Health Information Technology Certification in West Virginia - WV
In West Virginia, you must have at least 2 years of collegiate-level education in health information technology before you can begin working as an HIT professional. Many schools in West Virginia do offer comprehensive associate degree programs that are specifically designed for students that want to work as health information technicians.
It is worth mentioning that these schools also have bachelor degree programs available, which are 4-years in length. This level of degree is not really necessary for entry-level HIT work, but it is a necessity for HIA work. If you are thinking about becoming an administrator at some point, it would be worthwhile to consider this option.
One of the conveniences of HIT degrees in West Virginia is that you can now complete them entirely online. This is great for students that have work and personal obligations that would normally conflict with conventional classroom education.
Regardless of which degree program you choose, these courses will be part of your study focus:
- Introduction to Informatics
- Disease Concepts
- Revenue Cycle Management
- Legal Concepts for Healthcare
- Anatomy and Physiology, Parts I and II
Once you have graduated, you are eligible for health information technology certification in West Virginia. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) administers certification. The credential offered is the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).
By completing an online or campus-based HIT program, aspiring health information technicians in Charleston, Parkersburg, Huntington, and Wheeling will be well-prepared for exciting careers with some of the state’s largest health care facilities, including Wheeling Hospital, Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital, Saint Mary’s Medical Center and Ruby Memorial Hospital.