Career & Student Center

Why Choose a Career in Health Information?

Versatile Education

By studying health information, students will acquire a versatile yet focused skill set incorporating clinical, information technology, leadership, and management skills. Health information professionals use their knowledge of information technology and records management to form the link between clinicians, administrators, technology designers, and information technology professionals.

Dynamic Career Opportunities

Constantly evolving regulations and technologies allow for lifelong learning and continued professional development. As healthcare advances, health information provides the patient data needed to successfully navigate the changes. As a result, health information professionals can expect to be in high demand as the health sector continues to expand. Demand is on the rise at all levels of education and credentialing. There are approximately 12,000 to 50,000 new jobs anticipated by 2017, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites medical records and health information technicians as one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the US.

On top of strong job prospects, competitive salaries also await graduates. More than half of new health information graduates with bachelor’s degrees start with salaries in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. By five years out, one can earn upwards of $50,000 to $75,000 annually. Most new health information graduates with associate’s degrees jump right in and earn $20,000 to $30,000 annually. These figures are just averages—many professionals report higher salaries.

Industries with an increased demand for health information professionals include academic institutions, consulting agencies, government agencies, and healthcare software companies. As health information technology (HIT) becomes more prevalent, health information practitioners will continue to be critical components of the electronic health record (EHR) workforce. According to the US Department of Labor, HIT will grow to encompass new support positions, including mobile support adoption positions, public health informatics, implementation support specialists, and information management redesign specialists.

Student Resources

A career in HIM is right for you if you:

– See yourself in a career that offers diverse opportunities.
– Would like to work in health care, but not directly with patients.
– Have an aptitude for science, but also like management, law, and computers.
– Enjoy working with professionals: physicians, nurses, lawyers, administrators and executives.
– Want a career where you can choose to work on your own, with others, or some of both.

HIM programs incorporate the disciplines of medicine, management, finance, information technology, and law into one curriculum. Because of this unique mixture, HIM graduates can choose from a variety of work settings across an array of healthcare environments.

Exam Preparation

 Please visit the AHIMA Exam Prep website for details!

Apprenticeships are the Future of HIM! Is your company seeking solutions to the training and development of employees or additional support to assist your organization in advancing healthcare technology? Consider connecting with AHIMA’s Registered HIM Apprenticeship Program. Apprenticeships are paid positions that bridge education and employment. Apprenticeships help sponsors:

• Prepare the next generation of HIM professionals hired in your organization
• Attract new talent with the right education, skills, and credentials
• Develop associates for your organization with skills to keep pace with advances in healthcare technology

MNHIMA has recently had inquiries about Registered Apprenticeships in MN. If your company is interested in registering, please check out this site at the AHIMA Foundation.

Questions? Contact apparenticeship@ahimafoundation.org