Certificate in Health Information Management

One of the Top Online Health Information Programs in the Nation

Our online Health Information Management programs will prepare you for the business side of healthcare.

You’ll learn informatics, quality assurance, compliance, medical coding, and management. Upon graduating, you will be eligible to sit for the national credentialing examination to become a Registered Health Information Administrator RHIA). Credentialed graduates hold positions in data management, finance, compliance, health record management, and other areas.
Within six months of graduation, more than 90% of graduates are employed in Health Information Management-related positions.
OverviewAdmission CriteriaCurriculumHIM OptionsFAQsDepartment Home

Program Overview

Our students are annually honored with scholarships from both the American Health Information Management Association and the state association in New Jersey.

Students can obtain a:

  • B.S. solo degree or B.S. joint degree with affiliated college
  • Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Management
  • Certificate in medical coding

Our online programs may be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Our students apply after having completed general education courses at other institutions, or one of our affiliate colleges or universities.

Fast Facts:

  • Nationally ranked as one of the top online HIM programs
  • Specialization in medical coding, health care informatics, information governance and health care leadership.
  • One of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S.
  • Graduates are prepared for over 75 careers intersecting medicine, science, business and information technology.
  • Fully online program offered full-time and part-time
  • Experienced faculty provide support and mentoring
  • Rutgers is the #1 college nationally for the study of health professions according to College Factual.

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) LogoWe are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of health Informatics and Information Management CAHIIM.

The program is based on the competencies required by the American Health Information Association AHIMA) which can be found on the website of our accrediting agency, the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management CAHIIM):

https://www.cahiim.org/accreditation/health-information-management/curriculum-requirements

Demand is on the rise in this field, due to an aging population and an increase in the number of insured people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 17 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.

As our curriculum incorporates medicine, management, finance, information technology, and law throughout the program, graduates can choose from a wide variety of workplace settings. More than 95 percent of our graduates find jobs in their field with six months of obtaining their degree.

Places that hire health information professionals include hospitals, rehab centers, private health care practices, software companies, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare associations, insurance companies, and research laboratories. Job title of past graduates include HIM director, coding specialist, clinical documentation specialist, compliance officer, privacy officer, director of IT applications, and EHR implementation specialist.

Admissions Criteria

Requirements for all health information management degree and certificate programs:

  • August 15 deadline for Fall Admissions. Apply now for the Bachelor of Health Information Management.
  • An overall minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
  • 59 credits of general education prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better. In addition to general education courses in writing and liberal arts and sciences, prerequisites must include: Anatomy and Physiology (8 credits), College Algebra (3 credits), Statistics (3 credits), and Computer Science.
  • Submission of essay stating why applicant has selected HIM as a program and/or profession.
  • Submission of official transcripts* of all previous college courses as well as an updated transcript from the affiliate institution, if applicable.
  • Submission of documentation indicating courses in progress and/or to be completed prior to enrollment**

* Students who have attended a foreign college or university are required to submit an official English Translation of the academic credits from the World Education Service as well as an official transcript from their college..

Students take pre-requisites at an affiliate school or any other regionally accredited school. Students pursuing the Solo Degree option should complete the course requirements outlined at the curriculum page: https://apps.shp.rutgers.edu/projects/CourseCatalog/RGs/RGview.cfm?pcode=HIM1

Affiliate schools have a minimum number of pre-requisite courses required. Students should also apply directly to those institutions, with the exception of Thomas Edison State University, where they apply to Rutgers SHP.

Those with a previous bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution who do not wish to earn a second degree may pursue a certificate in HIM. In order to maintain eligibility for the RHIA credentialing exam, the certificate is 49 credits to cover the required competencies.

Pre-requisite Courses
(may be transferred from previous degree if passed with grade of C or better within the past 10 years).

Applicants must show that prerequisite courses are complete or in progress with planned completion prior to the Fall start of HIM courses.

Algebra for Coll. Stud. (3) (or higher math)
Statistics (3)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (8)
Financial Accounting (3)

hose with a previous baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution within the United States or a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university outside the US are not required to complete any of the general education courses other than the prerequisites listed below. An applicant who holds a degree from an accredited college or university will apply as a second-degree student.

Pre-requisite Courses

(may be transferred from previous degree if passed with grade of C or better within the past 10 years). 

Applicants must show that prerequisite courses are complete or in progress with planned completion prior to the Fall start of HIM courses.

Algebra for Coll. Stud. (3) (or higher math)
Statistics (3)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (8)
Financial Accounting (3)

Applicants who already have completed an A.A. or an A.S from a N.J. community college may pursue the Solo Degree option. Students pursuing the Solo Degree option should follow course requirements outlined at the curriculum page: https://apps.shp.rutgers.edu/projects/CourseCatalog/RGs/RGview.cfm?pcode=HIM1 .

Students with an applied associate degree in health information technology may be able to transfer some of the course work into the bachelor’s degree.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate and be computer literate as many courses in the program are online.

Applicants must have completed Anatomy and Physiology I & II with a grade of C or better prior to the start of program courses. Upon entry into the program, students will study disease pathology and the format and content of health records.

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science Health Information degree program consists of 61 credits which are taken after students have completed all required general education credits at a previous college/university or at one of our affiliates. General education courses, completed prior to entry can range from 59-70 credits depending on the affiliate institution.

Those who have a B.S. degree can pursue a second B.S. degree or a 49-credit certificate that will make them eligible for the RHIA credential exam in HIM.

The Medical Coding certificate is a 21-credit curriculum for those who want to become medical coders in hospitals, physician offices, or insurance companies.

 

 

Students enter with 59 general education courses taken at another institution. They take 61 credits at SHP to complete their BS HIM degree.
Curriculum

Students take core requirements at a partner school and then complete 61 credits at SHP to earn their B.S. degree.
Curriculum

Those with a previous bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution who do not wish to pursue a second degree may take fewer courses and receive a certificate in HIM.

Curriculum

This 61-credit program is for students who already have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Curriculum

In our fully online, 21-credit Medical Coding Certificate Program, students learn to classify medical data from inpatient, outpatient, and physician office records. The ability to effectively and efficiently code data is critical to medical research, medical and health education, and planning and monitoring public health.

A high need for qualified coders can mean flexible job hours, sign-on bonuses, and the potential to work from home. In addition, consulting and travel opportunities are abundant.

Students will study disease pathology and the format and content of health records. Graduates gain an in-depth knowledge of the ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and CPT coding systems as well as reimbursement systems used in the United States.

Students who complete the coding certificate courses can continue on and achieve a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management. All courses in the certificate program count toward the BS HIM degree.

Required courses click here.

Questions? Please contact us at HIM@shp.rutgers.edu

HIM Options

Area of Comparison MSHIM BSHIM Certificate in HIM Medical Coding Certificate
Degree Master of Science in HIM Bachelor of Science in HIM Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in HIM Academic Certificate in Medical Coding
Accreditation Status CAHIIM accreditation in process; in Candidacy Status Accredited by CAHIIM Accredited by CAHIIM
Eligibility to sit for the RHIA exam Yes Yes Yes N/A
Certifications that may be pursued with this education RHIA, CHDA, CHPS RHIA, CCA, CCS, CCS-P, CHDA, CHPS RHIA, CHDA, CHPS CCA, CCS, CCS-P
Starting point Fall Fall Fall Fall
Number of Credits 36 61 49 21
Program length- FT 2 years 2 years (includes 1 summer) 2 years (includes 1 summer; 1 year FT; 1 year PT) N/A
Program length- PT 3 years 3 years 3 years (includes 2 summers) 2 years
Course offering 100% Online Online (except for PPE) Online (except for PPE) 100% Online
Professional Practice Experience (PPE) None 75 hours during the last semester (Spring) 75 hours during the last semester (Spring) None
Admissions requirements
  1. Application with application fee
  2. A bachelor’s degree
  3. College-level statistics
  4. Min GPA 3.0
  5. Personal statement
  6. 2 letters of recommendation
  7. CV or Resume
  8. Computer literacy
  1. Application with application fee
  2. Minimum 59 credits* in specific general education courses (typically satisfied by an AA or AS degree)
  3. Anatomy & Physiology (8 credits*)
  4. College-level math (3 credits*)
  5. College-level statistics (3 credits*)
  6. Computer literacy
  1. Application with application fee
  2. A bachelor’s degree
  3. Anatomy & Physiology (8 credits*)
  4. College-level math (3 credits*)
  5. College-level statistics (3 credits*)
  6. Computer literacy
  1. Application with application fee
  2. A high school diploma or GED
  3. Anatomy & Physiology (8 credits*)
  4. Computer literacy

* Courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.

FAQs

The HIM program prepares the student to work in the business side of health care.

The broad nature of the curriculum in this program prepares graduates for more than 75 careers in all aspects of health care management in multiple venue such as hospitals, physician offices, insurance companies, and compliance offices.

Yes, Rutgers’ HIM program will consider transfer of health information courses (up to 50% of the total credit load, in addition to the general education requirements) depending on their alignment with health information management courses at Rutgers School of Health Professions. For specific details, official transcripts are required for review.

Go to admissions and complete all of the information. Request all prior transcripts be mailed to the address on the application and complete the essay stated on the application by July 31 for Fall admission.

Some courses are eligible for enrollment on a non-matriculating basis.  Student intending to apply for admissions are limited to 12 credits completed as a non-matriculating student.

Yes. The best source for financial aid information is at the Rutgers Student Financial Aid Office.

Yes. Rutgers University and the School of Health Professions offer a limited number of scholarship programs.

Scholarships for admitted HIM students are also offered by the American Health Information Management Association and the New Jersey Health Information Management Association.