Online Health Information Management Associate Degree Program
Train for a growing career path at home.1
Get started toward a growing career path and prepare for certification.1
Earn your associate degree in 18 months.2
What is health information management?
Health information management roles help collect, organize, and track patient information by managing patients’ electronic health records (EHRs) and electronic medical records (EMRs) while maintaining and safeguarding their data privacy. This program will prepare you for entry-level positions and provide you with the essential knowledge and soft skills required for this field.
Healthcare Information Management Associate Degree Program
Your Health Information Management Education Path in 18 Months2
Includes soft skills that potential employers may be looking for, plus field-specific knowledge. This program includes 90 hours of on-site practicum training to complete the program and provides preparation to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) examination offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) if you meet eligibility requirements.Healthcare Information Management Associate Degree Program
18 months2
90-Hr Practicum
Gain hands-on, supervised work experience.
CAHIIM Accredited
The Health Information Management accreditor of Ultimate Medical Academy’s Health Information Management program is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Ultimate Medical Academy’s accreditation for the Health Information Management associate degree has been reaffirmed through 2033-2034. 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.
While graduates will be prepared to take an applicable certification examination to enhance their employment prospects, they are not required to sit for this examination.
Working in Health Information Management
When you enroll as a Health Information Management student at UMA, you'll learn about health information and cybersecurity, electronic health records, computer office productivity, and more. Best of all, you graduated prepared to pursue an entry-level position in health information management.
Employment in this field is projected to grow 9% from 2023 to 2033, faster than average for all occupations. This field is projected to have 15,000 job openings each year, on average, over that decade.1
UMA graduates in this program have found entry-level work in the following environments:
- Doctors' offices
- Hospitals
- Insurance companies
They’ve also found roles that include:
- Customer Service Representative / Patient Services Representative
- Health Information Specialist / Medical Records
- Medical Office / Medical Administrative
- Insurance Coordinator
Why UMA?
Choose a healthcare program at a school that supports the whole student.
Student Support
- 1-on-1 academic assistance
- Individual help in the job search
- Potential resource guidance for outside the classroom
- Committed advisors from start to finish
Online Learning
- Our UMA Online programs allow you to complete coursework from the comfort of your home.
- Select programs feature on-site externships/practicums, providing real-world experience.
- You'll participate in classrooms with a maximum size of 25 students.
Certification Prep
- Our programs help prepare you to sit for applicable certification exams if you meet eligibility requirements.
- Our team will help you with exam-focused material and support you in areas where you might need extra help, at no additional cost.
Kim Y.
UMA Graduate
The support system here is like none other. I have been to many different schools and never received the type of support that you get from UMA — from registration all the way to career services.
Program Outline
Please see the UMA Catalog for required courses in Arkansas, Kansas, and Minnesota.
Healthcare Information Management Associate Degree Program
18 month program2
63 Credits
Core Courses
Introduction to Health Information and the Healthcare Record
3 Credits
Student Success
1 Credits
Healthcare Law, Policies, and Ethics
3 Credits
Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
3 Credits
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding I
2 Credits
Introduction to Computer Office Productivity Applications
3 Credits
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding II
2 Credits
Healthcare Reimbursement & the Revenue Cycle
3 Credits
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding
3 Credits
Information Technology in the Healthcare Environment
3 Credits
Statistics and Data Sets in Healthcare
3 Credits
Career Success
2 Credits
Health Information Leadership Roles, Theories, and Skills
3 Credits
Developing PPE Skills & Certification Preparation
2 Credits
Health Information Professional Practice Experience (PPE)
2 Credits
General Education Courses
English Composition
3 Credits
Interpersonal Professional Communication
3 Credits
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
3 Credits
College Math
3 Credits
Psychology
3 Credits
Human Anatomy & Physiology I
4 Credits
Human Anatomy & Physiology II
3 Credits
Sociology
3 Credits
Core Courses
Introduction to Health Information and the Healthcare Record
3 Credits
Student Success
1 Credits
Healthcare Law, Policies, and Ethics
3 Credits
Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
3 Credits
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding I
2 Credits
Introduction to Computer Office Productivity Applications
3 Credits
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding II
2 Credits
Healthcare Reimbursement & the Revenue Cycle
3 Credits
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding
3 Credits
Information Technology in the Healthcare Environment
3 Credits
Statistics and Data Sets in Healthcare
3 Credits
Career Success
2 Credits
Health Information Leadership Roles, Theories, and Skills
3 Credits
Developing PPE Skills & Certification Preparation
2 Credits
Health Information Professional Practice Experience (PPE)
2 Credits
General Education Courses
English Composition
3 Credits
Interpersonal Professional Communication
3 Credits
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
3 Credits
College Math
3 Credits
Psychology
3 Credits
Human Anatomy & Physiology I
4 Credits
Human Anatomy & Physiology II
3 Credits
Sociology
3 Credits
Robin T.
UMA Graduate
I finally picked up the phone and called. The voice on the other end was overwhelmingly confident I could do it!
Frequently Asked Questions
If this sounds like a good fit for you, you'll need career training to learn the skills needed for entry-level positions in this field. In addition to online education, UMA students in this program also get real-world experience through a practicum (experience in a healthcare setting). In this practicum, you will complete tasks commonly required in a job relating to the field under supervision. When you complete your degree program with UMA, you can apply for entry-level jobs in health information management.
Absolutely. While the basic training may be similar between schools that offer health information management degrees online, UMA is pleased to offer an extensive list of student services to help you overcome academic challenges. UMA is a school that offers a Health Information Management program that includes one-on-one academic support, help with writing your resume, job interview coaching, and job search assistance.
One of the significant hurdles in health information management is maintaining the accuracy and completeness of patient data. As healthcare providers gather vast amounts of information, it's crucial to verify that every piece of data is both accurate and comprehensive. While this task can be daunting, it's fundamentally important for delivering high-quality patient care.
As a Health Information Management student at UMA, you’ll take courses on a wide range of topics. You’ll receive an introduction to health information and records, leadership roles in healthcare settings, cybersecurity as it relates to health information, procedural terminology codes, and so much more. To see a typical list of the courses you would take at UMA, see the courses section on this page or consult the UMA Catalog.
Entry-level positions for this career field typically start in the lower range of estimated salaries, with the lowest 10 percent being $31,710 or less annually. UMA's programs prepare graduates for such entry-level positions and its median graduate salaries generally tend to be in this range, based on self-reported data from graduates.
The median annual salary for all those in this career field (not just UMA graduates) is $47,180. The top 10 percent of earners in this career field earned more than $75,460. In other words, not many people in this field make more than this amount annually.
Note: Salaries may vary according to location and other factors.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Medical Records Specialists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm#tab-1
Online courses at UMA are designed to include flexible study time. Complete your classwork in the morning, at lunch, or in the middle of the night. It's up to you. UMA is here to help you every step of the way with online academic support, a student-friendly online library, 24/7 tech support, and more. Visit the UMA Online page to learn more.
Although completion times do vary by individual student, you could earn your health information management associate degree in 18 months and be on your way to pursuing an entry-level role in the field.2
Ultimate Medical Academy is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES.org), a national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Though UMA is not a university or college, we offer online diplomas and degrees as well as blended healthcare programs, some of which offer on-site externships/practicums and certification preparation — all intended to put you in a position to pursue a healthcare career after graduation.
The Health Information Management accreditor of Ultimate Medical Academy is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Ultimate Medical Academy's accreditation for the associate degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2033-2034. All inquiries about the program's accreditation status should be directed by mail to the CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
For more details, please visit our Health Information Management Program Resource Guide. This guide covers the what’s and why’s in more detail.
Browse the 2024 UMA Catalog
Take a look at the UMA Catalog for comprehensive information on programs, course descriptions, admissions, finance, and more.
Advance Your Education
Your associate degree doesn’t need to be the end of your education. UMA maintains agreements with various educational partners where you may be able to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in select areas of study.
Explore Financial Aid
If you qualify for financial aid, we’ll walk you through the process. Multiple resources may be available to help pay for the cost of your education. Our Student Finance advisors are committed to helping you understand your options.
Take the Healthcare Career Quiz
Try our fun and informational Healthcare Career Quiz to better understand which UMA program might align with your goals. In just a few minutes, answer some simple personality questions and get your results instantly!