME processes certificates twice monthly, and your certificate is emailed to the address we have on file for you. A printed physical certificate is available by mail for an additional fee.
What is the refund policy?
All exam fees are non-refundable, regardless of result, change of mind, or failure to sit within the 90-day window. If you have questions before registering, please use our contact form.
Ready to Earn Your CIRS AMA Guides 6th Edition Credential?
Register when you are ready to sit. The 90-day window begins at purchase. Certificates are issued twice monthly after you pass.