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Healthcare/HL7 v2/CER
Segment

Certificate detail

Carries detailed information about the licenses, certifications, and permits held by a healthcare professional, including certificate type, issuing authority, serial number, jurisdiction, effective and expiration dates, and status. It follows STF in MFN staff master file messages and is used by credentialing, privileging, and provider enrollment systems to track practitioner authorizations.

31fields
2required
v2.9HL7 version
cer.py
from zato.hl7v2 import CER
from zato.hl7v2 import CWE

cer = CER()
cer.certificate_type = CWE(
    identifier='CPT',
    text='Personal Trainer'
)
Python examples

Build CER segments in Python

How to construct and work with real-world CER segments.

1

Nursing license with granting authority

Registers an RN license issued by a state board with serial number and certificate type

from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import CER
from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import CWE, XON

cer = CER()
cer.set_id_cer = '1'
cer.serial_number = 'RN-2024-08815'
cer.version = '3'
cer.granting_authority = XON(organization_name='State Board of Nursing')
cer.certificate_type = CWE(
    identifier='RN',
    text='Registered Nurse',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70464'
)
cer.subject_name = 'Jane Williams'
2

Board certification with issuing authority

Records a board certification with country, state, and activation date

from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import CER
from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import CWE, XCN, XON

cer = CER()
cer.set_id_cer = '2'
cer.serial_number = 'BC-2025-44210'
cer.granting_authority = XON(organization_name='American Board of Wellness')
cer.issuing_authority = XCN(
    person_identifier='P200',
    family_name='Harrison',
    given_name='Michael'
)
cer.granting_state_province = CWE(
    identifier='CA',
    text='California',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70347'
)
cer.subject_name = 'Sarah Patel'
cer.granting_date = '20250115'
cer.activation_date = '20250201'
3

Professional credential with expiration and renewal

Tracks a professional credential with expiration date, renewal date, and certificate domain

from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import CER
from zato.hl7v2.v2_9 import CWE, XON

cer = CER()
cer.set_id_cer = '3'
cer.serial_number = 'CPT-2023-71502'
cer.version = '2'
cer.granting_authority = XON(organization_name='National Wellness Institute')
cer.certificate_type = CWE(
    identifier='CPT',
    text='Certified Personal Trainer',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70464'
)
cer.certificate_domain = CWE(
    identifier='FIT',
    text='Fitness Training',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70464'
)
cer.subject_name = 'Robert Chen'
cer.granting_date = '20230601'
cer.activation_date = '20230701'
cer.expiration_date = '20280601'
cer.renewal_date = '20280101'
Tutorials

Learn by building

Step-by-step guides for working with HL7 v2 in Zato.

MLLP
Receive and parse HL7 v2 messages
Set up an MLLP channel, parse incoming messages, and respond with acknowledgments.
Start tutorial Build
Build and send HL7 v2 messages
Construct HL7 v2 messages from scratch using typed segment classes and send them over MLLP.
Start tutorial
Related segments

Commonly used with CER

STF Staff identification PRA Practitioner detail AFF Professional affiliation EDU Educational detail LAN Language detail
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

CER records certificate details including certification types, issuing authorities, issue dates, and renewal requirements. It's used to track provider certifications and professional licenses in wellness and preventive care programs.

Use HL70464 table values for certification types like CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) or BMS (Board Certified):

cer.certificate_type = CWE(
    identifier='CPT',
    text='Certified Personal Trainer',
    name_of_coding_system='HL70464'
)

Include the certifying organization name and certificate number. Use XON datatype to provide both organization name and unique identifier for the certificate.

Use DIN datatype for both issue and expiration dates with YYYYMMDD format:

cer.date_time_of_certificate = DIN('20200101')
cer.date_time_of_expiration = DIN('20250101')

Include scope of practice, specializations, renewal requirements, validity period, or any restrictions on the certificate that helps understand the provider's certification scope and limitations.

Zato connects to any system that speaks HL7v2 over MLLP or FHIR over REST. This includes Epic, Cerner, Meditech, Allscripts, and other EHR platforms.

Yes, Zato has built-in MLLP support for sending and receiving HL7v2 messages. MLLP channels handle the framing protocol automatically.

Zato supports HL7 v2.9, which is backward compatible with earlier versions including v2.3, v2.5, and v2.7. Standard segments and datatypes are available as typed Python classes.

Yes. Zato handles both HL7v2 and FHIR natively, so you can parse v2 messages and build FHIR resources with IG-specific extensions in the same service. Typed Python classes are available for both protocols, including extensions from US Core, UK Core, Da Vinci, and other Implementation Guides.

Reference

CER field reference

Complete list of fields in the CER segment, HL7 v2.9.

#Python nameDatatypeUsageRepeatableTable
1set_id_cerSIRequiredNo-
2serial_numberSTOptionalNo-
3versionSTOptionalNo-
4▶granting_authorityXONOptionalNo-
5▶issuing_authorityXCNOptionalNo-
6▶signatureEDOptionalNo-
7granting_countryIDOptionalNoHL70399
8▶granting_state_provinceCWEOptionalNoHL70347
9▶granting_county_parishCWEOptionalNoHL70289
10▶certificate_typeCWEOptionalNo-
11▶certificate_domainCWEOptionalNo-
12▶subject_idEIOptionalNo-
13subject_nameSTRequiredNo-
14▶subject_directory_attribute_extensionCWEOptionalYes-
15▶subject_public_key_infoCWEOptionalNo-
16▶authority_key_identifierCWEOptionalNo-
17basic_constraintIDOptionalNoHL70136
18▶crl_distribution_pointCWEOptionalYes-
19jurisdiction_countryIDOptionalNoHL70399
20▶jurisdiction_state_provinceCWEOptionalNoHL70347
21▶jurisdiction_county_parishCWEOptionalNoHL70289
22▶jurisdiction_breadthCWEOptionalYesHL70547
23granting_dateDTMOptionalNo-
24issuing_dateDTMOptionalNo-
25activation_dateDTMOptionalNo-
26inactivation_dateDTMOptionalNo-
27expiration_dateDTMOptionalNo-
28renewal_dateDTMOptionalNo-
29revocation_dateDTMOptionalNo-
30▶revocation_reason_codeCWEOptionalNo-
31▶certificate_status_codeCWEOptionalNoHL70536

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