Certified Value-Based Administrator (CVBA™ Training Course
A Certified Value-Based Administrator plays a critical role in today’s evolving healthcare landscape — leading the shift from fee-for-service to value-based care by aligning quality outcomes, cost efficiency, and patient-centered performance. In this role, professionals help healthcare organizations improve patient care while managing costs, focusing on better outcomes rather than the volume of services provided. CVBAs work across teams to track performance, manage payer contracts, and use data to identify at-risk populations and drive meaningful improvements.
The CVBA course is designed to prepare you for this role with practical, real-world knowledge. You’ll learn how value-based care works and build skills in areas like population health, risk adjustment, payer contracting, and data analytics. By the end of your training, you’ll be ready to design, implement, and manage value-based care initiatives that support better outcomes, smarter spending, and more sustainable healthcare systems.
When to enroll
This course is for experienced healthcare professionals who want to advance into leadership roles in value-based care. It’s ideal for those with backgrounds in coding, auditing, clinical operations, quality, or analytics who are ready to expand into strategy, performance, and program management.
Value
Earning the CVBA credential shows employers you can support value-based care initiatives and improve outcomes. It helps position you for advanced roles in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Education and experience
The CVBA is an advanced level credential for healthcare business professionals with 5 years of coding or auditing experience, clinical experience, process management, or quality control in the healthcare industry.
We highly recommend having a coding or auditing credential prior to enrolling. The Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)® credential is preferred, but the Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA)® is also a good starting point.
Course length
Self-paced: To be completed at student’s own pace within a 4-month period or less. Enrollment date begins at date of purchase. Monthly course extensions may be purchased.
Continuing education units (CEUs)
Receive 20 CEUs once the course is successfully completed. Must be AAPC certified prior to enrollment — some certifications excluded.
Course syllabus
Course curriculum overview
The CVBA course provides a structured, in-depth look at how value-based care programs operate — from foundational concepts to real-world application. You’ll begin by exploring the evolution of value-based care, key stakeholders, and regulatory drivers, then move into core components such as population health management, risk adjustment strategies, and quality measurement frameworks used to track performance.
As the course progresses, you’ll dive into financial models, patient attribution methods, and payer contracting approaches that shape reimbursement and accountability. You’ll also learn how data analytics, reporting tools, and emerging technologies like AI support decision-making and program success. The course concludes with a capstone case study, where you’ll apply what you’ve learned to design and implement a value-based care plan for an accountable care organization (ACO).
Training objectives
Understand the principles and evolution of value-based care (VBC), including its goals, frameworks, and how it differs from traditional fee-for-service models
Apply population health, quality measurement, and risk adjustment strategies to improve patient outcomes, equity, and financial performance
Use data and technology—such as EHR systems, business intelligence tools, and predictive analytics—to support decision-making and optimize VBC programs
Evaluate and manage key components of value-based care contracts, including payment models, patient attribution, compliance, and financial risk
Design and implement a value-based care plan that aligns stakeholders, integrates clinical and operational efforts, and supports continuous improvement within an organization
CVBA for Healthcare Organizations
Value-based care is raising the stakes.
More payer contracts now tie reimbursement to risk accuracy, quality outcomes, and documentation, not just services delivered. That raises both financial and compliance exposure for your organization.
AAPC's CVBA certification prepares your team to manage risk, strengthen audit readiness, and align coding, quality, and finance under value-based contracts.
Course bundle includes
In addition to the actual course of interactive online lectures, step-by-step coding processes, and all training needed to pass the exam, you’ll receive:
Online practice exams
Three 50-question practice exams to help you determine your readiness for the CVBA exam.CVBA exam ($499 exam fee is included in this package)
The CVBA exam features 100 multiple-choice questions over 4 hours. Your package includes two exam attempts.FREE BONUS: AAPC eBook
2026 Certified Value-Based Administrator (CVBA) - eBook
Why train with AAPC?
Any credential you earn through us will be recognized worldwide. Our education is trusted globally, positioning AAPC as a leader in training and certification.
Train with the same experts who created the exams. Why study at an institution that bases its curriculum on AAPC’s when you can train directly with us?
Our exam pass rates are the highest in the industry. We provide the most trusted curriculum and top-rated training, resulting in exam pass rates that remain unmatched by other programs.
Join a network of over 300,000 members. We’re the world's largest training and credentialing organization for the business of healthcare. We’ll be here to support you every step of the way, through tools and resources, payment plans, CEUs, workshops, networking events, and more.
Additional training resources
Review the study guide and test-taking techniques.
Designed to help you prepare for the exam, our official CVBA Study Guide walks you through practical examples and sample questions, covering all the content sections found on the exam. Best of all, it provides testing tips for taking the CVBA exam.
If you have billing experience or have successfully completed medical billing training, this study guide will optimize exam preparation.
Test your knowledge before the exam.
Diagnose your strengths and weaknesses. We highly recommend that you take one of the 50-question online practice exams to help you become familiar with the format and time constraints of the real test. Our practice tests accurately mirror the exam to ensure you are fully prepared on exam day.
Diagnose and prioritize your focus areas.
After you take your first practice exam you’ll realize not all areas of CVBA curriculum require equal study time. Based on your diagnostic results and practice performance, we’ll recommend lessons and exercises at just the right level. Follow these recommendations to make the most of your practice time.
