Laurel Ridge Community College

Associate Degree in Health Information Management in Middletown, VA

CAHIIM Initial Accreditation Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA, 22645
State: Virginia (VA)
Degree level: Associate Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Online
Program Director: Kathy Ware , MS, RHIA, CPMA, CDEO, CPC, CPB, AAPC
Phone: (540) 868-7160
Email: kware@laurelridge.edu
Last accreditation date: 08/10/2017
Next review cycle: 2027-2028

What this means

Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited and your degree counts.

Because Laurel Ridge Community 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 Virginia picture

Where Laurel Ridge Community College sits among Virginia's 6 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

Virginia has 6 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 5 of them at the associate degree level. 5 of the 6 offer online delivery, and this one is fully online.

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

VA programs

At this level

Online capable

4,630

HIM jobs in VA

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in Virginia.

The occupation most RHIT-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In Virginia the median is $53,290 a year, 4% above the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Virginia

Median annual: $53,290
10th percentile: $37,630
90th percentile: $78,680
Employed: 4,630

National (for reference)

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

FAQ

Laurel Ridge Community College HIM program: common questions.

Is the Laurel Ridge Community College health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The associate degree in Health Information Management at Laurel Ridge Community College holds Initial accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 08/10/2017, with its next review scheduled for the 2027-2028 cycle.

Does Laurel Ridge 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 Laurel Ridge Community College program online?

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

What do medical records specialists earn in Virginia?

Medical records specialists in the Virginia earn a median of $53,290 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 4% above the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in Virginia?

Virginia has 6 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 5 at the associate degree level. 5 of them offer online delivery. See our full Virginia ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in Virginia, ranked

How Laurel Ridge 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 Virginia

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in Virginia

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 Laurel Ridge 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.