Overview
CAHIIM and HIM education
The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accredits health information management (HIM) and health informatics programs. CHEA-recognized.
The Gate
CAHIIM, RHIA, and RHIT
Graduating from a CAHIIM-accredited program is the route to the profession’s credentials. A CAHIIM-accredited bachelor’s program leads to the RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator) exam, and an accredited associate program to the RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) exam — both credentialed by AHIMA and expected by employers.
Do It Yourself
Verify an HIM program
Go Deeper
Official sources
Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Who accredits health information management programs? The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), which accredits HIM and health informatics programs. It is CHEA-recognized.
- What credentials does CAHIIM accreditation lead to? A CAHIIM-accredited bachelor's leads to the RHIA exam and an accredited associate to the RHIT exam, both credentialed by AHIMA.
- What is the difference between RHIA and RHIT? RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator) is the bachelor's-level credential; RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) is the associate-level credential.
- Who certifies these credentials? The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) administers the RHIA and RHIT exams.
- Is HIM licensed? HIM is credentialed rather than licensed; the RHIA/RHIT credentials from a CAHIIM-accredited program are the professional standard employers expect.
- Does CAHIIM accredit health informatics too? Yes. CAHIIM accredits both health information management and broader health informatics programs.
- Is CAHIIM recognized by the government? CAHIIM is CHEA-recognized. Its role is the education gate to AHIMA credentials.
- How do I verify an HIM program? Search the CAHIIM directory of accredited programs and confirm credentialing with AHIMA.