RHIT Certification

The RHIT is the credential that most people in health information management start with. It's two years of school, a moderately difficult exam, and a credential that employers actually recognize as the field's standard. If you graduate from a CAHIIM-accredited associate program, sitting for the RHIT is the obvious next step.

AHIMA issues the RHIT. CAHIIM accredits the associate programs that qualify you to sit for it. Without the CAHIIM-accredited degree, the exam is not available to you.

Eligibility

One path to eligibility: graduate from a CAHIIM-accredited associate degree program in health information management. That's it. No work-experience-only route, no test-only route. The associate degree is the gate.

216 programs currently qualify, listed in our directory and at the official CAHIIM directory.

Exam structure

The RHIT exam is computer-based, 130 scored multiple-choice questions plus a small number of unscored pretest items. Test time is three and a half hours.

AHIMA breaks the content into several domains covering data analysis and use, coding, revenue cycle management, regulatory compliance, and health information protection. The exact domain weights are published in the official content outline and revised periodically.

Preparation

A standard prep sequence:

• Work through AHIMA's official RHIT prep materials. The publisher is the credentialing body, so the content alignment is direct.
• Use the AHIMA practice exams. Time yourself. Identify weak domains and re-study those program areas.
• Review classification systems (ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT). Coding accuracy is heavily tested.
• Review HIPAA and information protection. The compliance domain is consistently a stumbling block.
• Schedule the exam for 4-6 weeks after graduation. Long enough to study, short enough that program material is fresh.

Wage impact

BLS does not publish RHIT-specific wage data, but Medical Records Specialists (SOC 29-2072) is the occupation most RHITs work in:

Source: BLS OEWS Medical Records Specialists (SOC 29-2072), May 2025.

New RHITs typically enter at the 10th-25th percentile range. Wages rise with experience, with employer type (hospitals tend to pay more than physician offices), and with specialty work like coding certification (CCS), clinical documentation improvement, or cancer registry credentials.

RHIT to RHIA path

The RHIT is not a permanent ceiling. Many RHITs complete a CAHIIM-accredited bachelor's degree (often a degree-completion program that accepts associate credits) and then sit for the RHIA. The bachelor's adds about two years of school, costs more than the associate, and opens the manager track.

Whether to do this immediately, after some work experience, or never depends on your career trajectory. See the bachelor's pillar and the RHIA vs RHIT comparison for the full decision.

Maintaining the credential

The RHIT does not expire, but maintaining active status requires continuing education hours every two years. CE is earned through AHIMA conferences, approved coursework, and qualifying professional activities. AHIMA's website is the authoritative source for current CE requirements by membership type.

Frequently asked

Next steps

• Associate degree pillar: the 216 programs that qualify you for the RHIT.
• RHIA vs RHIT: choosing between the two foundational credentials.
• CAHIIM accreditation: the gating factor.
• AHIMA RHIT page for current fees, dates, and application.

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Sources

• AHIMA. RHIT exam content outline, eligibility, continuing education policy.
• CAHIIM Program Directory.
• BLS OEWS Medical Records Specialists (SOC 29-2072), May 2025.