Best Online RHIT Degree Programs of 2023
Ensuring that patients’ healthcare records are updated accurately is a critical part of providing quality care. Become a registered health information technician with an online RHIT degree, and join the behind-the-scenes team of healthcare professionals.
Why This Matters
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CHOOSE FROM OVER 9 DIFFERENT WORK SETTINGS
RHITs work in just about every healthcare environment, including hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, physician’s offices, public health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and more.
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THE U.S. NEEDS 23,100 MORE OF YOU BY 2028
As use of electronic health records (EHRs) increases and the medical needs of the country’s aging population change, the demand for RHITs is expected to rise by 11%, faster than the average for other occupations.
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EARN $59K MORE AS A HEALTH SERVICES MANAGER
With additional education and experience, RHITs can get promoted to the role of medical and health services manager. The average annual salary for this position is $99,730, compared to $40,350 for an RHIT.
Our Research
An associate’s degree or post-secondary certificate is the minimum level of education needed to become an RHIT, although bachelor’s programs exist as well. The majority of programs we reviewed for this list are Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degrees.
The schools on this list have either regional or national accreditation. They are also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Students must complete a CAHIIM-accredited program in order to become a certified RHIT through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
We only reviewed online programs for this list. Some of the programs can also be completed entirely on-campus or in a hybrid format.
We evaluated each program on the basis of faculty, flexibility, reputation, course strength, and cost. Then we assigned each school an Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.
- 84 hours to write this article
- 63 universities and colleges we assessed
- 332 education programs we compared
The Top 57 Online RHIT Degree Programs
What You Should Know About This Degree
Registered health information technicians don’t have direct patient contact, but they play a crucial role in ensuring patients receive the proper care. They maintain health records for patients, ensuring that diagnoses and procedures are properly tracked. Technicians must follow medical, administrative, legal, ethical, and regulatory practices, be detail-oriented, and have strong analytical and technical skills.
Medical coders and billers perform similar functions to RHITs, although their work is more focused on coding for insurance and billing purposes. At this stage, you may want to explore both career paths to determine which one interests you most.
Most employers seek health information technicians who are certified by AHIMA. To receive the RHIT credential, health information technicians must hold a degree in health information technology from a CAHIIM-accredited program and pass AHIMA’s exam.
Programs that are CAHIIM-accredited have a clinical experience component, even if all coursework is offered online. Students who are enrolling in an online program should discuss in-person requirements with an advisor to confirm that they will fit into your schedule.
When earning an associate’s degree, selecting a program at a regionally accredited school is recommended. If you plan to pursue an advanced degree, schools are more likely to accept your credits and degree if they were earned at a regionally accredited institution.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching Online RHIT programs:
- How are online courses delivered? Online classes are typically offered in synchronous or asynchronous formats. In synchronous courses, students attend classes remotely, but must be available at specific times. Asynchronous courses are more flexible, as lessons and assignments are available at all times, but they don’t offer the same level of instructor and classmate interaction. Talk to program representatives to find out how courses are delivered, and decide which format works best for you.
- Will I pass a background check? As RHITs work in clinical settings with sensitive patient information, most internships and jobs require individuals to pass background checks as part of the hiring process. If there are any incidents on your record that may prevent you from passing a background check, talk to an advisor as soon as possible to discuss your options.
Be sure to review the program’s application requirements and deadlines while you are researching programs. Gathering application materials well before deadlines will facilitate a smooth application process.
Funding your RHIT degree is another important consideration. You can research federal financial aid, scholarships, assistantships, and tuition assistance benefits if you are currently employed.