Health Sciences

Female smiling HIT hero

Health Information Technician (HIT)

Associate's Degree

Online Program

Next Start Dates
April 07, 2025
May 14, 2025
Apply By
April 03, 2025
May 12, 2025

18 months finish in as few as2

67% of program requirements may be completed by credit for prior learning13

CAHIIM accredited online3

Launch Your Health Information Career Journey

Prepare for a career that combines healthcare and technology to make a real impact in patients’ experience. Our Health Information Associate’s degree online (HIT program) lays the building blocks for career growth, further education and a future in management. You'll gain advanced skills in information policy, revenue cycle management, data management, healthcare technologies and more in this Health Information Technician degree.

In Rasmussen University's HIT Associate of Applied Science (AAS) program, you can:

  • Gain practical skills in virtual labs and a real work setting
  • Use state-of-the-art health information technology and software
  • Collaborate with experts in the healthcare profession
  • Prepare for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT®) exam45
  • Seamlessly transfer into our Health Information Management Bachelor’s degree

Already have your Medical Billing and Coding Certificate from Rasmussen University? That means you can save time and money by completing your Health Information Technician degree in as few as 9 months1 with only 15 courses.

Let’s Get Started

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What Jobs Can I Pursue with an HIT Associate’s degree?

In our HIT program, you’ll be preparing to further advance to the Bachelor’s degree and to enter the field in roles like these:

  • Health information technician
  • Health information data collection and analysis specialist
  • Medical coder/biller-analyst/auditor
  • Electronic health records (EHR) specialist
  • Compliance auditor/specialist
  • Patient care coordinator
  • Release of information specialist
  • Revenue cycle reimbursement specialist

With a Health Information Technology degree, you can pursue an in-demand career in healthcare settings, such as:

  • Hospitals
  • Insurance companies
  • Health information technology vendors

Why Choose Rasmussen University?

Designed by industry experts, our Health Information Technician Associate’s degree will help you gain the skills, education and certification prep to help grow your career in health information.

Logo: CAHIIM accreditation

  • Accredited online by the Commission Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).3 Learn more about CAHIIM campus accreditation
  • Balance work, life and school with fully online courses and an on-ground professional practice experience
  • Save time and money with transfer credits and $149 self-directed assessments that allow you to prove you have the skills taught in a particular course and don't need to take it
  • Focus on both data management and revenue management—other programs may only emphasize one. We want you to be versatile and knowledgeable, from collecting and protecting patient health information to managing vital clinical aspects of claims, payment and revenue
  • Gain hands-on experience with AHIMA® virtual labs to test your skills and sharpen your decision-making
  • Analyze electronic health records (EHR) and examine case studies, real-world coding scenarios, hands-on activities and projects for a first-hand look at industry technology
  • Develop skills in computer applications, statistics and analytics
  • Collaborate with experienced faculty who want you to succeed in a supportive environment

Practice in Real-Time

Not only are you studying the material in our HIT program—you’re also getting a variety of practice experiences in a professional health information setting in your community. Through state-of-the-art AHIMA® virtual labs in our HIT program, you'll utilize the latest health information technology in a simulated work setting.

Continue to Advance

An HIT Associate’s degree can be the first step in your health information path. You’ll be prepared for entry-level roles in the field—and perfectly positioned to complete our Health Information Management Bachelor’s degree in preparation for leadership roles.

Pursue Certification

Our Health Information Technician Associate’s degree prepares you to take the AHIMA Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT®) exam with confidence.4 Plus, the application fee for each qualified student’s first exam attempt is included in the total program costs.5

Two females conversing HIT

What Do Courses Look Like?

In this Health Information Technician degree, you’ll learn through online interactive sessions with faculty and peers, authentic assessments to test what you know, AHIMA® virtual labs and a professional practice experience in a simulated healthcare setting.

Sample Courses

  • 25 Courses to Complete // 90 Credit Hours

View Full Course Listing

What Skills Will I Gain?

Health information is any data related to a patient’s medical history, including symptoms, diagnoses, procedures and outcomes. In our HIT degree program, you’ll have a full understanding of the health information life cycle.

  • Patient Information Management

    Manage patient-specific data to ensure the privacy and security of confidential health information and utilizing policies and technology.

  • Revenue Cycle Management

    Determine diagnoses and procedure codes to support billing within revenue cycle processes.

  • Data Management

    Perform healthcare data collection, analysis, presentation and reporting utilizing health information databases and technology.

  • Healthcare Technologies

    Utilize technologies for health information management functions with an understanding of emerging consumer engagement technologies, such as telehealth, patient portals and social media.

Resilience in Education—Christina’s Story of Perseverance

Despite a childhood overshadowed by struggle, Christina used her determination to succeed in her education. She used the expert support and resources Rasmussen offered to not only advance her career, but also to inspire her kids.

“Going through the programs really helped me to have more confidence because I struggled, but then I overcame it. That helped to build me up as a person.”

Christina N. :30 video

View transcript(Scroll to see full transcript)

Enrolling in Rasmussen was a really big turning point in my life. When you go to school online, you're not in a classroom, but I never really felt like I was disconnected from my professors.

In addition to the professors, there was tutoring, there was student support, there was the help desk, so in every single aspect, you had support.

It's an amazing school. I would highly recommend it to anybody looking to go to college. ♪ I'm right where I belong ♪

Climb the Educational Ladder to Your Career

Our Health Information studies programs let you start at the point that works best for you, complete that Certificate or degree, then smoothly transition to the next degree. You’re not just completing your Associate’s degree—you’re saving time and money by finishing half of your Bachelor’s degree and advancing on the path toward a leadership role improving health information processes and patient care.

  • Associate’s Degree: Health Information Technician

    Start here if:

    You’re ready to learn more about managing patient data, revenue cycle, and billing and coding. You're also interested in pursuing the RHIT® exam.4

    Finish in as few as:

    18 months2

    Career Opportunities:

    • Health Information Technician
    • Health Information Data Collection and Analysis Specialist
    • Medical Coder / Biller Analyst / Auditor
    • Electronic Health Records Specialist
    • Compliance Auditor / Specialist
    • Patient Care Coordinator
    • Release of Information Specialist
    • Revenue Cycle Reimbursement Specialist

    View Associate’s degree details

Online by Design

Rasmussen University courses are online and rich in interactive learning to give you more control and balance in your life.

Support to Make it Work

From 24/7 tech support, experienced tutors and career services to library and learning services with over 400,000 ebooks and electronic reference materials, we’re dedicated to a robust learning community.

Transferable Skills

In addition to health information studies, you’ll enhance your skills in critical thinking, digital fluency, information literacy, communication, diversity, equity and inclusion, and ethics and professional responsibility in this HIT program.

Take the Next Step—Talk to Us!

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Knowledge Credit®

67% of program requirements may be completed by transfer credits, course waivers, self-directed assessments or other opportunities.10

Get Credit for What You Know

Transfer Credits

Get an estimate of your transfer credits without an official transcript in one business day (on average).
Female working at computer HIT 1

Education Built for Working Adults

Hands typing on laptop HIT 2

Self-Directed Assessments

Show that you have already achieved the skills for a course and don't need to take it. Your potential savings could be over $10,000!7

Online

Online courses with a required in-person practicum experience in your final term gives you more control—over your schedule, your work space and your pace.

Affordable Education

Tuition & Savings

Do the Math:

With eight start dates a year and a total of 25 courses—full-time students can finish in as few as 18 months.2

$307 cost per full-time credit
x 90 total credits
_______________________
$27,630 total full-time tuition
+ $5,625 total fees
_______________________
$33,255 full-time estimated total program cost

Learn more about the financial aid cost of attendance (COA).

Explore Our Tuition Estimator Tool

Other Ways to Save

Higher education should be a manageable investment. Talk to an admissions advisor and learn how our programs are designed to be more affordable with Knowledge Credit® through transfer credits, self-directed assessments, and military training or professional certification. Plus, save more with loans and grants, scholarship opportunities, and military discounts for those who qualify. Find more about:

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Entrance Requirements

Entrance requirements for the School of Health Sciences vary by program. This program is not available to residents of all states. To learn more and receive help planning your healthcare career path, contact an admissions advisor who will speak to you about: immunizations, background checks and entrance exam scores.

Talk to an Admissions Advisor

Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)

The Health Information Management accreditor of Rasmussen University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The University’s accreditation for the Associate degree in Health Information Technician has been reaffirmed through 2030. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.

Additional accreditation details

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
200 East Randolph Street
Suite 5100
Chicago, IL 60601
312-235-3255

Graduate Programmatic Outcome Rates

Graduate Programmatic Outcome Rate, Student Satisfaction Rate and Programmatic Graduation Rate for the Health Information Technician Associate’s Degree Program.

Health Information Technician Associate’s Degree Program Outcome Rates
CampusGraduate Programmatic Outcome Rate 1a Student Satisfaction Rate 2a Programmatic Graduation Rate 3a
Campus: Rasmussen University Online Graduate Programmatic Outcome Rate 1a : 22.0% Student Satisfaction Rate 2a : 95.0% Programmatic Graduation Rate 3a : 30.4%
  • 1a Graduate Programmatic Outcome Rates are based on July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, as reported in the 2024 CAHIIM Annual Program Assessment Report. Measured at 12 months post-graduation and includes those employed in their field of study, in a position that required their degree, or those continuing their education. It does not specify that each graduate was placed by Rasmussen University in their current position; some graduates find jobs on their own while others maintain previously held employment. This rate excludes graduates who were unavailable due to military service, a medical condition, an international location, or are incarcerated or deceased.
  • 2a Student/Graduate Satisfaction Rates are for the time period July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, based on programmatic and institution surveys returned from program graduates as reported in the 2024 CAHIIM Annual Program Assessment Report.
  • 3a Programmatic Graduation Rates: Percentage of starts between January 2021 and December 2021 that graduated from the program in 1.5 times the recommended length of the program.
  • The program listed above is accredited by CAHIIM. The Health Information Management accreditor of Rasmussen University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The University’s accreditation for the Health Information Technician program has been reaffirmed through 2030. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. Estimated total program cost for a full-time student. Rasmussen University defines transfer credit as previously earned college credit at an accredited two- or four-year college/university after graduating from high school. Bachelor completer programs assume at least 90 transfer credits or a conferred degree.
  2. Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term.
  3. The Health Information Management accreditor of Rasmussen University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The following Health Information Technician program at Rasmussen University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) based on their associate-level Health Information Management standards and is reaffirmed through the following dates:
    • Rasmussen University Online, through 2030

    All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
  4. The Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT®) Exam is a registered trademark of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Copyright © 2020 AHIMA. All rights reserved.
  5. Should a student need to take the exam more than once to receive a passing score, they will be responsible for all subsequent exam application fees.
  6. Most coding positions are not considered "entry level"; a combination of education and work experience is typically required to attain a coding position. Similarly, coders, especially those who are new to the field, should not expect to find a position where they can work from home. Most coding positions require onsite work.
  7. 31 credits in self-directed assessments at $307 per credit = $9,517. Save an additional $240 on books (8 classes x $30 per class in books). Save $1,560 in technology fees (8 classes x $195 per class). Pay $149 for each of eight self-directed assessment tests (8 classes x $149). Savings cost breakdown: $9,517 + $240 + $1,560 - $1,192 = $10,125 estimated total savings.
  8. AHIMA, “Certification Candidate Guide”.https://www.ahima.org/media/ypxnwa31/revised-candidate-guide-6-9-2021.pdf. Retrieved August 28, 2020.

  9. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Records Specialists at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm (visited November 26, 2024). Employment conditions in your area may vary.

  10. Rasmussen University defines transfer credit as previously earned college credit at an accredited two- or four-year college/university after graduating from high school. Bachelor completer programs assume at least 90 transfer credits or a conferred degree.
  11. The Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA®) Exam is a registered trademark of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Copyright © 2020 AHIMA. All rights reserved.

  12. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/health-information-technologists-and-medical-registrars.htm (visited November 26, 2024). Employment conditions in your area may vary.

  13. Rasmussen University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined in the course catalog. Actual time to completion will be based upon transfer evaluation and eligibility.