Program information
- Address
- One College Drive, Bentonville, AR, 72712
- State
- Arkansas (AR)
- Degree level
- Associate Degree
- Subject area
- Health Information Management
- Content delivery
- Campus Based, Online
- Program Director
- Tina-marie Cikanek , MBA, RHIA, CHPS, CCS
- Phone
- (479) 936-5118
- tcikanek@nwacc.edu
- Last accreditation date
- 02/09/2026
- Next review cycle
- 2033-2034
What this means
Northwest Arkansas Community College is accredited and your degree counts.
Because Northwest Arkansas Community College holds Continuing accreditation from CAHIIM, graduates of this associate degree are eligible to sit for AHIMA's RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) exam. That eligibility is the whole reason CAHIIM accreditation matters: without a CAHIIM-accredited degree, the exam is closed to you.
"Continuing Accreditation" is the standard status for established programs. The next scheduled review is 2033-2034.
The Arkansas picture
Where Northwest Arkansas Community College sits among Arkansas's 5 CAHIIM-accredited programs.
Arkansas has 5 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 4 of them at the associate degree level. 4 of the 5 offer online delivery, and this one is available online or on campus.
We score every Arkansas program on a seven-factor methodology covering accreditation maturity, director credentials, pathways, delivery, employer pipeline, cost, and reputation. See how Northwest Arkansas Community College compares in our ranking of the best HIM programs in Arkansas.
AR programs
At this level
Online capable
HIM jobs in AR
What the work pays
Medical records specialist pay in Arkansas.
The occupation most RHIT-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In Arkansas the median is $41,740 a year, 18% below the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Arkansas
- Median annual
- $41,740
- 10th percentile
- $33,920
- 90th percentile
- $65,090
- Employed
- 1,920
National (for reference)
- Median annual
- $51,140
- 90th percentile
- $81,150
FAQ
Northwest Arkansas Community College HIM program: common questions.
Is the Northwest Arkansas Community College health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?
Yes. The associate degree in Health Information Management at Northwest Arkansas Community College holds Continuing accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 02/09/2026, with its next review scheduled for the 2033-2034 cycle.
Does Northwest Arkansas Community College qualify me to sit for the RHIT exam?
Yes. Graduating from this CAHIIM-accredited associate degree makes you eligible for AHIMA's RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) exam. CAHIIM accreditation is the eligibility gate; without it the exam is not available to you.
Is the Northwest Arkansas Community College program online?
Partly. CAHIIM lists delivery as Campus Based, Online, so you can take it on campus in Bentonville or online.
What do medical records specialists earn in Arkansas?
Medical records specialists in the Arkansas earn a median of $41,740 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 18% below the national median. The national median is $51,140.
How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in Arkansas?
Arkansas has 5 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 4 at the associate degree level. 4 of them offer online delivery. See our full Arkansas ranking for how they compare.
Keep going
Next steps.
Best HIM programs in Arkansas, ranked
How Northwest Arkansas Community College stacks up on our seven-factor methodology.
Associate degree in HIM guide
Curriculum, cost, and what the degree actually gets you.
RHIT certification guide
The exam this degree qualifies you for: structure, prep, wage impact.
Also in Arkansas
Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in Arkansas
Same degree level
Other associate degree programs in health information management
Data on this page is sourced from the official CAHIIM Program Directory listing for Northwest Arkansas Community College, last refreshed , and BLS OEWS May 2025. Accreditation status can change between refreshes. Always verify directly with CAHIIM before enrolling.