Health Information Technology Certification in California - CA

Record keeping and information management are extremely important in the field of healthcare, as accurate patient records and medical information, including everything from patients' medical history to physicians' diagnoses to prescriptions to test results, are essential to providing quality healthcare at a low cost. Information technology has made it possible to store more data much more efficiently than is possible with paper-based systems, and information technicians are critical in ensuring that electronic record systems are running efficiently and accurately. It is therefore extremely important that health information technicians be qualified and experienced.

Though certification is not required by the state of California, most employers prefer to hire credentialed or certified technicians. The most widely recognized health information technology certification in California is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). The AHIMA offers certification as a Registered Health Information Technicians(RHIT). To become certified as an RHIT,  you must complete a two-year health information technology associate's degree at an accredited program or school and pass an AHIMA-administered exam. RHITs can also seek credentialing in specialized areas, like software coding or Medicare recordkeeping.

Health information technicians who have received RHIT certification will find job opportunities opening up for them in California, in cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.