Bakersfield College

Associate Degree in Health Information Management in Bakersfield, CA

CAHIIM Initial Accreditation Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA, 93305
State: California (CA)
Degree level: Associate Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Online
Program Director: Bridget Nixon-Calderon , MSHIM, RHIA, CHDA
Phone: (661) 396-4993
Email: bridget.nixon@bakersfieldcollege.edu
Last accreditation date: 02/24/2021
Next review cycle: 2028-2029
Progress report status: Progress Report satisfactory and completed

What this means

Bakersfield College is accredited and your degree counts.

Because Bakersfield College holds Initial 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.

"Initial Accreditation" means the program received CAHIIM accreditation recently and is on a shortened review cycle to confirm continued compliance. Graduates are fully eligible for AHIMA exams. The status simply signals a newer program.

The California picture

Where Bakersfield College sits among California's 13 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

California has 13 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 7 of them at the associate degree level. 13 of the 13 offer online delivery, and this one is fully online.

We score every California program on a seven-factor methodology covering accreditation maturity, director credentials, pathways, delivery, employer pipeline, cost, and reputation. See how Bakersfield College compares in our ranking of the best HIM programs in California.

CA programs

At this level

Online capable

18,700

HIM jobs in CA

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in California.

The occupation most RHIT-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In California the median is $61,810 a year, 21% above the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

California

Median annual: $61,810
10th percentile: $43,800
90th percentile: $102,470
Employed: 18,700

National (for reference)

Median annual: $51,140
90th percentile: $81,150

FAQ

Bakersfield College HIM program: common questions.

Is the Bakersfield College health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The associate degree in Health Information Management at Bakersfield College holds Initial accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 02/24/2021, with its next review scheduled for the 2028-2029 cycle.

Does Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield College program online?

Yes. CAHIIM lists this program as fully online, so you can complete it from anywhere in California or out of state.

What do medical records specialists earn in California?

Medical records specialists in the California earn a median of $61,810 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 21% above the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in California?

California has 13 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 7 at the associate degree level. 13 of them offer online delivery. See our full California ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in California, ranked

How Bakersfield 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 California

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in California

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 Bakersfield College, last refreshed May 13, 2026, and BLS OEWS May 2025. Accreditation status can change between refreshes. Always verify directly with CAHIIM before enrolling.