Health Information Technology Certification in Arizona - AZ

By Eric Toupin, allied health world contributing writer
Published: September, 14 2010

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Registered Health Information Technician certification is offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), an independent credentialing organization of health management professionals that was established in 1928. RHIT certification in Arizona consists of the completion of a course accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), and the subsequent successful completion of the AHIMA exam for HIT professionals. Certification establishes professional credibility and drastically improves employment opportunities for rising HIT students.

Arizona is home to colleges that offer CAHIIM accredited HIT courses. While many students in the state attend on-campus classes where they are available, some choose to take advantage of distance learning programs, which offer an alternate, more flexible route to certification. Distance learning allows students to pursue their education goals from within a constricting work schedule, and makes courses from across the country available to them regardless of their location. According to the United States Department of Education, more than two-thirds of the nation's universities offer some courses and degree programs through distance learning.

In addition to basic RHIT certification, many HIT professionals pursue specialized credentials such as clinical coding certification or tumor registry certification to further improve their opportunities.