Health Information Technology Schools
Search For Schools
For those with ambitions of working in a hospital or physician’s office, but who only want to invest two years in a degree program, health information technology is a path to consider. An education at the associate degree level can provide graduates with the fundamentals in technology and healthcare that are required to jumpstart a career as a health information technician or as a healthcare data analyst, medical coding specialist or even a compliance officer.
Health information technologists do not provide care directly to patients, but instead work with those who do, like registered nurses, doctors and other trained healthcare professionals. Use of electronic medical records (EMRs) is often an important part of the job and, since the federal government is offering incentives to organizations implementing these systems, the demand for health information technologists trained in these systems is expected to grow, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2017). Because the career is technology-based, health information technicians often work at a desk, spending substantial time entering or analyzing information on a computer. In some cases, when the healthcare organization where these professionals are employed is open around the clock, they may need to work evening hours or weekends.
Health Information Technology fast facts | |
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Projected Jobs Created | 27,800 |
Projected Job Growth | 23% |
Average Salary | $42,820 |
Low Salary | $25,810 |
High Salary | $64,610 |
Entry-Level EDU | Certification |
Sourced from BLS, June 2018 |
Degree & certification Programs
Most health information technology schools offer associate degrees, although some do offer bachelor’s degree programs. Health information technology programs can be found at community colleges, junior colleges, and some universities. The programs vary by institution, but applicants should look for an associate-degree curriculum that is based on the competencies outlined by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) so that they can be prepared to seek Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification upon graduation. Following are five schools offering health information technology degrees:
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San Diego Mesa College: Located in San Diego, California, San Diego Mesa College offers an associate degree program in health information technology. The 30-credit program (plus at least 30 credits of general education work for 60 total credits) includes a directed clinical practicum (DCP) requirement for graduation.
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Ivy Tech Community College: The health information technology associate of applied science (AAS) degree available through Ivy Tech Community College is offered at two different Indiana campuses: Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. The program is approximately 30 percent general education and 70 percent career specific. In all, the degree is 60 credit hours and can be completed in five semesters, but could take longer for those who lack the necessary college prep courses. The first semester includes many general education classes but also introduces students to anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. From there, students’ skills build, enabling them to learn about healthcare organizations and delivery systems, informatics fundamentals, and reimbursement systems. Finally, in their fourth and fifth semesters, they participate in one-credit externships.
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Davenport University: The associate of applied science (AAS) degree in health information technology is available at any of Davenport University’s campuses throughout Michigan, but must be completed at its Livonia campus. The program is 69 credits in all and includes 29 credits in general education, known as the Foundations of Excellence portion, 12 credits in medical basics, known as the Foundations of Health Professions, and 28 credits in the specific major. Students complete four practicums, including two in coding that should prepare them to sit for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) certification exam available through AHIMA. Students should be prepared to take the RHIT examination upon completion and, if they wish, to continue their education by completing the bachelor’s of science degree in health information management (HIM) available through the school.
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Idaho State University: In Pocatello, Idaho, students can complete a two-year associate of applied science degree in health information technology at Idaho State University. The program accepts students in the fall of each year, but just 20 students are admitted each time. The 69-credit program can be completed over four semesters and includes many of the general education classes during the first year and many of the career-specific courses during the second. In all, students complete 12 different health information technology courses, including ones in coding, statistics, and reimbursement, many in their final year. In the spring semester of their first year, they also complete a two-credit practicum, and in the spring semester of their final year, complete another practicum that is four credits. All coursework from the first three semesters must be finished before enrolling in fourth-semester classes and must be completed with a C grade or better.
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Seminole State College of Florida: Students enrolled in the 70-credit program at the Sanford, Florida-based Seminole State College can complete an associate of science in health information technology degree. The program consists of 15 credits in general education, such as English and industrial psychology, as well as 55 additional courses that are required for the degree. These include computer classes in office applications and database management, as well as health information management courses in areas like the legal aspects of health information and basic procedure coding. Two three-credit practicum experiences are also required, enabling students to demonstrate and practice their skills in a healthcare setting or to healthcare professionals.
It may be best when considering health information technology schools to look for those that prepare students to sit for the RHIT examination. Because employers may prefer to hire graduates who have this certification, applicants may want to gauge how well schools are preparing students for the examination by asking them for information about their graduates’ annual and five-year average passing rates on it.
List of Health Information Technology Schools
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
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Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta | Georgia | atlantatech.edu | 99 |
Tacoma Community College | Tacoma | Washington | www.tacomacc.edu | 88 |
Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | Ohio | www.tri-c.edu | 77 |
Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro | North Carolina | www.edgecombe.edu | 63 |
Schoolcraft College | Livonia | Michigan | www.schoolcraft.edu | 63 |
Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | California | www.sbcc.edu | 61 |
San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | Texas | www.sanjac.edu | 56 |
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta | Georgia | www.wiregrass.edu | 56 |
Baker College | Flint | Michigan | www.baker.edu | 55 |
Blinn College | Brenham | Texas | www.blinn.edu | 51 |
Leeward Community College | Pearl City | Hawaii | www.leeward.hawaii.edu | 51 |
Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome | Georgia | www.gntc.edu | 50 |
Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville | Tennessee | www.pstcc.edu | 50 |
Miami Dade College | Miami | Florida | www.mdc.edu | 49 |
Nassau Community College | Garden City | New York | www.ncc.edu | 46 |
Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Columbus | Columbus | Georgia | www.miller-motte.edu | 45 |
Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Louisiana | www.dcc.edu | 42 |
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond | Virginia | www.reynolds.edu | 42 |
Sheridan Technical College | Hollywood | Florida | www.sheridantechnicalcollege.edu | 41 |
Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.ivytech.edu | 39 |
Western Technical College | El Paso | Texas | www.westerntech.edu | 39 |
Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | Florida | www.palmbeachstate.edu | 38 |
Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | Colorado | www.arapahoe.edu | 37 |
Front Range Community College | Westminster | Colorado | www.frontrange.edu | 37 |
Texas State Technical College | Waco | Texas | www.tstc.edu | 36 |
Daytona State College | Daytona Beach | Florida | www.daytonastate.edu | 35 |
Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Tennessee | www.volstate.edu | 34 |
Brunswick Community College | Bolivia | North Carolina | www.brunswickcc.edu | 33 |
Ferris State University | Big Rapids | Michigan | www.ferris.edu | 33 |
Lone Star College System | The Woodlands | Texas | www.lonestar.edu | 33 |
NorthWest Arkansas Community College | Bentonville | Arkansas | www.nwacc.edu | 33 |
Portland Community College | Portland | Oregon | www.pcc.edu | 33 |
Brookdale Community College | Lincroft | New Jersey | www.brookdalecc.edu | 32 |
Broward College | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.broward.edu | 32 |
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | New York | New York | www.bmcc.cuny.edu | 32 |
South Texas College | McAllen | Texas | www.southtexascollege.edu | 32 |
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain | Mena | Arkansas | www.uarichmountain.edu | 32 |
Arkansas State University-Beebe | Beebe | Arkansas | www.asub.edu | 31 |
Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Augusta | Augusta | Georgia | www.miller-motte.edu | 31 |
Central Oregon Community College | Bend | Oregon | www.cocc.edu | 30 |
Houston Community College | Houston | Texas | www.hccs.edu | 30 |
Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Illinois | www.jjc.edu | 30 |
Montgomery College | Rockville | Maryland | www.montgomerycollege.edu | 30 |
Rowan College at Burlington County | Mount Laurel | New Jersey | www.rcbc.edu | 30 |
Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Virginia | www.nvcc.edu | 28 |
Virginia Sewing Machines and School Center | Huntington Park | California | www.atechcollege.edu | 28 |
Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | Virginia | virginiawestern.edu | 28 |
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | Kansas City | Missouri | www.mcckc.edu | 27 |
Greenville Technical College | Greenville | South Carolina | www.gvltec.edu | 26 |
Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schnecksville | Pennsylvania | www.lccc.edu | 26 |
Anoka Technical College | Anoka | Minnesota | www.anokatech.edu | 25 |
City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | California | www.ccsf.edu | 25 |
Hillsborough Community College | Tampa | Florida | www.hccfl.edu | 25 |
Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | www.kirkwood.edu | 25 |
Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Ohio | www.owens.edu | 25 |
Spokane Community College | Spokane | Washington | scc.spokane.edu | 25 |
Great Lakes Institute of Technology | Erie | Pennsylvania | www.glit.edu | 24 |
Lanier Technical College | Gainesville | Georgia | www.laniertech.edu | 24 |
McLennan Community College | Waco | Texas | www.mclennan.edu | 24 |
Walters State Community College | Morristown | Tennessee | www.ws.edu | 24 |
Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | North Carolina | www.cvcc.edu | 23 |
Chattahoochee Technical College | Marietta | Georgia | www.chattahoocheetech.edu | 23 |
East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park | California | www.elac.edu | 23 |
Idaho State University | Pocatello | Idaho | www.isu.edu | 23 |
Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Virginia | www.tcc.edu | 23 |
University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus | Gallup | New Mexico | www.gallup.unm.edu | 23 |
Vista Adult School | Vista | California | vistaadultschool.org | 23 |
ECPI University | Virginia Beach | Virginia | www.ecpi.edu | 22 |
Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton | Wisconsin | www.fvtc.edu | 22 |
Horry-Georgetown Technical College | Conway | South Carolina | www.hgtc.edu | 22 |
Macomb Community College | Warren | Michigan | www.macomb.edu | 22 |
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Mount Gay | West Virginia | www.southernwv.edu | 22 |
Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | Illinois | www.waubonsee.edu | 22 |
Edmonds Community College | Lynnwood | Washington | www.edcc.edu | 21 |
McDowell Technical Community College | Marion | North Carolina | www.mcdowelltech.edu | 21 |
Plaza College | Forest Hills | New York | www.plazacollege.edu | 21 |
Southwestern Community College | Sylva | North Carolina | www.southwesterncc.edu | 21 |
St Philip's College | San Antonio | Texas | www.alamo.edu/spc | 21 |
Trident Technical College | Charleston | South Carolina | www.tridenttech.edu | 20 |
Albany State University | Albany | Georgia | www.asurams.edu | 20 |
Atlantic Technical College | Coconut Creek | Florida | www.atlantictechnicalcollege.edu | 20 |
Cypress College | Cypress | California | www.cypresscollege.edu | 20 |
Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Iowa | www.nicc.edu | 20 |
Oakton Community College | Des Plaines | Illinois | www.oakton.edu | 20 |
Rose State College | Midwest City | Oklahoma | www.rose.edu | 20 |
Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Missouri | www.stlcc.edu | 20 |
San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | California | www.sdmesa.edu | 20 |
Suffolk County Community College | Selden | New York | www.sunysuffolk.edu | 20 |
Clark College | Vancouver | Washington | www.clark.edu | 19 |
Erwin Technical College | Tampa | Florida | www.erwin.edu | 19 |
Onondaga Community College | Syracuse | New York | www.sunyocc.edu | 19 |
Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport | Pennsylvania | www.pct.edu | 19 |
Saint Paul College | Saint Paul | Minnesota | www.saintpaul.edu | 19 |
Austin Community College District | Austin | Texas | www.austincc.edu | 18 |
Camden County College | Blackwood | New Jersey | www.camdencc.edu | 18 |
Jackson College | Jackson | Michigan | www.jccmi.edu | 18 |
Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | South Carolina | www.midlandstech.edu | 18 |
Northwest Florida State College | Niceville | Florida | www.nwfsc.edu | 18 |
Polk State College | Winter Haven | Florida | www.polk.edu | 18 |
Beal College | Bangor | Maine | bealcollege.edu | 17 |
Dyersburg State Community College | Dyersburg | Tennessee | www.dscc.edu | 17 |
Erie Community College | Buffalo | New York | www.ecc.edu | 17 |
Liceo de Arte y Tecnologia | San Juan | Puerto Rico | www.liceo.edu | 17 |
Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | Louisiana | www.susla.edu | 17 |
Stark State College | North Canton | Ohio | www.starkstate.edu | 17 |
Tulsa Community College | Tulsa | Oklahoma | www.tulsacc.edu | 17 |
Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green | Kentucky | www.wku.edu | 17 |
Bishop State Community College | Mobile | Alabama | www.bishop.edu | 16 |
Blue Ridge Community College | Weyers Cave | Virginia | www.brcc.edu | 16 |
Danville Area Community College | Danville | Illinois | www.dacc.edu | 16 |
Ogeechee Technical College | Statesboro | Georgia | www.ogeecheetech.edu | 16 |
Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg | New Jersey | www.raritanval.edu | 16 |
Roane State Community College | Harriman | Tennessee | www.roanestate.edu | 16 |
Saint Johns River State College | Palatka | Florida | www.sjrstate.edu | 16 |
St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud | Minnesota | www.sctcc.edu | 16 |
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock | Arkansas | www.uams.edu | 16 |
Gordon Cooper Technology Center | Shawnee | Oklahoma | www.gctech.edu | 15 |
Monroe Community College | Rochester | New York | www.monroecc.edu | 15 |
Allegany College of Maryland | Cumberland | Maryland | www.allegany.edu | 14 |
Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Massachusetts | www.bhcc.mass.edu | 14 |
Cape Coral Technical College | Cape Coral | Florida | capecoraltech.edu | 14 |
College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Illinois | www.cod.edu | 14 |
Davidson County Community College | Thomasville | North Carolina | www.davidsonccc.edu | 14 |
Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | www.fscj.edu | 14 |
Lake-Sumter State College | Leesburg | Florida | www.lssc.edu | 14 |
Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Tennessee | www.nscc.edu | 14 |
Westchester College of Nursing & Allied Health | Los Angeles | California | www.westchestercollege.edu | 14 |
Athens Technical College | Athens | Georgia | www.athenstech.edu | 13 |
CCI Training Center-Arlington | Arlington | Texas | www.ccitraining.edu | 13 |
College of Central Florida | Ocala | Florida | www.cf.edu | 13 |
Immokalee Technical College | Immokalee | Florida | www.itech.edu | 13 |
Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Florida | www.irsc.edu | 13 |
Indiana University-Northwest | Gary | Indiana | www.iun.edu | 13 |
Manatee Technical College | Bradenton | Florida | manateetech.edu | 13 |
North Florida Community College | Madison | Florida | www.nfcc.edu | 13 |
Orange Technical College-Winter Park Campus | Winter Park | Florida | www.orangetechcollege.net/campuses/winter_park | 13 |
Osceola Technical College | Kissimmee | Florida | otec.osceolaschools.net | 13 |
Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | California | www.saddleback.edu | 13 |
St Clair County Community College | Port Huron | Michigan | www.sc4.edu | 13 |
Terra State Community College | Fremont | Ohio | www.terra.edu | 13 |
University of Arkansas at Monticello | Monticello | Arkansas | www.uamont.edu | 12 |
Carroll Community College | Westminster | Maryland | www.carrollcc.edu | 12 |
Eastwick College-Nutley | Nutley | New Jersey | www.eastwickcollege.edu | 12 |
Huertas College | Caguas | Puerto Rico | www.huertas.edu | 12 |
Lakeland Community College | Kirtland | Ohio | www.lakelandcc.edu | 12 |
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center | Willow Street | Pennsylvania | www.lancasterctc.edu | 12 |
Neosho County Community College | Chanute | Kansas | www.neosho.edu | 12 |
Ozarka College | Melbourne | Arkansas | www.ozarka.edu | 12 |
Phoenix College | Phoenix | Arizona | www.phoenixcollege.edu | 12 |
Platt College-McCann-Allentown | Allentown | Pennsylvania | www.mccann.edu | 12 |
Richmond Community College | Hamlet | North Carolina | www.richmondcc.edu | 12 |
Southeastern Technical College | Vidalia | Georgia | www.southeasterntech.edu | 12 |
Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | Virginia | www.wcc.vccs.edu | 12 |
American Career College-Anaheim | Anaheim | California | americancareercollege.edu | 11 |
Asher College | Sacramento | California | www.asher.edu | 11 |
Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.cpcc.edu | 11 |
Dawn Career Institute LLC | Newark | Delaware | www.dawncareerinstitute.edu | 11 |
Hinds Community College | Raymond | Mississippi | www.hindscc.edu | 11 |
International Technical College | San Juan | Puerto Rico | intecpr.com | 11 |
Kennebec Valley Community College | Fairfield | Maine | www.kvcc.me.edu | 11 |
Marion Technical College | Ocala | Florida | www.mariontc.edu | 11 |
Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | Virginia | www.mecc.edu | 11 |
Peloton College | Arlington | Texas | pelotoncollege.edu | 11 |
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas | Helena | Arkansas | www.pccua.edu | 11 |
Pierpont Community and Technical College | Fairmont | West Virginia | www.pierpont.edu | 11 |
Resurrection University | Chicago | Illinois | www.resu.edu | 11 |
Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth | Texas | www.tccd.edu | 11 |
Frontier Community College | Fairfield | Illinois | www.iecc.edu | 10 |
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton | Georgia | www.abac.edu | 10 |
Albany Technical College | Albany | Georgia | www.albanytech.edu | 10 |
Baltimore City Community College | Baltimore | Maryland | www.bccc.edu | 10 |
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology | Boston | Massachusetts | www.bfit.edu | 10 |
College of the Ouachitas | Malvern | Arkansas | www.coto.edu | 10 |
Davis Technical College | Kaysville | Utah | www.davistech.edu | 10 |
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | Dover | Delaware | www.dtcc.edu | 10 |
El Paso Community College | El Paso | Texas | www.epcc.edu | 10 |
Gwinnett Technical College | Lawrenceville | Georgia | www.gwinnetttech.edu | 10 |
Itawamba Community College | Fulton | Mississippi | www.iccms.edu | 10 |
Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | Illinois | www.morainevalley.edu | 10 |
Peloton College | Dallas | Texas | www.pelotoncollege.edu | 10 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson | Jackson | Tennessee | www.tcatjackson.edu | 10 |
Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Wisconsin | www.wctc.edu | 10 |
Western Nebraska Community College | Scottsbluff | Nebraska | www.wncc.edu | 10 |
Western Technical College | La Crosse | Wisconsin | www.westerntc.edu | 10 |
Bellevue College | Bellevue | Washington | bellevuecollege.edu | 9 |
College of Southern Maryland | La Plata | Maryland | www.csmd.edu | 9 |
College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas | Nevada | www.csn.edu | 9 |
Columbia Basin College | Pasco | Washington | www.columbiabasin.edu | 9 |
Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | www.ccac.edu | 9 |
Community College of Vermont | Montpelier | Vermont | www.ccv.edu | 9 |
Craven Community College | New Bern | North Carolina | www.cravencc.edu | 9 |
Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Texas | www.delmar.edu | 9 |
Fresno City College | Fresno | California | www.fresnocitycollege.edu | 9 |
National Career College | Panorama City | California | www.nccusa.edu | 9 |
Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Virginia | sw.edu | 9 |
Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | Illinois | www.swic.edu | 9 |
Southwestern Michigan College | Dowagiac | Michigan | www.swmich.edu | 9 |
Spoon River College | Canton | Illinois | www.src.edu | 9 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Paris | Paris | Tennessee | www.tcatparis.edu | 9 |
Tulsa Technology Center | Tulsa | Oklahoma | tulsatech.edu | 9 |
Wharton County Junior College | Wharton | Texas | www.wcjc.edu | 9 |
Ridge Technical College | Winter Haven | Florida | www.polkedpathways.com/ridge-technical-college | 8 |
Danville Community College | Danville | Virginia | www.dcc.vccs.edu | 8 |
Durham Technical Community College | Durham | North Carolina | www.durhamtech.edu | 8 |
Eastern Florida State College | Cocoa | Florida | www.easternflorida.edu | 8 |
Jefferson College | Hillsboro | Missouri | www.jeffco.edu | 8 |
Klamath Community College | Klamath Falls | Oregon | www.klamathcc.edu | 8 |
Louisiana Delta Community College | Monroe | Louisiana | www.ladelta.edu | 8 |
Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville | Virginia | www.pvcc.edu | 8 |
Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Charleston | Charleston | South Carolina | miller-motte.edu | 8 |
SUNY Broome Community College | Binghamton | New York | www.sunybroome.edu | 8 |
Taylor Business Institute | Chicago | Illinois | www.tbiil.edu | 8 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Whiteville | Whiteville | Tennessee | www.tcatwhiteville.edu | 8 |
West Virginia Northern Community College | Wheeling | West Virginia | www.wvncc.edu | 8 |
American National University-Lexington | Lexington | Kentucky | www.an.edu/locations | 7 |
Bidwell Training Center Inc | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | www.bidwelltraining.edu | 7 |
Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | Massachusetts | www.massbay.edu | 7 |
Northeast Community College | Norfolk | Nebraska | www.northeast.edu | 7 |
Paris Junior College | Paris | Texas | www.parisjc.edu | 7 |
Prince George's Community College | Largo | Maryland | www.pgcc.edu | 7 |
Shasta College | Redding | California | www.shastacollege.edu | 7 |
St Charles Community College | Cottleville | Missouri | www.stchas.edu | 7 |
YTI Career Institute-York | York | Pennsylvania | www.yti.edu | 7 |
Anne Arundel Community College | Arnold | Maryland | www.aacc.edu | 6 |
Black Hawk College | Moline | Illinois | www.bhc.edu | 6 |
College of Business and Technology-Cutler Bay | Cutler Bay | Florida | www.cbt.edu | 6 |
Florida Gateway College | Lake City | Florida | www.fgc.edu | 6 |
Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers | Florida | www.fsw.edu | 6 |
Gateway Technical College | Kenosha | Wisconsin | www.gtc.edu | 6 |
Highland Community College | Freeport | Illinois | www.highland.edu | 6 |
Lord Fairfax Community College | Middletown | Virginia | www.lfcc.edu | 6 |
Pierce College-Puyallup | Lakewood | Washington | www.pierce.ctc.edu | 6 |
Rend Lake College | Ina | Illinois | www.rlc.edu | 6 |
River Parishes Community College | Gonzales | Louisiana | www.rpcc.edu | 6 |
Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City | Utah | www.slcc.edu | 6 |
Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Texas | www.tjc.edu | 6 |
Amarillo College | Amarillo | Texas | www.actx.edu | 5 |
College of Lake County | Grayslake | Illinois | www.clcillinois.edu | 5 |
College of the Mainland | Texas City | Texas | www.com.edu | 5 |
Dakota County Technical College | Rosemount | Minnesota | www.dctc.edu | 5 |
Delaware County Community College | Media | Pennsylvania | www.dccc.edu | 5 |
Grays Harbor College | Aberdeen | Washington | www.ghc.edu | 5 |
Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw | Georgia | www.kennesaw.edu | 5 |
Lincoln College of New England-Southington | Southington | Connecticut | www.lincolncollegene.edu | 5 |
Metro Technology Centers | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | www.metrotech.edu | 5 |
National Park College | Hot Springs | Arkansas | www.np.edu | 5 |
Panola College | Carthage | Texas | www.panola.edu | 5 |
PCCenter | Farmers Branch | Texas | www.pccenterdallas.com | 5 |
South Hills School of Business & Technology | State College | Pennsylvania | www.southhills.edu | 5 |
Southern Regional Technical College | Thomasville | Georgia | southernregional.edu | 5 |
Tallahassee Community College | Tallahassee | Florida | www.tcc.fl.edu | 5 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump | Crump | Tennessee | www.tcatcrump.edu | 5 |
Vernon College | Vernon | Texas | www.vernoncollege.edu | 5 |
York County Community College | Wells | Maine | www.yccc.edu | 5 |
National American University-Albuquerque West | Albuquerque | New Mexico | www.national.edu | 4 |
National American University-Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | www.national.edu | 4 |
ATA College Tri-County | Springdale | Ohio | www.ata.edu | 4 |
Canisius College | Buffalo | New York | www.canisius.edu | 4 |
Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore | Maryland | www.ccbcmd.edu | 4 |
Eastern Shore Community College | Melfa | Virginia | www.es.vccs.edu | 4 |
Finlandia University | Hancock | Michigan | www.finlandia.edu | 4 |
Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | South Carolina | www.fdtc.edu | 4 |
Indiana University-Kokomo | Kokomo | Indiana | www.iuk.edu | 4 |
John A Logan College | Carterville | Illinois | www.jalc.edu | 4 |
Laurel Technical Institute | MEADVILLE | Pennsylvania | www.laurel.edu | 4 |
Mohave Community College | Kingman | Arizona | www.mohave.edu | 4 |
American National University | Nashville | Tennessee | www.an.edu | 4 |
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Johnstown | Pennsylvania | www.pennhighlands.edu | 4 |
Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom | Lakewood | Washington | www.pierce.ctc.edu | 4 |
Platt College-McCann-Lewisburg | Lewisburg | Pennsylvania | www.mccann.edu | 4 |
St John's University-New York | Queens | New York | www.stjohns.edu | 4 |
Missouri Western State University | Saint Joseph | Missouri | www.missouriwestern.edu | 3 |
Palladium Technical Academy Inc | Temple City | California | palladium.edu | 3 |
Pearl River Community College | Poplarville | Mississippi | www.prcc.edu | 3 |
Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Tennessee | www.miller-motte.edu | 3 |
Quest College | San Antonio | Texas | www.questcollege.edu | 3 |
Shelton State Community College | Tuscaloosa | Alabama | www.sheltonstate.edu | 3 |
Valencia College | Orlando | Florida | valenciacollege.edu | 3 |
Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | Virginia | www.vhcc.edu | 3 |
William Carey University | Hattiesburg | Mississippi | www.wmcarey.edu | 3 |
Trocaire College | Buffalo | New York | trocaire.edu | 3 |
National American University-Watertown | Watertown | South Dakota | www.national.edu | 3 |
American National University-Dayton | Kettering | Ohio | www.an.edu/locations/dayton-oh | 3 |
Bristol Community College | Fall River | Massachusetts | www.bristolcc.edu | 3 |
Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | New Mexico | www.cnm.edu | 3 |
Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg | Virginia | www.centralvirginia.edu | 3 |
Douglas Education Center | Monessen | Pennsylvania | www.dec.edu | 3 |
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus | Roswell | New Mexico | www.roswell.enmu.edu | 3 |
Enterprise State Community College | Enterprise | Alabama | www.escc.edu | 3 |
Hocking College | Nelsonville | Ohio | www.hocking.edu | 3 |
Laurel Technical Institute | Sharon | Pennsylvania | www.laurel.edu | 3 |
Lee College | Baytown | Texas | www.lee.edu | 3 |
National American University-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | New Mexico | www.national.edu | 2 |
National American University-Colorado Springs South | Colorado Springs | Colorado | www.national.edu | 2 |
National American University-Georgetown | Georgetown | Texas | www.national.edu | 2 |
National American University-Lee's Summit | Lee's Summit | Missouri | www.national.edu | 2 |
National American University-Rochester | Rochester | Minnesota | www.national.edu | 2 |
Berkshire Community College | Pittsfield | Massachusetts | www.berkshirecc.edu | 2 |
Crowder College | Neosho | Missouri | www.crowder.edu | 2 |
Flagler Technical Institute | Palm Coast | Florida | fti.flaglerschools.com | 2 |
Florida Panhandle Technical College | Chipley | Florida | fptc.edu | 2 |
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.keiseruniversity.edu | 2 |
Long Island University | Brookville | New York | liu.edu/cwpost | 2 |
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Perkinston | Mississippi | www.mgccc.edu | 2 |
Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill | Massachusetts | www.necc.mass.edu | 2 |
Pasco-Hernando State College | New Port Richey | Florida | www.phsc.edu | 2 |
Reading Area Community College | Reading | Pennsylvania | www.racc.edu | 2 |
St Catherine University | Saint Paul | Minnesota | www.stkate.edu | 2 |
Triton College | River Grove | Illinois | www.triton.edu | 2 |
Fortis Institute-Houston | Houston | Texas | www.fortis.edu | 1 |
National American University-Burnsville | Burnsville | Minnesota | www.national.edu | 1 |
National American University-Centennial | Centennial | Colorado | www.national.edu | 1 |
National American University-Independence | Independence | Missouri | www.national.edu | 1 |
National American University-Lewisville | Lewisville | Texas | www.national.edu | 1 |
National American University-Mesquite | Mesquite | Texas | www.national.edu | 1 |
National American University-Zona Rosa | Kansas City | Missouri | www.national.edu | 1 |
Black River Technical College | Pocahontas | Arkansas | www.blackrivertech.edu | 1 |
Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Iowa | www.dmacc.edu | 1 |
Essex County College | Newark | New Jersey | www.essex.edu | 1 |
Fortis College-Ravenna | Ravenna | Ohio | www.fortiscollege.edu | 1 |
Fortis Institute-Birmingham | Birmingham | Alabama | www.fortis.edu | 1 |
Highline College | Des Moines | Washington | www.highline.edu | 1 |
Hudson County Community College | Jersey City | New Jersey | www.hccc.edu | 1 |
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.iupui.edu | 1 |
Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey | Illinois | www.lc.edu | 1 |
Meridian Technology Center | Stillwater | Oklahoma | www.meridiantech.edu | 1 |
Millennia Atlantic University | Doral | Florida | www.maufl.edu | 1 |
National American University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.national.edu/locations/campuses/indianapolis | 1 |
New River Community and Technical College | Beaver | West Virginia | www.newriver.edu | 1 |
Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | Massachusetts | www.stcc.edu | 1 |
SUNY College at Oswego | Oswego | New York | www.oswego.edu | 1 |
University of Maryland-Baltimore County | Baltimore | Maryland | umbc.edu | 1 |
University of Utah | Salt Lake City | Utah | www.utah.edu | 1 |
York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education | York | Pennsylvania | www.ytech.edu | 1 |
Hybrid & online programs
Rasmussen University Online
University of Cincinnati Online
University of Illinois Chicago
Students may be able to find to health information technology schools offering associate or bachelor’s degree partially or entirely online. These options can provide students with even more choices for working at their own pace and being able to complete much of their coursework at home from their computer. Three online programs in health information technology are available through:
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University of Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin offers a 60-credit program that leads to a bachelor’s of science degree in health information management and technology (HIMT) that can be completed entirely online. However, this is a completion degree, meaning that students must already have an associate degree (or a bachelor’s degree) and will complete the last two years of a four-year degree online for a bachelor’s degree. Courses follow the traditional academic schedule, and are 15 weeks long in the fall and spring and 10 weeks long in the summer. Students can take as many or as few classes at a time as they wish. The program includes 16 core courses and then four follow-up courses in the specific track chosen, either HIM or HIT.
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Capella University: A 180-quarter credit degree is available entirely online, leading to a bachelor’s of science in information technology with a specialization in health information technology (HIT). Students take 54-quarter credits in core courses, including introduction to programming and introduction to network technology. This is followed by 42-quarter credits in the area of specialization courses, such as healthcare organization and management, and statistical analysis for healthcare. Also included in the degree are 33-quarter credits in electives and 6-quarter credits in a capstone project. Most students take one to two courses at a time, and may even be able to transfer credits in.
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DeVry University: DeVry University offers an online associate degree program in health information technology. The 67-credit hour program can be completed in four semesters and includes 12 career-focused classes, including a practicum, a research practicum, and a class to prepare students to seek RHIT certification through AHIMA.
Interested students will be able to find many other HIT programs offered in hybrid or online learning formats. Some schools may have ground-based components that require students to be at the school to do labs or to be at healthcare sites to complete externships. Applicants should be sure to talk to an enrollment counselor to be clear on these expectations before enrolling.
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
---|---|---|---|---|
DeVry University-Illinois | Chicago | Illinois | www.devry.edu | 1449 |
University of Phoenix-Arizona | Tempe | Arizona | www.phoenix.edu | 1291 |
Rasmussen College-Florida | Ocala | Florida | rasmussen.edu | 145 |
St Petersburg College | Clearwater | Florida | www.spcollege.edu | 137 |
Platt College-Miller-Motte-Wilmington | Wilmington | North Carolina | www.miller-motte.edu | 134 |
Ultimate Medical Academy-Clearwater | Clearwater | Florida | www.ultimatemedical.edu/about | 120 |
Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Ohio | www.sinclair.edu | 103 |
Tacoma Community College | Tacoma | Washington | www.tacomacc.edu | 88 |
Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | Iowa | www.eicc.edu | 77 |
Rasmussen College-Minnesota | St. Cloud | Minnesota | rasmussen.edu | 77 |
Purdue University Global-Davenport | Davenport | Iowa | www.purdueglobal.edu/campus-locations | 76 |
Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford | Florida | www.seminolestate.edu | 74 |
Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | Kentucky | hazard.kctcs.edu | 69 |
Central Community College | Grand Island | Nebraska | www.cccneb.edu | 67 |
Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro | North Carolina | www.edgecombe.edu | 63 |
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Wisconsin | www.nwtc.edu | 61 |
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | Hanceville | Alabama | www.wallacestate.edu | 60 |
Metropolitan Community College Area | Omaha | Nebraska | www.mccneb.edu | 58 |
Columbus State Community College | Columbus | Ohio | www.cscc.edu | 57 |
Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Kentucky | jefferson.kctcs.edu | 54 |
Blinn College | Brenham | Texas | www.blinn.edu | 51 |
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati | Ohio | www.cincinnatistate.edu | 51 |
Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome | Georgia | www.gntc.edu | 50 |
Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson | Kansas | www.hutchcc.edu | 49 |
Rasmussen College-Illinois | Rockford | Illinois | rasmussen.edu | 49 |
Northwestern College-Southwestern Campus | Bridgeview | Illinois | www.nc.edu | 46 |
Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Minnesota | www.rctc.edu | 45 |
Davenport University | Grand Rapids | Michigan | www.davenport.edu | 42 |
Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence | Kentucky | gateway.kctcs.edu | 37 |
Texas State Technical College | Waco | Texas | www.tstc.edu | 36 |
Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Tennessee | www.volstate.edu | 34 |
Ferris State University | Big Rapids | Michigan | www.ferris.edu | 33 |
Portland Community College | Portland | Oregon | www.pcc.edu | 33 |
Pima Community College | Tucson | Arizona | www.pima.edu | 32 |
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | Alfred | New York | www.alfredstate.edu | 31 |
Rowan College at Burlington County | Mount Laurel | New Jersey | www.rcbc.edu | 30 |
Collin County Community College District | McKinney | Texas | www.collin.edu | 29 |
Shoreline Community College | Shoreline | Washington | www.shoreline.edu | 28 |
The College of Westchester | White Plains | New York | www.cw.edu | 28 |
Jamestown Community College | Jamestown | New York | www.sunyjcc.edu | 27 |
Rasmussen College-Wisconsin | Green Bay | Wisconsin | rasmussen.edu | 27 |
Peirce College | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | www.peirce.edu | 25 |
Southwest Mississippi Community College | Summit | Mississippi | www.smcc.edu | 24 |
Walters State Community College | Morristown | Tennessee | www.ws.edu | 24 |
Idaho State University | Pocatello | Idaho | www.isu.edu | 23 |
University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | Batavia | Ohio | www.ucclermont.edu | 23 |
American College for Medical Careers | Orlando | Florida | www.acmc.edu | 22 |
Berkeley College-New York | New York | New York | www.berkeleycollege.edu | 22 |
Martinsburg College | Martinsburg | West Virginia | www.martinsburgcollege.edu | 21 |
Southwestern Community College | Sylva | North Carolina | www.southwesterncc.edu | 21 |
Albany State University | Albany | Georgia | www.asurams.edu | 20 |
Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Tennessee | www.chattanoogastate.edu | 20 |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | www.minnesota.edu | 20 |
Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Iowa | www.nicc.edu | 20 |
Berkeley College-Woodland Park | Woodland Park | New Jersey | www.berkeleycollege.edu | 19 |
Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Wisconsin | www.morainepark.edu | 19 |
Pitt Community College | Winterville | North Carolina | www.pittcc.edu | 19 |
State Fair Community College | Sedalia | Missouri | www.sfccmo.edu | 19 |
Camden County College | Blackwood | New Jersey | www.camdencc.edu | 18 |
Central Carolina Technical College | Sumter | South Carolina | www.cctech.edu | 18 |
Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professions Studies | Fort Wayne | Indiana | cps.indianatech.edu | 18 |
Mountwest Community and Technical College | Huntington | West Virginia | www.mctc.edu | 18 |
Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg | Florida | www.myptc.edu | 18 |
Vincennes University | Vincennes | Indiana | www.vinu.edu | 18 |
Gadsden State Community College | Gadsden | Alabama | www.gadsdenstate.edu | 17 |
Lane Community College | Eugene | Oregon | www.lanecc.edu | 17 |
Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | Louisiana | www.susla.edu | 17 |
Baptist Health System School of Health Professions | San Antonio | Texas | www.bshp.edu | 16 |
Fisher College | Boston | Massachusetts | www.fisher.edu | 16 |
Lamar Institute of Technology | Beaumont | Texas | www.lit.edu | 16 |
Midland College | Midland | Texas | www.midland.edu | 16 |
Ogeechee Technical College | Statesboro | Georgia | www.ogeecheetech.edu | 16 |
Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg | New Jersey | www.raritanval.edu | 16 |
Washburn University | Topeka | Kansas | www.washburn.edu | 16 |
Weber State University | Ogden | Utah | www.weber.edu | 16 |
Meridian Community College | Meridian | Mississippi | www.meridiancc.edu | 15 |
North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | North Dakota | www.ndscs.edu | 14 |
University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima | Ohio | www.unoh.edu | 14 |
Bryan University | Tempe | Arizona | bryanuniversity.edu | 13 |
Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Wisconsin | www.cvtc.edu | 13 |
Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | California | www.saddleback.edu | 13 |
San Juan College | Farmington | New Mexico | www.sanjuancollege.edu | 13 |
Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Florida | www.sfcollege.edu | 13 |
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore | Wisconsin | www.swtc.edu | 13 |
Terra State Community College | Fremont | Ohio | www.terra.edu | 13 |
Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | California | www.crc.losrios.edu | 12 |
Dakota State University | Madison | South Dakota | dsu.edu | 12 |
Ozarka College | Melbourne | Arkansas | www.ozarka.edu | 12 |
Rasmussen College-Kansas | Topeka | Kansas | rasmussen.edu | 12 |
Southeastern Technical College | Vidalia | Georgia | www.southeasterntech.edu | 12 |
West Georgia Technical College | Waco | Georgia | www.westgatech.edu | 12 |
Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.cpcc.edu | 11 |
DeVry University-Ohio | Columbus | Ohio | www.devry.edu | 11 |
Laramie County Community College | Cheyenne | Wyoming | www.lccc.wy.edu | 11 |
Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon | Iowa | www.nwicc.edu | 11 |
Rasmussen College-North Dakota | Fargo | North Dakota | rasmussen.edu | 11 |
East Central College | Union | Missouri | www.eastcentral.edu | 10 |
Fort Myers Technical College | Fort Myers | Florida | www.fortmyerstech.edu | 10 |
Gwinnett Technical College | Lawrenceville | Georgia | www.gwinnetttech.edu | 10 |
Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | Iowa | www.indianhills.edu | 10 |
Western Nebraska Community College | Scottsbluff | Nebraska | www.wncc.edu | 10 |
Zane State College | Zanesville | Ohio | www.zanestate.edu | 10 |
Laboure College | Milton | Massachusetts | www.laboure.edu | 9 |
Kirtland Community College | Roscommon | Michigan | www.kirtland.edu | 9 |
Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Missouri | www.otc.edu | 9 |
Ridgewater College | Willmar | Minnesota | www.ridgewater.edu | 9 |
South Arkansas Community College | El Dorado | Arkansas | www.southark.edu | 9 |
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | Edwardsville | Illinois | www.siue.edu | 9 |
American Business and Technology University | St Joseph | Missouri | abtu.edu | 8 |
Hodges University | Naples | Florida | www.hodges.edu | 8 |
DeVry University-California | Pomona | California | www.devry.edu | 7 |
Great Falls College Montana State University | Great Falls | Montana | www.gfcmsu.edu | 7 |
St Charles Community College | Cottleville | Missouri | www.stchas.edu | 7 |
University of Saint Mary | Leavenworth | Kansas | www.stmary.edu | 7 |
Beckfield College-Florence | Florence | Kentucky | www.beckfield.edu | 6 |
Pensacola State College | Pensacola | Florida | www.pensacolastate.edu | 6 |
National American University-Rapid City | Rapid City | South Dakota | www.national.edu | 5 |
DeVry University-Georgia | Decatur | Georgia | www.devry.edu | 5 |
Georgia Piedmont Technical College | Clarkston | Georgia | www.gptc.edu | 5 |
Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw | Georgia | www.kennesaw.edu | 5 |
National Park College | Hot Springs | Arkansas | www.np.edu | 5 |
Midstate College | Peoria | Illinois | www.midstate.edu | 4 |
Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls | Minnesota | www.mnwest.edu | 4 |
Remington College-Heathrow Campus | Lake Mary | Florida | www.remingtoncollege.edu | 4 |
Sullivan University | Louisville | Kentucky | www.sullivan.edu | 4 |
University of Alaska Southeast | Juneau | Alaska | www.uas.alaska.edu | 4 |
Mercy College of Ohio | Toledo | Ohio | www.mercycollege.edu | 3 |
Fountainhead College of Technology | Knoxville | Tennessee | www.fountainheadcollege.edu | 3 |
Franklin University | Columbus | Ohio | www.franklin.edu | 3 |
Misericordia University | Dallas | Pennsylvania | www.misericordia.edu | 2 |
Purdue University Global-Hagerstown | Hagerstown | Maryland | www.purdueglobal.edu/campus-locations | 1 |
Excelsior College | Albany | New York | www.excelsior.edu | 1 |
Marion Technical College | Marion | Ohio | www.mtc.edu | 1 |
Valley College-Martinsburg | Martinsburg | West Virginia | www.valley.edu | 1 |
Core & Elective Courses
In health information technology schools, students learn many specifics to the field before getting into the career-focused essentials. They may start with general education classes to help them improve their math and writing skills, and even explore the social sciences. Following this, they should start exploring the foundational skills for their career through classes in human anatomy, medical terminology, data analysis and spreadsheets, and even statistics. These help students improve their analytical, communication and reasoning skills and become better at problem solving.
Although the names of career-specific courses may vary, classes should be similar in focus particularly since many programs have the objective of helping students prepare for RHIM certification. Students may find some of the following courses, or similar ones, offered as part of a health information technology degree:
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Healthcare data literacy and statistics
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Health records
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International classification of disease coding
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Legal and regulatory issues in health management
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Health insurance and reimbursement
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Release of personal health information
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Utilization, risk and compliance management
Practicums, externships or lab experiences can also be a part of a health information technology degree and give students experiences practicing their new skills in a healthcare setting or on campus. Again, these requirements vary by institution, so apllicants may want to look at the entire curriculum for a program before enrolling.
Accreditation
Students should look for health information technology schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). This agency has a mission of identifying quality programs in health information and health information management. Graduating from a CAHIM-accredited programs means that students should have the skills and knowledge necessary to work in an electronic health records setting.
Completing a CAHIIM-accredited program is also necessary to be able to take the AHIMA certification to become a Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT). Students not attending an accredited school may be ineligible for entry-level certification testing done through AHIMA. A program directory on the CAHIIM website gives students the option to search for programs by state, program level and delivery method.
To earn accreditation from CAHIIM, programs must submit an application, complete a self-study, and open their program up to a site visit from experts identifed by CAHIIM. Programs are reviewed based on the Health Information Management (HIM) Accreditation Standards.
In addition to programmatic accreditation through CAHIIM, potential applicants should look to a school's institutional accreditation. Following many of the same processes, schools can have their institution as a whole accredited by an organization such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) or the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Career Outlook
Job growth for health information technologists and technicians is expected to be 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to the BLS (2017). This is faster than average than for all occupations for the same time period (just 7 percent) and could lead to 27,800 new positions becoming available. There are many reasons for this high demand, including:
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An aging Baby Boomer population in need of more tests and care
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More medical claims and reimbursements as a result
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Growing use of electronic medical records (EMRs)
As of 2016, there were 206,300 people employed as medical records and health information technicians. If BLS predictions hold true, this number could grow to 234,100 by 2026. Job prospects could be best for those with RHIT or CTR certifications, according to the BLS. And, as use of EMRs is increasingly adopted, so should the need for skilled health information technicians.
Career Facts | Health Information Technology |
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Related Careers | Medical and Health Services Manager |
Common Job Titles | Electronic Medical Record Specialist, Health Information Technologist, Health Information Technician, HIM Analyst |
Sourced from BLS, June 2018 |
Licensing & Certification
There are no legal licensure or certification requirements to work in health information technology. However, certifiation is available for those that choose to pursue official recognition of their skillset. To seek certification as a Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT) through AHIMA, students need to graduate from a CAHIIM-accredited program or a foreign association that AHIMA holds a reciprocity agreement with. They also need to pay an exam fee, which as of 2018 is $229 for members and $299 for non-members. Students may also be eligible to take the exam in the last semester of their program, but need to meet certain eligibility requirements.
Exams can be scheduled at PearsonVUE Test Centers available across the U.S. The exam is 3.5 hours long, and includes 130 multiple-choice questions and 20 pretest questions. AHIMA reports that certification can increase earning potential and opportunities for advancement as well as strengthen the competence of staff. After obtaining certification, renewals are needed every two years and are obtained by meeting continuing education requirements. Graduating from a CAHIIM-accredited program is not necessary to seek Certified Coding Associate (CCA) certification through AHIMA, although it is recommended.