Skip to main content
Open Search
Book a Meeting
Search for topics or resources
Enter your search below and hit enter or click the search icon.
Close Search
Book a Meeting
your first step to medicare sales

What is AHIP certification and how do I get it in 2027?

Last updated: September 8, 2026

 

Quick Answer

AHIP certification is the annual training and testing requirement agents must complete before selling Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.

Training for the 2027 plan year opened on June 22, 2026. To get certified for 2027, agents complete AHIP's online Medicare and Fraud, Waste and Abuse modules, pass the 50-question final exam with a score of at least 90 percent, and transmit their results to each carrier they plan to represent.

The standard cost is $175, and agents who register through PSM Brokerage pay $125. Most carriers require a passing 2027 AHIP score before an agent can begin carrier-specific product certification, so agents who certify early in the season protect their AEP selling time.

AHIP Medicare Certification

Section Links


1.)  What is AHIP Certification?

2.)  Why Do Agents Need AHIP Certification?

3.)  How do I Get AHIP Certified?

4.)  AHIP Medicare Training

5.)  AHIP Fraud Waste and Abuse (FWA) Training

6.)  About AHIP

7.)  AHIP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is AHIP Certification?

AHIP certification is an industry recognized method of proving that you have completed the required Medicare training courses, and you understand how to sell Medicare plans in a way that is compliant with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

AHIP (stands for America’s Health Insurance Plans) certification is accepted by all and required by most carriers if insurance agents want to legally sell Medicare Advantage (MA) or Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) for the current certification year.

If you aspire to sell during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), fulfilling this requirement is of utmost importance. This certification should be integrated into your insurance continuing education program.

Be aware that while most carriers will require AHIP certification, it will only serve as a pre-requisite to completing additional carrier specific certifications.

Check our carrier specific certification page for more details.

2. Why Do Insurance Agents Need AHIP Certification?

ICarriers, not AHIP, are the reason this certification matters. Most Medicare carriers will not release their product certifications to an agent until a passing AHIP score for that plan year is on file. Without it you cannot get appointed to sell Medicare Advantage or Part D plans, regardless of how much experience you have.

That makes AHIP a gate, not a formality. It is the first step in a sequence: pass AHIP, transmit your score, complete each carrier's product training, then get released to sell. Agents who delay AHIP compress every step that follows into the weeks right before the Annual Enrollment Period.

AHIP also carries compliance weight. The training covers CMS marketing and enrollment rules, so completing it each year keeps you current on the regulations that govern how you market and enroll.

Check our carrier specific certification page for the requirements that come after AHIP.

3. How do I Get AHIP Certified for 2027?

Getting certified is a straightforward process. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  1.  Register through PSM Brokerage's AHIP link to get the $125 rate. 
  2. Complete the online training modules.
  3. Complete the Fraud, Waste and Abuse (FWA) training.
  4. Pass the 50-question exam with a score of 90% or higher.
  5. Transmit your results to each carrier you plan to represent.

To take the exam you must register at ahipmedicaretraining.com. Register through PSM Brokerage's link so the $125 rate is applied at checkout instead of the standard $175. Returning agents log in with the National Producer Number (NPN) and password used for their previous AHIP registration.

The AHIP test is a 50 question open book test and is administered online with a 2 hour time limit. You must pass both parts of the test to be AHIP certified for the current year.

PSM is proud to offer our agents a discount for AHIP certification at $125. The test normally costs $175 for 3 attempts and you must score a 90% to pass. If you fail all 3 attempts you will need to apply again (and pay again) for 3 more attempts.  

Once you have completed the AHIP certification you must then upload it to the website of each carrier you wish to work with. Upon uploading the certification, the carrier will normally have additional carrier specific training listed in order to satisfy their requirements to sell.

Be aware that many carriers will not accept 3 failures in a given plan year. If you don’t pass on the 3rd, and final exam, you would not be able to sell their products for that plan year, even if you did go on to pass the AHIP test.

There are a number of self-study insurance education courses available to help prepare you for the test. We strongly recommend you take training courses that cover the same material, to ensure you’re prepared to take the test.

 

AHIP 2027 Key Dates


June 18, 2026
AHIP closed the 2026 Medicare and FWA training at 11:59 PM ET.
 
June 22, 2026
AHIP opened the 2027 Medicare and Fraud, Waste and Abuse training.
 
Late June through August 2026
Carriers begin releasing 2027 product certifications. Most require a passing
2027 AHIP score before an agent can start them.
 
October 15, 2026
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for the 2027 plan year begins.
 
December 7, 2026
The Annual Enrollment Period ends.
 
Carrier certification windows vary. Because a passing AHIP score is normally
the prerequisite before carrier certification can begin, agents should confirm
each carrier's 2027 deadline directly with the carrier or with their PSM
Brokerage Sales Specialist.

4. AHIP Medicare Training for 2027

In general, the training material will test your understanding of a wide variety of Medicare related topics. Here’s a short list on what will be covered in the AHIP Course Modules:

The basics of Medicare fee-for-service eligibility and benefits

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

5. AHIP Medicare Fraud Waste and Abuse Training (FWA) for 2027


Similarly, the Fraud Waste and Abuse Training (FWA) online course will teach you about:

  • 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.

what-is-ahip-certification-body-2

6. About AHIP (America's Health Insurance Plans)

In 2003, two organizations merged to create what is known today as America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Those organizations were, the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) and the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP).

AHIP is the national trade association representing the health insurance industry. It was formed in 2003 through the merger of the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) and the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP).

In June 2021 the organization refreshed its brand and began going by AHIP rather than its former name, America's Health Insurance Plans. Its tagline is "Guiding Greater Health."

For insurance agents, AHIP's most relevant role is administering the annual Medicare and Fraud, Waste and Abuse training that most carriers require before an agent can sell Medicare Advantage or Part D plans.

Don't wait. Get AHIP Certified and start selling Medicare plans today

Get AHIP Medicare certified today and unlock the opportunity to sell in one of the fastest-growing markets, helping seniors find the coverage they need while building a rewarding, lucrative career.

Dedicated AHIP Support for Insurance Agents

PSM Brokerage is dedicated to helping agents succeed in the Medicare market by providing comprehensive support and resources. From AHIP certification discounts to personalized training, we ensure you have everything you need to get certified and start selling Medicare plans.

Our team offers ongoing guidance, marketing tools, and enrollment platforms to help you build a successful Medicare insurance business while staying ahead of industry changes.

7. AHIP FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Is AHIP required to sell Medicare plans?

2. What is the duration for completing the AHIP course?

3. How long does it take to complete the AHIP Test?

4. Is the AHIP certification exam an open-book format?

5. How many attempts are allowed to pass the AHIP exam?

6. When do I need to renew my AHIP certification?

7. Will carriers accept my AHIP certification?

8. How Much Does the AHIP Cost?

9. What happens if you fail the AHIP?

10. When does AHIP 2027 certification open?

11. Is there a deadline to pass AHIP for the 2027 plan year?

12. Is there an AHIP discount for 2027?

*For agent use only. Not affiliated with the U. S. government or federal Medicare program. This website is designed to provide general information on Insurance products, including Annuities. It is not, however, intended to provide specific legal or tax advice and cannot be used to avoid tax penalties or to promote, market, or recommend any tax plan or arrangement. Please note that PSM Brokerage, its affiliated companies, and their representatives and employees do not give legal or tax advice. Encourage your clients to consult their tax advisor or attorney.