Degrees / North Carolina / Associate Degree

McDowell Technical Community College

Associate Degree in Health Information Management in Marion, NC

CAHIIM Continuing Accreditation Campus Based, Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 54 College Drive, Marion, NC, 28752
State: North Carolina (NC)
Degree level: Associate Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Campus Based, Online
Program Director: Judy Butner , RHIT, CHPS, Director
Phone: (828) 652-0620, Ext. 620
Email: jhbutner91@go.mcdowelltech.edu
Last accreditation date: 02/24/2021
Next review cycle: 2028-2029
Progress report status: Progress Report satisfactory and completed

What this means

McDowell Technical Community College is accredited and your degree counts.

Because McDowell Technical 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 2028-2029.

The North Carolina picture

Where McDowell Technical Community College sits among North Carolina's 13 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

North Carolina has 13 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 11 of them at the associate degree level. 12 of the 13 offer online delivery, and this one is available online or on campus.

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

NC programs

At this level

Online capable

6,760

HIM jobs in NC

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in North Carolina.

The occupation most RHIT-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In North Carolina the median is $49,620 a year, 3% below the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

North Carolina

Median annual: $49,620
10th percentile: $36,840
90th percentile: $79,670
Employed: 6,760

National (for reference)

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

Accreditation history

Recent CAHIIM actions on this program

October 2021

Accept the Progress Report. Rationale: The program is compliant with all Standards. Accreditation Award: Continuing Accreditation.
March 2021

Grant seven years of Continuing Accreditation with a Progress Report. The program remains non-compliant with the following Standards: The following Standard is Partially Met: Standard 24. The Curriculum. The following curriculum competencies remain Partially Met: I.A.1., III.A.2., III.H.1., V.B.1., V.B.2., VI.C.1., VI.F.4., VI.F.5. The following curriculum competency remains Not Met: II.B.3. New Degree Program Search New Certificate Program Search

Source: CAHIIM Program Directory listing for McDowell Technical Community College. Refreshed quarterly.

FAQ

McDowell Technical Community College HIM program: common questions.

Is the McDowell Technical Community College health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

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

Does McDowell Technical 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 McDowell Technical Community College program online?

Partly. CAHIIM lists delivery as Campus Based, Online, so you can take it on campus in Marion or online.

What do medical records specialists earn in North Carolina?

Medical records specialists in the North Carolina earn a median of $49,620 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 3% below the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in North Carolina?

North Carolina has 13 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 11 at the associate degree level. 12 of them offer online delivery. See our full North Carolina ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in North Carolina, ranked

How McDowell Technical 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 North Carolina

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in North Carolina

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