Mountain Empire Community College

Associate Degree in Health Information Management in Big Stone Gap, VA

CAHIIM Continuing Accreditation Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA, 24219
State: Virginia (VA)
Degree level: Associate Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Online
Program Director: Sabrina Ward , RHIA, CPC, CCS-P
Phone: (276) 523-9060
Email: sward@mecc.edu
Last accreditation date: 11/29/2023
Next review cycle: 2032-2033

What this means

Mountain Empire Community College is accredited and your degree counts.

Because Mountain Empire 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 2032-2033.

The Virginia picture

Where Mountain Empire 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 Mountain Empire 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

Mountain Empire Community College HIM program: common questions.

Is the Mountain Empire Community College health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The associate degree in Health Information Management at Mountain Empire Community College holds Continuing accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 11/29/2023, with its next review scheduled for the 2032-2033 cycle.

Does Mountain Empire 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 Mountain Empire 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 Mountain Empire 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 Mountain Empire 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.