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EPIC CLN251/252 EXAMINATION CONFIGURING THE EPIC
END USER – CLINICAL CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
EPIC CLN251/252 EXAMINATION
CONFIGURING THE EPIC END USER – CLINICAL CERTIFICATION
250 Multiple Choice Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: CHRONICLES DATABASE STRUCTURE (Questions 1-30)
1. What is the name of Epic's underlying database management system that stores
all clinical, administrative, and financial data?
A) Hyperspace
B) Chronicles
C) Clarity
D) Cogito
E) Caboodle
Rationale: Chronicles is Epic's proprietary hierarchical database management system
that stores all clinical, administrative, and financial data. It is the foundational data
repository for the entire Epic EHR system. Hyperspace is the client application (front-
end), Clarity is a reporting database, and Caboodle is an enterprise data warehouse.
2. A master file in Chronicles stores all of the data about one type of thing. What is
the abbreviated three-character name for a master file called?
A) Record ID
B) Contact ID
C) INI
D) Item ID
E) Value ID
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Rationale: Each master file has a unique three-character identifier called its INI. For
example, EPT is the INI for the Patient master file, EMP is for Users, and SER is for
Providers. The INI file also controls the behavior of items such as dropdown lists.
3. A record in Chronicles stores information about one specific entity within a
master file. Which of the following is an example of a record?
A) The Patient master file
B) A specific patient named "John Doe"
C) The date of birth field
D) "05/18/1978" as entered data
E) A medication order
Rationale: A record stores information about one specific entity within a master file.
Each patient has one record in the EPT master file. Records are identified by a name and
a unique ID number.
4. A contact in Chronicles represents a date-specific snapshot of data within a
record. What is the primary purpose of contacts?
A) To store the patient's demographics
B) To track historical changes over time
C) To define the structure of master files
D) To assign security permissions
E) To link to external databases
Rationale: A contact is a date-specific snapshot of data within a record. Contacts allow
the system to represent historical changes and track data over time. For example, a
patient's address can change; each version is stored as a separate contact.
5. An item in Chronicles is best described as:
A) The actual data stored in a field
B) A record for a specific entity
C) A master file containing all data
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D) A discrete field or question prompt
E) A date-specific snapshot
Rationale: An item is the discrete field or question prompt within a record. Examples
include "Date of Birth," "Chief Complaint," or "Blood Pressure." Items define what data
can be stored.
6. A value in Chronicles represents the actual data stored in an item. Which of the
following is an example of a value?
A) The Patient master file (EPT)
B) A specific patient record
C) The "Date of Birth" field
D) "05/18/1978" as entered data
E) A contact record
Rationale: Values are the actual data entered into items. For example, if the item is
"Date of Birth," the value would be "05/18/1978." The specific diagnosis text and its
associated numeric identifier represent the data stored within an item.
7. True or False: The Record Viewer tool in Epic can be used to edit data within a
patient record.
A) True
B) False
Rationale: Record Viewer is strictly a read-only tool. It allows you to view data across
multiple master files but cannot be used to edit data. To edit data, users must use the
appropriate editing activities or have proper security access.
8. A "no-add" item in Epic is a field that cannot be modified or added to directly by
end users. Which of the following is an example of a no-add item?
A) Chief Complaint
B) Appointment time
C) Marital Status
D) Birth date
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E) Allergies
Rationale: Birth date is a permanent patient identifier that must be corrected through a
medical records request, not through regular documentation workflows. Chief
complaint, appointment time, and marital status can be updated as needed.
9. For an item to use a category list, what must be true about the data type of the
item?
A) The data type must be free text
B) The data type must be numeric
C) The data type must be category
D) The data type must be date
E) The data type must be boolean
Rationale: Category lists can only be used with items that have the "category" data
type. This ensures that the system can properly display and validate selections from the
predefined list. The value selected from the category list is then stored as a discrete
value.
10. What is the purpose of contacts in administrative master files (e.g.,
Medications)?
A) To track patient visits
B) To represent date-specific changes to record
C) To define security permissions
D) To store medication dosages
E) To link to order sets
Rationale: Contacts represent date-specific changes to record data. In administrative
master files like Medications, contacts track changes to medication formulations,
names, or other attributes over time. This allows the system to maintain historical
accuracy.
11. Which Epic component stores the master file definitions (INI files) that control
the behavior of items such as dropdown lists?
EPIC CLN251/252 EXAMINATION CONFIGURING THE EPIC
END USER – CLINICAL CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
EPIC CLN251/252 EXAMINATION
CONFIGURING THE EPIC END USER – CLINICAL CERTIFICATION
250 Multiple Choice Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: CHRONICLES DATABASE STRUCTURE (Questions 1-30)
1. What is the name of Epic's underlying database management system that stores
all clinical, administrative, and financial data?
A) Hyperspace
B) Chronicles
C) Clarity
D) Cogito
E) Caboodle
Rationale: Chronicles is Epic's proprietary hierarchical database management system
that stores all clinical, administrative, and financial data. It is the foundational data
repository for the entire Epic EHR system. Hyperspace is the client application (front-
end), Clarity is a reporting database, and Caboodle is an enterprise data warehouse.
2. A master file in Chronicles stores all of the data about one type of thing. What is
the abbreviated three-character name for a master file called?
A) Record ID
B) Contact ID
C) INI
D) Item ID
E) Value ID
, Page 2 of 83
Rationale: Each master file has a unique three-character identifier called its INI. For
example, EPT is the INI for the Patient master file, EMP is for Users, and SER is for
Providers. The INI file also controls the behavior of items such as dropdown lists.
3. A record in Chronicles stores information about one specific entity within a
master file. Which of the following is an example of a record?
A) The Patient master file
B) A specific patient named "John Doe"
C) The date of birth field
D) "05/18/1978" as entered data
E) A medication order
Rationale: A record stores information about one specific entity within a master file.
Each patient has one record in the EPT master file. Records are identified by a name and
a unique ID number.
4. A contact in Chronicles represents a date-specific snapshot of data within a
record. What is the primary purpose of contacts?
A) To store the patient's demographics
B) To track historical changes over time
C) To define the structure of master files
D) To assign security permissions
E) To link to external databases
Rationale: A contact is a date-specific snapshot of data within a record. Contacts allow
the system to represent historical changes and track data over time. For example, a
patient's address can change; each version is stored as a separate contact.
5. An item in Chronicles is best described as:
A) The actual data stored in a field
B) A record for a specific entity
C) A master file containing all data
, Page 3 of 83
D) A discrete field or question prompt
E) A date-specific snapshot
Rationale: An item is the discrete field or question prompt within a record. Examples
include "Date of Birth," "Chief Complaint," or "Blood Pressure." Items define what data
can be stored.
6. A value in Chronicles represents the actual data stored in an item. Which of the
following is an example of a value?
A) The Patient master file (EPT)
B) A specific patient record
C) The "Date of Birth" field
D) "05/18/1978" as entered data
E) A contact record
Rationale: Values are the actual data entered into items. For example, if the item is
"Date of Birth," the value would be "05/18/1978." The specific diagnosis text and its
associated numeric identifier represent the data stored within an item.
7. True or False: The Record Viewer tool in Epic can be used to edit data within a
patient record.
A) True
B) False
Rationale: Record Viewer is strictly a read-only tool. It allows you to view data across
multiple master files but cannot be used to edit data. To edit data, users must use the
appropriate editing activities or have proper security access.
8. A "no-add" item in Epic is a field that cannot be modified or added to directly by
end users. Which of the following is an example of a no-add item?
A) Chief Complaint
B) Appointment time
C) Marital Status
D) Birth date
, Page 4 of 83
E) Allergies
Rationale: Birth date is a permanent patient identifier that must be corrected through a
medical records request, not through regular documentation workflows. Chief
complaint, appointment time, and marital status can be updated as needed.
9. For an item to use a category list, what must be true about the data type of the
item?
A) The data type must be free text
B) The data type must be numeric
C) The data type must be category
D) The data type must be date
E) The data type must be boolean
Rationale: Category lists can only be used with items that have the "category" data
type. This ensures that the system can properly display and validate selections from the
predefined list. The value selected from the category list is then stored as a discrete
value.
10. What is the purpose of contacts in administrative master files (e.g.,
Medications)?
A) To track patient visits
B) To represent date-specific changes to record
C) To define security permissions
D) To store medication dosages
E) To link to order sets
Rationale: Contacts represent date-specific changes to record data. In administrative
master files like Medications, contacts track changes to medication formulations,
names, or other attributes over time. This allows the system to maintain historical
accuracy.
11. Which Epic component stores the master file definitions (INI files) that control
the behavior of items such as dropdown lists?
