By: Nurse.org Staff

Medically reviewed by: Kathleen Gaines MSN, RN, BA, CBC

Looking for a healthcare career that puts your organizational, analytical and technical skills to good use? Becoming a health information technician may be the perfect profession for you.

Health information technicians are trained in medical terms and coding systems that health systems around the world rely upon. And becoming a health information technician opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities. 

There’s a lot to learn about the role, its requirements and its responsibilities, so we’ve prepared this career guide to help you figure out if it’s the right path for you.

Part One What Is a Health Information Technician? 

Though health information technicians do not have a hands-on role in patient care, they are essential to healthcare services being provided and paid for in an efficient manner. 

Electronic health record (EHR) data is generated from the moment that a patient first makes an appointment to the point when service is paid for. Health information techs work behind the scenes, organizing and managing this data. 

They ensure that the data from patient records is accurate and available for future care providers to understand a patient’s health history. And they facilitate the billing and compensation of services and relay information to researchers tracking healthcare trends. 

The work health information technicians do is represented across several different job titles, including:

1. Medical record technicians
2. Medical coders
3. Medical billers
4. Health information managers
5. Registered health information administrators (RHIAs) 

The health information technology field is a combination of computer science, medicine, and financial management. Though largely invisible, health information forms the framework on which every aspect of care rests. 

These individuals are responsible for reviewing, organizing, analyzing, and processing medical records used by healthcare providers. 

Health information techs are an integral link between patients, medical providers, and those responsible for reimbursement. The information that passes through their hands is essential to health care organizations, researchers, and government agencies. 

Part Two What Do Health Information Technicians Do? 

Health information technicians work in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, nursing homes, physicians’ offices, insurance companies, and government agencies. 

Their primary duties include collecting, analyzing, organizing, and verifying patient documents. They also input that information to patient's electronic health records and billing systems in accordance with standardized processes and regulatory practices. 

Their job responsibilities may include: 

1. Ensuring medical records are accurate and complete
2. Entering information into electronic health records systems
3. Assigning clinical codes to diagnoses and procedures
4. Retrieving patient medical records for healthcare professionals
5. Ensure confidentiality of patients’ records

Part Three Health Information Technician Salaries 

According to ZipRecruiter.com, the average salary for registered health information technicians is $38,149 per year, or $18 per hour. Health Information Technician salaries currently range between $28,000 to $52,000 with some earning $38,149 annually. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reports an annual salary of $58,250 per year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,970, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $103,380. 

Health Information Technician Salary Factors

1.) Workplace Setting

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), health information technicians earn the highest salaries working for the federal government, while those working in physicians’ offices and other healthcare facilities earn the least.

2.) Degree

Health information techs with a bachelor’s or master’s degree are eligible for management and leadership roles that receive significantly higher levels of compensation. 

3.) Location

Geographic location is another factor that can make a big difference in the amount that a health information technician earns. Jobs in metropolitan areas tend to come with higher pay. The sizable shifts in compensation due to regional differences are exemplified by the median annual salaries paid within these five top-paying areas: 

1. San Buenaventura, CA- $57,433
2. Morton, WA - $52,713
3. Hemphill, TX - $52,541
4. Hotevilla-Bacavi, AZ - $51,566
5. Richmond, CA - $47,447

>> Show Me Online Healthcare Informatics Programs

Part Four How to Become a Health Information Technician 

Step 1.) Earn Your High School Diploma or GED

There are several different positions available in health information departments and some are available with only a high school degree. So regardless of your path, you’ll want to start here.

Step 2.)  Complete an Accredited Health Information Technology Program

In order to become a registered health information technician certified by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), you will need to complete a health information technology program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Admission into an accredited associate degree program will vary based upon the program to which you apply, but most programs require: 

1. A high school diploma, GED, or home-school equivalent with a minimum 2.0 GPA
2. Official transcripts or GED scores
3. Completion of a background check 

Two-year programs typically include both classroom work and practical experience working within a healthcare organization. The coursework will address the following topics: 

1. Billing
2. Business and information technology 
3. Clinical healthcare
4. Data analysis and reporting
5. Disease and diagnosis medical coding
6. Healthcare administration
7. HIM Statistics and Computer Applications
8. Medical terminology
9. Pharmacology
10. Records management
11. Regulation and compliance

Step 3.) Pass the RHIT Examination

After completion of a program, candidates apply to take the RHIT examination, a three-and-a-half-hour computer exam consisting of 130 to 160 questions. The exam is $299 for non-members and $229 for members. 

To be eligible to sit for the examination, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Successfully complete the academic requirements, at an associate degree level, of a Health Information Management (HIM) program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM); or 
• Graduate from an HIM program approved by a foreign association with which AHIMA has a reciprocity agreement

Individuals eligible to sit for the examination early include, 

• Students currently enrolled and in their last term of study
• Students who have completed their course work but have not yet graduated
• Graduates that are currently waiting for their official transcripts

>> Show Me Online Healthcare Informatics Programs

Part Five What Is the Career Outlook for Health Information Technicians? 

A career as a health information technician is both personally satisfying and financially rewarding. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States. Overall employment is expected to grow 8% between 2022 and 2032. There are multiple factors contributing to this promising job outlook, including the aging of the population and the increased use of electronic health records by healthcare and science organizations. 

Certified health information technicians are in the best possible position to take advantage of this level of job security in the healthcare industry. 

>> Related: How to Become a Nutritionist

Part Six What Are the Continuing Education Requirements for Health Information Technicians?

Once certified, a registered health information technician needs to complete 20 continuing education units every two years in order to maintain their credentials and demonstrate their continued competency.

A minimum of eighty percent of credits earned must be in a topic related to health informatics and information management. The other twenty percent can be earned through independent study activities, oversight of directed clinical practice on behalf of accredited programs, attendance at AHIMA events, and other options including live webinars and self-study programs that are available online. 

>> Show Me Online Healthcare Informatics Programs

Part Seven Where Can I Learn More About Becoming a Health Information Technician? 

There are many options and advantages to becoming a health information technician and numerous resources through which you can learn more. The most helpful include: 

1. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
2. HIMSS – Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

Part Eight Health Information Technician FAQs

• What Does a Health Information Technician Do?

  • Health information techs work with patient data, facilitating communication between patients, providers, and insurers. 

• How Long Does it Take to Become a Health Information Technician?

  • You can qualify for an entry-level health information technician position in two years. 

• What Education Do You Need to Become a Health Information Technician?

  • The minimum educational requirement for becoming a health information technician is a two-year associate’s degree. Becoming eligible for higher-level management positions is facilitated by earning a four-year bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree. 

• Is a Health Information Technician a Good Career?

  • Becoming a health information technician is a smart choice. It takes just two years to begin earning solid compensation, and as you expand on your qualifications, experience, and education, you can advance to leadership positions that earn higher salaries. Perhaps most important of all, the growing demand for health information technicians provides significant job security.