Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Associate Degree in Health Information Management in Fennimore, WI

CAHIIM Initial Accreditation Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI, 53809
State: Wisconsin (WI)
Degree level: Associate Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Online
Program Director: Jennifer Lame , MPH, RHIA
Phone: (608) 822-2652
Email: jlame@swtc.edu
Last accreditation date: 05/04/2018
Next review cycle: 2028-2029
Progress report status: Progress Report satisfactory and completed

Our take

The fully online AAS serving rural southwest Wisconsin.

Southwest Tech is in Fennimore, a town of about 2,500, and that is precisely the point: this program exists so people in rural southwest Wisconsin can reach RHIT eligibility without moving. It is delivered fully online, holds CAHIIM accreditation with its next review in 2028-2029, and is led by Jennifer Lame, who holds an MPH and the RHIA.

HIM is one of the few healthcare careers you can genuinely do remotely, which matters in a region where the nearest large hospital may be an hour away. Regional systems like Gundersen, SSM Health, and UW Health hire coders and records staff across their Wisconsin footprints, and remote coding roles open the rest of the map. As part of the Wisconsin Technical College System, tuition stays at in-state technical-college rates.

What this means

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is accredited and your degree counts.

Because Southwest Wisconsin Technical 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 Wisconsin picture

Where Southwest Wisconsin Technical College sits among Wisconsin's 16 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

Wisconsin has 16 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 12 of them at the associate degree level. 16 of the 16 offer online delivery, and this one is fully online.

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

WI programs

At this level

Online capable

2,870

HIM jobs in WI

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in Wisconsin.

The occupation most RHIT-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In Wisconsin the median is $60,280 a year, 18% above the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Wisconsin

Median annual: $60,280
10th percentile: $46,750
90th percentile: $79,720
Employed: 2,870

National (for reference)

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

Accreditation history

Recent CAHIIM actions on this program

December 2018

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

Source: CAHIIM Program Directory listing for Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. Refreshed quarterly.

FAQ

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College HIM program: common questions.

Is the Southwest Wisconsin Technical College health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The associate degree in Health Information Management at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College holds Initial accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 05/04/2018, with its next review scheduled for the 2028-2029 cycle.

Does Southwest Wisconsin Technical 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 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College program online?

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

What do medical records specialists earn in Wisconsin?

Medical records specialists in the Wisconsin earn a median of $60,280 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 18% above the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has 16 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 12 at the associate degree level. 16 of them offer online delivery. See our full Wisconsin ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in Wisconsin, ranked

How Southwest Wisconsin Technical 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 Wisconsin

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in Wisconsin

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