Degrees / Texas / Associate Degree

Panola College

Associate Degree in Health Information Management in Carthage, TX

CAHIIM Continuing Accreditation Campus Based, Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 1109 W Panola, Carthage, TX, 75633
State: Texas (TX)
Degree level: Associate Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Campus Based, Online
Program Director: Rachel Weekly , RHIT
Phone: (903) 693-1116
Email: rweekly@panola.edu
Last accreditation date: 11/12/2020
Next review cycle: 2027-2028
Progress report status: Progress Report satisfactory and completed

What this means

Panola College is accredited and your degree counts.

Because Panola 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 2027-2028.

The Texas picture

Where Panola College sits among Texas's 26 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

Texas has 26 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 21 of them at the associate degree level. 25 of the 26 offer online delivery, and this one is available online or on campus.

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

TX programs

At this level

Online capable

17,210

HIM jobs in TX

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in Texas.

The occupation most RHIT-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In Texas the median is $48,860 a year, 4% below the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Texas

Median annual: $48,860
10th percentile: $34,440
90th percentile: $78,390
Employed: 17,210

National (for reference)

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

Accreditation history

Recent CAHIIM actions on this program

November 2020

Grant seven years of Continuing Accreditation with a Progress Report. The program remains non-compliant with the following Standards: The following Standards are Partially Met: Standard 4. Program Goals. The action plan has been updated, however, the communities of interest goal remains partially met. Standard 8. Communities of Interest Goal. The August 2020 PEP does not include service to the HIM community. However, information was submitted that showed that the program made a generous donation

Source: CAHIIM Program Directory listing for Panola College. Refreshed quarterly.

FAQ

Panola College HIM program: common questions.

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

Yes. The associate degree in Health Information Management at Panola College holds Continuing accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 11/12/2020, with its next review scheduled for the 2027-2028 cycle.

Does Panola 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 Panola College program online?

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

What do medical records specialists earn in Texas?

Medical records specialists in the Texas earn a median of $48,860 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 4% below the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in Texas?

Texas has 26 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 21 at the associate degree level. 25 of them offer online delivery. See our full Texas ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in Texas, ranked

How Panola 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 Texas

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in Texas

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