Health Information Technology (HIT)
ACC has the only accredited online HIT program in Colorado. Our degree provides you the technical skills needed to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), a fast-growing field with an above-average job growth rate predicted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is an excellent career for those wanting to work in technology and health care. As a graduate of the program, you'll be eligible to take the national RHIT certification exam right away. The RHIT certification pass rate for ACC students is 92%, and we are proud to be considered one of the best online RHIT degree programs in the United States. Start your career in health information management today!
What You'll Learn in the Health Information Technology Program
Our HIT program provides you with valuable skills to use immediately on-the-job. Once you graduate, you’ll be able to:
- Understand data content, structure, and information governance
- Ensure access, disclosure, privacy and security in the workplace
- Perform data analysis and use data in meaningful ways
- Understand components of compliance
- Become a leader in the workplace
- Take the National Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) Certification Exam
Online Program (with the exception of two Practicum courses)
CIP 510707 (HIT1)
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Health Information Technology is designed to develop the technical skills necessary for managing health information within the healthcare delivery system. The AAS degree program in Health Information Technology emphasizes the technical component of health information services and is designed to prepare entry-level graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to use, analyze, abstract, code, present, and retrieve data in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, long term care, ambulatory care, mental health care and other healthcare facilities as well as private industry. Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate is eligible to write the national certification examination and upon successful passing of this examination, receive the RHIT (Registered Health Information Technology) credentials. This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is the association of health information management (HIM) professionals. AHIMA Web site: www.ahima.org
Admission Requirements
The following are the basic requirements for admission to the Health Information Technology (HIT) program:
- Completion of High school or GED equivalence
- Admission to Arapahoe Community College
- Submission of the HIT application
- Interview with HIT Program Chair, Allied Health Programs Success Coordinator or Designate
- Criminal Background Check (prior to first practicum)
- Vaccination documentation (prior to first practicum)
- Prerequisite:
- English: ENG 090 and REA 090 OR CCR 092/CCR 093/CCR 094 with a grade of "C" or better, OR Placement sentence skills score of 95+ OR assessment to be at college-level in English (see Student Resources and Services - Assessment in this Catalog)
- Math: MAT 050 or assessment to be at college-level in Math (see Student Resources and Services - Assessment in this Catalog)
Students must contact HITProgram [at] arapahoe [dot] edu for counseling and program planning prior to enrolling in any courses that are part of the HIT curriculum.
Program Requirements
- Select 3 Credits from either MAT 135 Introduction to Statistics: GT-MA1 OR CIS 155 PC Spreadsheet Concepts: Excel.
Graduation Requirements
- All major education and other courses required for this degree must be completed with a "C" or better to meet graduation requirements.
- Apply for graduation online at www.arapahoe.edu/graduation.
- As a graduate of a Career and Technical Education program you will be contacted by an ACC employee in approximately six months to verify your employment information. This information gathering is a federal requirement to ensure that ACC receives certain federal funding.
United States
Field |
Employment 2014 |
Employment 2024 |
Percent Change |
Projected Annual Job Openings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians |
188,600 |
217,600 |
+15% |
7,120 |
Colorado
Field |
Employment 2014 |
Employment 2024 |
Percent Change |
Projected Annual Job Openings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians |
2,340 |
3,090 |
+32% |
140 |
*Statistics from O*Net Online.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth rate of 8% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health information management is expected to continue to increase as the population ages.
As part of the Colorado Community College System, ACC offers courses at a very reasonable tuition rate. At today's tuition rate, the 66 credit hours of the HIT associate degree would only cost a COF (College Opportunity Fund) eligible student approximately $15,000. COF is not a need based financial aid, but a subsidy from the State of Colorado for the education of its residents. Apply for your COF stipend. View ACC's current Tuition and Fees.
Arapahoe Community College offers a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) accredited program for an Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology (HIT). Our Associate of Applied Science degree provides you the technical skills needed to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). You can complete your training in two years or have a plan designed to meet your needs. ACC has the only accredited online HIT program in Colorado.
As a graduate of the Health Information Technology program, you will be eligible to take the national Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification exam and receive the RHIT credential.
ACC HIT Program Outcomes:
- Mock RHIT Certification Exam (required; final semester) - pass rate is 95% (2017)
- National RHIT Certification Examination - pass rate (first attempt) is 80% (2017)
- Graduate survey: employed in HIM-related job within one year after graduation - 80% (2017)
- Graduate survey: Feel prepared to enter / advance in a HIM career - 98% agree / strongly agree (2017)
Job Potential in Health Information Technology
A degree or certificate in HIT offers career potential in settings like:
* For more information about this profession, visit the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the national association of health information management (HIM) professionals.
- Hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices
- Health Departments
- Insurance companies
- Long-term care facilities
- Private industry
HIT Application Process
The following items and minimum requirements must be met to be accepted into the Health Information Technology (HIT) program at ACC:
- Complete high school or GED equivalent.
- Complete ACC application for acceptance to college.
- College Placement Test required scores are:
- English:
- Accuplacer: 95 or higher on Sentence Skills
- Mathematics:
- Accuplacer: Elementary Algebra score of 61 or higher
- Students with equivalent ACT / SAT scores taken within the last five years or appropriate college-level coursework do not need to complete the placement tests. Documentation should be provided with the college application.
- English:
- Request an Official Transcript be sent to ACC if you have any prior college courses.
- General Education courses required by the program with a grade of "C" or better can be transferred in from an accredited college or university. To transfer general education courses a student must submit official transcripts to the Records and Enrollment Services Office and complete an application to the college.
- The process of course evaluation and transferring credit can be lengthy and therefore should begin immediately.
- Schedule an advising and program planning session with the HIT Program Chair prior to enrolling in any courses that are part of the HIT curriculum.
- To schedule, please contact Christine Tomas at 303.797.5603 or christine [dot] tomas [at] arapahoe [dot] edu
- Complete the HIT Application
- A complete application packet is indicated when all necessary application items are filled out and required documentation is attached.
- You must also create and upload your complete HIT program plan. Watch our video for instructions.
Health Information Technology Requirements - Notes
- Please be informed that a Criminal Background Check is required prior to taking HIT 188 (first practicum). Please note: Criminal background checks require a fee and the applicant's social security number. Background Check is no more than one year old. View disqualifying events information.
- New, first-time students must complete the ACC Orientation before they will be allowed to register for classes.
- Students are required to submit the following documentation to the ACC HIT department prior to beginning HIT 289:
- Background check (no more than 1 year old)
- Vaccination documentations including:
- Tuberculosis (TB) (no more than one year old).
- Current chest x-ray results demonstrating no active disease must be submitted if PPD test result is positive.
- Chickenpox (Varicella)
- MMR
- Hepatitis B
- Tetanus
- Flu Shot
- A drug screen may be required by the health care facility. Students should be aware that health care facilities may not accept students using medical marijuana, even if the student has a prescription.
How to Get Your Degree and Registered Health Information Technical Credentials
ACC offers a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) accredited program for an Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology (HIT). Our Associate of Applied Science degree provides you the technical skills needed to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). You can complete your training in two years or have a plan designed to meet your needs. ACC has the only accredited online HIT program in Colorado.
As a graduate of the Health Information Technology program, you will be eligible to take the national Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification exam and receive the RHIT credential.
ACC HIT Program Outcomes:
- Mock RHIT Certification Exam (required; final semester) - pass rate is 95% (2017)
- National RHIT Certification Examination - pass rate (first attempt) is 80% (2017)
- Graduate survey: employed in HIM-related job within one year after graduation - 80% (2017)
- Graduate survey: Feel prepared to enter / advance in a HIM career - 98% agree / strongly agree (2017)
This program is entirely online with the exception of one practicum course. The HIT289 HIT Capstone course is delivered as an online course, however, 40 hours will be conducted face-to-face in an off-campus setting with one of our healthcare partners, please plan for this 40- hour time period accordingly.