AHIP Medicare training, explained.

What AHIP Medicare training is

AHIP stands for America's Health Insurance Plans, and its annual Medicare + Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) training is the industry's most widely accepted certification for agents selling Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Federal rules require annual Medicare training before you are permitted to enroll beneficiaries, and carriers generally will not grant you ready-to-sell status for the plan year until your AHIP — or an equivalent they accept — is on file.

Certification is valid for one plan year. Passing for one year does not carry over to the next; every year you intend to sell, you complete the training again. Well over 100,000 agents take it each year, which is why the industry treats it as the standard rather than an option.

Key dates for the 2027 plan year

• June 22, 2026The 2027 Medicare + FWA training opened. Completing it early is the single easiest way to take pressure off your fall.
• Summer 2026Carriers open their own certifications, usually after your AHIP posts. Each carrier publishes its own windows and deadlines.
• October 15 – December 7, 2026The Annual Enrollment Period, when the certification you completed in June pays off. You need a passing score before selling begins.

What it costs

The standard price is $175, which includes the training and three chances to pass the exam. Nearly every carrier and field-marketing organization offers a discount registration link that brings it to about $125 — so before you pay retail, check with the carrier or agency you are contracting with. Buying through their link usually also ties your completion to that organization automatically.

What the exam covers

The training runs through five modules, each with its own review quizzes, followed by a final exam. You need a score of 90% or better, and each attempt is limited to two hours.

1. 01Medicare program basicsChoices, eligibility, and benefits across Parts A, B, C, and D.
2. 02Medicare health plansHow Medicare Advantage plans differ, and what carriers must offer.
3. 03Medicare Part DPrescription drug coverage, plan types, and enrollment rules.
4. 04Marketing MA and Part D plansCMS marketing and communication rules, Scope of Appointment requirements, and the line between educational and marketing events.
5. 05Enrollment guidanceElection periods — including the Annual Enrollment Period — and low-income subsidy rules.

How to pass on your first attempt

• Work through every module's review questions. Agents who take the exam often say they mirror the final test.
• The exam is open-book, but each attempt is timed, so know where your notes live before you start.
• Plan a focused, uninterrupted session. A rushed attempt during AEP costs you selling days, not just a fee.
• Aim higher than the 90% passing bar on your first try — the score is set so prepared agents pass comfortably.

How EJ Insurance Group helps

Licensing and AHIP certification are the first practical checkpoints on our agent journey, and we walk you through both: a clear preparation path, guidance on which carriers require what, and help sequencing your contracting so your certifications post in the right order. You are not left to search carrier portals alone the week before AEP.

If you are starting your Medicare career — or adding Medicare to an existing book — the easiest next step is a short conversation with our team about where you are starting from and what comes next.