Guide / Accreditation

CAHIIM accreditation, in plain language.

CAHIIM is the gatekeeper between a health information management degree and the AHIMA credential exams. If a program isn't CAHIIM-accredited, graduating from it doesn't qualify you for the RHIA or RHIT. This guide covers what CAHIIM is, what the accreditation actually means, and how to verify any program.

By Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor / Last updated May 13, 2026 / ~7 min read

Key takeaways

01CAHIIM is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. It is the recognized accreditation body for the field.
02350 programs currently hold CAHIIM accreditation. 239 have Continuing Accreditation status; 111 have Initial Accreditation. Both qualify graduates for AHIMA exams.
03Without CAHIIM accreditation, a program does not qualify graduates for the RHIA or RHIT exam. No exception, no workaround.
04The official CAHIIM Program Directory is the source of truth. Accreditation status changes between annual reviews, so always verify before enrolling.
05CAHIIM is institutionally distinct from AHIMA. AHIMA issues credentials; CAHIIM accredits programs. AHIMA accepts only CAHIIM-accredited program graduates for credential exams.

Most prospective health information management students discover CAHIIM accidentally, usually after enrolling in a program and asking how to take the RHIT or RHIA exam. The answer ("you need to be a graduate of a CAHIIM-accredited program") can come as a surprise. This guide is for the people who'd rather find out before enrolling.

What CAHIIM is

CAHIIM, the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education, is a non-profit accreditation body. It evaluates and accredits academic programs in health information management and health informatics. CAHIIM is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the specialized accreditor for the field.

The role CAHIIM plays is the same role that ABA plays for law schools, AACSB plays for business schools, and LCME plays for medical schools. It is the body that says "this program meets the field's standards."

CAHIIM versus AHIMA

These two organizations get confused often. They are related but distinct.

Organization	What they do
CAHIIM Accredits programs	Evaluates academic programs and grants accreditation. Maintains the directory of accredited programs. Independent of AHIMA but the two are closely aligned.
AHIMA Issues credentials	The American Health Information Management Association. Develops and administers the RHIA, RHIT, CCS, and other credentials. Sets exam eligibility rules, which include the requirement that candidates graduate from a CAHIIM-accredited program.

Organization

What they do

CAHIIM

Accredits programs

Evaluates academic programs and grants accreditation. Maintains the directory of accredited programs. Independent of AHIMA but the two are closely aligned.

AHIMA

Issues credentials

The American Health Information Management Association. Develops and administers the RHIA, RHIT, CCS, and other credentials. Sets exam eligibility rules, which include the requirement that candidates graduate from a CAHIIM-accredited program.

What CAHIIM accreditation tells you

A CAHIIM-accredited program has been independently evaluated and judged to meet the field's curriculum standards, faculty qualifications, student learning outcomes, and operational requirements. The accreditation is a continuous process, not a one-time stamp. Programs are reviewed on a regular cycle and can be placed on probationary status, asked to submit progress reports, or have accreditation withdrawn.

Initial vs Continuing Accreditation

CAHIIM grants two main types of accreditation award:

Initial Accreditation

111 of 350 programs

Granted to programs in the first cycle after CAHIIM accreditation is awarded. The review cycle is shorter (typically with progress reports during the period). Graduates are fully eligible for AHIMA exams.

Continuing Accreditation

239 of 350 programs

The standard status for established programs that have been through one or more review cycles successfully. Reviews typically occur on a 5-7 year cycle. Graduates are fully eligible for AHIMA exams.

Both statuses mean the same thing for your credential eligibility. The distinction is institutional maturity, not program quality.

The accredited program landscape

Here is the current snapshot of all CAHIIM-accredited programs by degree level and by subject area:

By degree level

Associate Degree 216
Baccalaureate Degree 68
Master Degree 50
Undergraduate Certificate 10
Graduate Certificate 6

By subject area

Health Information Management 299
Health Informatics 36
Digital Health Leader 5
Digital Health Professional 4
Public Health Informatics and Technology (for-credit) 1
Public Health Informatics And Technology (Not-for-credit) 1
Clinical Documentation Improvement 1

How to verify any program

The verification process takes about 30 seconds:

Step 1: Open the CAHIIM Program Directory

Go to cahiim.org/programs/program-directory. This is the official, current source.
Step 2: Search by institution name or state

The directory has filters for state, degree level, and subject area. Type the school name into the search field.
Step 3: Click into the program for details

Each listing has a "View Details" link. The detail page shows current accreditation award status, last accreditation date, and the next scheduled review.
Step 4: If the program isn't listed, it's not accredited

The directory is complete. If a program isn't in it, the program does not currently hold CAHIIM accreditation.

A shortcut: our program directory mirrors the CAHIIM data, refreshed quarterly, with filters for state and degree level. Use it for browsing. Always verify with the official CAHIIM directory before enrolling.

What if a program loses accreditation while I'm enrolled?

CAHIIM has procedures for programs that fall out of compliance. The most common path is a warning or probationary status, with the program given time to fix specific issues. Accreditation withdrawal is rare and typically follows multiple unresolved compliance issues.

If you're currently enrolled in a program that's placed on probation, you can usually still graduate and sit for AHIMA exams. Talk to your program director, and check the CAHIIM directory for the program's current status if you have any doubts.

Frequently asked

What is CAHIIM?

CAHIIM is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. It is the recognized accreditation body for health information management and health informatics programs in the United States. AHIMA only accepts RHIA and RHIT exam candidates from CAHIIM-accredited programs.

Why does CAHIIM accreditation matter?

Without graduating from a CAHIIM-accredited program, you cannot sit for the RHIA (bachelor's level) or RHIT (associate level) exam. These are the two foundational AHIMA credentials in the field. Choosing a non-accredited program means closing off the standard credentialing path.

What is the difference between Initial and Continuing Accreditation?

Continuing Accreditation is the standard ongoing status for established programs, with reviews on the standard 5-7 year cycle. Initial Accreditation is given to newer programs and includes a shortened review cycle to confirm continued compliance. Both qualify graduates for AHIMA exams; the distinction signals program maturity, not quality.

Is DeVry CAHIIM accredited?

Verify any specific institution's current accreditation status using the official CAHIIM Program Directory (linked in this guide). Accreditation status can change. The directory is the source of truth and is updated as programs gain, renew, or lose accreditation.

Is University of Phoenix CAHIIM accredited?

Same answer as above. Verify with the official CAHIIM Program Directory. The directory lists every currently accredited program by institution name and includes the date of most recent accreditation action.

Next steps

CAHIIM Program Directory (official). Verify any specific program here.
Our directory for filterable browsing across all 350 accredited programs.
Health information management degree pillar for the four degree-level paths.
RHIA and RHIT certification guides.

Sources

CAHIIM Program Directory. Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.
AHIMA. Credential eligibility for RHIA and RHIT.

Written by

Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor

Taylor Rupe is the founder and editor of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com. With degrees in psychology from the University of Washington and computer science from Oregon State University, Taylor focuses on translating workforce data and program accreditation records into something prospective students can actually use.