Before you choose a program
- AHIMA lists qualifying bachelor's, master's, and approved post-baccalaureate HIM routes for RHIA eligibility.
- A degree labeled health informatics or healthcare administration is not automatically an RHIA pathway.
- Ask for a transcript evaluation and a remaining-course plan before comparing price or completion time.
Choose your HIM outcome before another degree
If you want an HIM credential, start with the eligibility rules. If you want a particular job, start with actual job descriptions. An employer seeking coding expertise may ask for different training than an employer hiring an HIM department supervisor. Treat the job title and the credential as separate questions.
For the RHIA, AHIMA lists several educational routes, including the academic requirements of a CAHIIM-accredited HIM bachelor's or master's program and an approved HIM Certificate of the Degree, or post-baccalaureate program. AHIMA explicitly says health informatics is not currently supported for RHIA eligibility. An appealing degree title is not enough.
If you are deciding between the two fields, our HIM and health informatics guide explains the distinction. Save the curriculum and credential-eligibility statement for every program you consider.
Compare three routes for an existing degree holder
A qualifying post-baccalaureate HIM route: This is worth investigating when you already meet the general degree requirement and need the HIM curriculum. Ask whether the exact award is an approved RHIA-qualifying pathway. A certificate in medical coding, analytics, or health informatics is not interchangeable with that pathway.
A CAHIIM-accredited HIM master's: This can make sense if you want graduate study and the particular program supports your credential goal. Check prerequisites, the program's CAHIIM listing, and its written RHIA statement. Do not assume that every accredited health-related master's qualifies.
A second bachelor's or degree-completion route: This may be practical when a school accepts enough of your prior coursework and provides the HIM preparation you need. Ask how much of your previous degree satisfies this program's requirements. A high transfer-credit total can still leave a long sequence of required HIM courses.
Compare these routes by the courses and experiences you still need, not by the academic level alone. A master's is not automatically faster, and a certificate is not automatically the cheapest after prerequisites, fees, and placement costs.
Get a transcript review that answers the right question
Send transcripts from every institution you attended and ask for a written evaluation. Course descriptions or syllabi may help the school assess older or differently named classes. Keep a copy of the evaluation and check which catalog year it follows.
The useful result is a plan showing what remains: prerequisites, HIM courses, general education, professional practice, and any minimum credits that must be completed at the institution. WGU's transfer admissions information is one example of why transcript review belongs in the admissions process. Its policies should not be assumed to apply at other schools.
- Which courses satisfy specific requirements, and which count only as electives?
- Are there age limits or minimum grades for transferred science, statistics, or technical courses?
- Which courses must be taken in sequence, and are all offered every term?
- Can I receive the evaluation before committing to enrollment or a nonrefundable deposit?
- Does this plan leave me eligible for the credential I named, assuming I complete it successfully?
Account for professional practice, even online
An online HIM program can still include a professional practice experience. Your ability to complete online coursework at night does not establish that an approved practice site can host you at night.
For example, WGU's HIM curriculum describes both a technical professional practice experience using an electronic health record platform and a management experience involving a site and manager. That is a reason to read the course descriptions, rather than treating the word online as a complete schedule description.
Ask whether your existing employer could serve as a site, who approves that arrangement, and what happens if a placement is delayed. Experience in healthcare may be useful, but it does not automatically waive a required course or practice experience.
Compare your remaining cost, not the advertised degree price
Request an estimate based on your evaluated transcript. Include tuition for remaining coursework, mandatory fees, books and software, placement-related expenses, and the credential exam. Separate grants or employer contributions from loans when calculating what you will pay.
For an illustrative comparison, 30 remaining credits at $350 per credit would mean $10,500 in tuition before fees. That is arithmetic, not a quote from a school. A program with a lower per-credit rate can still cost more if it requires more credits or additional enrollment terms.
With term-based tuition, ask what happens if a prerequisite, practice placement, or course repeat adds another term. Also ask how dropping below a planned enrollment load affects financial aid. Your plan should still work if you need a slower semester.
Send admissions a specific request
A useful first message is: 'I hold a bachelor's in [field] and want [RHIA eligibility or a named job goal]. Please identify the exact program and award that fits, the prerequisites, the transcript-evaluation process, and any professional practice requirements. Can you provide an estimated remaining-course plan and total cost?'
Ask for the response in writing and save it with the current CAHIIM directory entry. If the answer describes the institution's accreditation but never identifies the specific HIM program, follow up before applying.
If RHIT is your intended credential instead, check AHIMA's RHIT requirements. A bachelor's in another field does not replace the qualifying associate-level HIM education. Our RHIA versus RHIT comparison can help you choose which question to bring to admissions.
Questions before you apply
Can I take the RHIA exam with any bachelor's degree?
No. Your degree and HIM education must satisfy one of AHIMA's listed eligibility routes. A bachelor's in another field alone does not establish eligibility.
Do I have to earn a second bachelor's in HIM?
Not necessarily. A qualifying post-baccalaureate HIM pathway or accredited HIM master's may be an option. Ask the school to identify the exact pathway and confirm it against AHIMA's current requirements.
Will my previous degree remove all general education requirements?
That depends on the receiving school's transfer policies and transcript evaluation. Ask which requirements are satisfied and which remain before estimating time or cost.
Sources and review notes
Official sources checked November 11, 2026. Requirements can change. Ask the program for current written admissions, cost, and placement information before enrolling. School examples illustrate a policy or curriculum, not a promise of admission or an endorsement.