The majority of CAHIIM accredited HI and HIM programs offer associate programs. The programs may generally be completed within two years of full-time study. Among the long list of accredited HIM programs offering associate degrees is Boise State University, Central Community College, College of Southern Nevada, Darton College, DeVry University, Florida State College, Hutchinson Community College, ITT Technical Institute, Lamar Institute of Technology, Missouri Western State University, Northwestern College, and Prince George's Community College.
Bachelor's degrees in HI and HIM take approximately four years to complete. Other than the difference in the time that it takes to complete, bachelor's programs are different in that they offer a well-rounded education while the associate programs mostly concentrate on HI and HIM. Accredited bachelor's programs in HI and HIM include, but are not limited to, Chicago State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Louisiana Tech University, Stephens College, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health information technicians may advance their career through further education. As of May 2011, there are is only one school that offers an accredited program in health informatics, University of Illinois at Chicago. If you're interested in a masters degree in health information management, Claremont Graduate University in California, the College of St. Scholastica in Minnesota, Oregon Health & Science University, the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center have accredited programs.
Certification for ICD-9 and CPT coding is often built into the various HI and HIM degree programs, but if your program does not offer that option, you may apply for certification through a number of organizations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC), Professional Association of Health care Coding Specialists (PAHCS) and the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) all offer coding certifications. These certifications have education and experience requirements. Students must also pass a certification test.