Alaska / Health information management programs

Best CAHIIM-accredited health information management programs in Alaska, ranked (2026)

Alaska has 1 CAHIIM-accredited HIM program, at the associate level. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. The single UAS AAS scores 87/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Alaska
1

Programs ranked

87

Top score

$61K

AK median HIM wage

1,070

HIM jobs in AK

Key Takeaways

  • University of Alaska Southeast AAS is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Alaska. Sitka. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2032-2033 (the longest review cycle of any state AAS in the country, signaling a strong recent reaccreditation). Fully online. Scores 87/100 on our seven-factor methodology.
  • Program director Terissia Bell holds 6 credentials: MHIIM + BBA + RHIA + CIC + COC + CPC. The combination is unique because it spans both AHIMA (RHIA) and AAPC (CIC = Certified Inpatient Coder, COC = Certified Outpatient Coder, CPC = Certified Professional Coder), making UAS one of the few HIM programs in the country led by a director credentialed in both certifying bodies.
  • No CAHIIM BSHIM or MS in Alaska. AK students who want the RHIA credential or MS in HIM ladder via online out-of-state programs. Weber State (Ogden UT) and WGU (Salt Lake) are the closest mature in-region BSHIM options.
  • Median HIM salary in Alaska is 61,090 per BLS OEWS May 2025, well above the national median of 51,140. 90th pct 90,530 (one of the highest in the country, reflecting AK's general remote-area wage premium and cost of living).
  • Providence Alaska Medical Center is the largest hospital in Alaska, Anchorage. Part of Providence (the Catholic system headquartered in Renton, WA).
  • Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) is the tribal flagship, jointly owned and operated by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and Southcentral Foundation, in Anchorage. The ANTHC tribal health system covers most of rural AK through regional Native health corporations.
  • SEARHC (Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium) is the regional Native health corporation for Southeast Alaska, headquartered in Sitka, co-located with the UAS program.
  • healtheConnect Alaska is AK's state-designated HIE, providing clinical messaging across participating AK providers including the tribal health system.

How we ranked

Our ranking methodology in one paragraph.

Every program is CAHIIM-accredited. We score each one 0-10 on seven factors: CAHIIM accreditation maturity (25%), program director credentials (15%), degree-level pathways (15%), delivery flexibility (15%), employer pipeline (15%), cost-effectiveness (10%), institutional reputation (5%).

Read the full methodology →

The CAHIIM program in Alaska

The single CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Alaska.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 University of Alaska Southeast AAS Sitka 87/100 Continuing
#1
87/100

Overall score

University of Alaska Southeast

Best (only) in-state AAS (UAS Sitka, 6-credential AHIMA + AAPC director, Providence AK + Alaska Native Medical Center pipeline)

AAS Sitka, AK Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2032-2033

Why it ranks #1

University of Alaska Southeast AAS in Sitka. The only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Alaska at any level. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2032-2033 (the longest review cycle of any state AAS, signaling a strong recent reaccreditation). Fully online. Program director Terissia Bell holds MHIIM + BBA + RHIA + CIC + COC + CPC, a 6-credential combination that uniquely spans both AHIMA (RHIA) and AAPC (CIC + COC + CPC) coding credentials. Strong reach into Providence Alaska Medical Center (Anchorage, the largest hospital in AK), Alaska Native Medical Center (Anchorage, the tribal flagship), Alaska Regional Hospital (HCA), Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Bartlett Regional (Juneau), and SEARHC (Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, co-located with UAS Sitka).

Program Director

Terissia Bell , MHIIM, BBA, RHIA, CIC, COC, CPC

Address

1332 Seward Ave, Sitka, AK, 99835

Contact

(907) 747-7746
tlbell@alaska.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)9/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall87/100

Visit program at uas.alaska.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Alaska HIM pathways by category.

Best (only) in-state AAS

University of Alaska Southeast

Sitka. Continuing CAHIIM. Fully online. 6-credential AHIMA + AAPC director. Strongest review cycle (2032-2033) of any state AAS.

Best dual AHIMA + AAPC coding curriculum

UAS (RHIA + CIC + COC + CPC director)

Director Terissia Bell's combination of AHIMA RHIA + AAPC CIC + COC + CPC is unique in the country. Students learn both AHIMA-aligned and AAPC-aligned coding paths.

Best Providence Alaska pipeline

UAS AAS

Providence Alaska Medical Center is the largest hospital in AK. Online delivery from UAS Sitka reaches Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley.

Best ANMC / tribal health pipeline

UAS AAS

Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) and the regional tribal health corporations (ANTHC, Southcentral Foundation, SEARHC, Maniilaq, YKHC) operate one of the largest integrated tribal health systems in the country and are major HIM employers.

Best SEARHC / Southeast AK pipeline

UAS AAS

SEARHC is co-located with the UAS program in Sitka, providing direct practicum and entry-level opportunities for Sitka-based students.

Best Fairbanks / Interior AK pipeline

UAS AAS

Foundation Health Partners (Fairbanks Memorial + Tanana Valley, Banner-affiliated) anchors Interior AK. UAS's online delivery reaches Fairbanks.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in AK

UAS (by default)

University of Alaska system resident tuition. UA Scholars and Alaska Performance Scholarship apply. Pell-eligible.

If you want a BSHIM or MS in AK

Go online out-of-state

No CAHIIM BSHIM or MS in AK. Common ladders: UAS AAS into Weber State / WGU / Davenport / Rutgers BSHIM, then DSU / Davenport / Rutgers / SWOSU MS.

Credentials

HIM credentials and certifications in Alaska (RHIT, RHIA, CCS).

Alaska does not license HIM staff. The Alaska Health Information Management Association (AkHIMA) is the state AHIMA component.

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical AK Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AAS (UAS in-state)Records, ROI, coder at Providence Alaska / ANMC / Alaska Regional / Foundation Health Partners
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIM (no in-state, online out-of-state needed)HIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding Specialist (AHIMA)RHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor
CPC + CIC + COCCertified Professional Coder + Inpatient Coder + Outpatient Coder (AAPC)AAPC training + experiencePhysician-practice coder, inpatient coder, outpatient coder

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Alaska.

BLS OEWS May 2025 AK estimates for SOC 29-2072:

  • Median: $61,090 (national: $51,140, +$9,950)
  • Mean: $64,440
  • 10th pct: $46,390 · 90th pct: $90,530
  • Statewide employment: 1,070

Alaska's HIM wage distribution is one of the highest in the country at every percentile. The 10th pct ($46,390) is well above the national 10th pct, and the 90th pct ($90,530) is among the top three nationally. AK's remote-area wage premium and high cost of living are the structural drivers. Anchorage anchors the upper end; Fairbanks and Juneau pay near the AK median. Rural Alaska, where many positions are with tribal health corporations, often comes with federal benefit packages on top of competitive base salary.

Salary distribution

Medical records specialist salary in Alaska vs. national median (BLS OEWS May 2025).

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K$100K Alaska MED $61K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Chart range extended to $100K to accommodate Alaska's 90th pct.

Workforce

Alaska health information management job market and top hospital employers.

Providence Alaska Medical Center. Anchorage. The largest hospital in Alaska, part of Providence (the Catholic system headquartered in Renton, WA). Providence also operates Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center, Providence Seward Medical Center, Providence Valdez Medical Center.

Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC). Anchorage. Jointly owned and operated by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and Southcentral Foundation. The tribal flagship hospital and the only Level II trauma center in AK.

Alaska Regional Hospital. Anchorage. HCA Healthcare facility.

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Palmer. Serves the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

Foundation Health Partners. Fairbanks. Operates Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Tanana Valley Clinic. Banner Health affiliated.

Bartlett Regional Hospital. Juneau. Anchor hospital for Alaska's capital.

SEARHC (Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium). Sitka HQ. Tribal health corporation serving Southeast Alaska. Co-located with the UAS HIM program.

Other regional tribal health corporations. Maniilaq Health Center (Kotzebue), Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (Bethel), Norton Sound Health Corporation (Nome), Tanana Chiefs Conference (Fairbanks), Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, and others. Together with ANTHC and Southcentral Foundation, these comprise one of the largest integrated tribal health systems in the country.

Health information exchange

healtheConnect Alaska.

healtheConnect Alaska (formerly Alaska eHealth Network) is Alaska's state-designated health information exchange, providing clinical messaging, longitudinal patient records, and ADT notifications across participating AK providers. Coverage spans Providence Alaska, the tribal health system (ANMC, ANTHC, SEARHC, and the regional tribal corporations), Foundation Health Partners, Bartlett Regional, and many independent and rural providers.

State regulation

Alaska state laws affecting health information management.

  • Patient access (AS 18.23.005). Alaska's patient records statute grants patients access to medical records with statutory copying-fee caps.
  • Medical record retention (AAC 13.180 hospital licensing). AK hospitals must retain adult medical records for at least 7 years from the date of discharge; minor records: age of majority plus retention period.
  • Personal Information Protection Act (AS 45.48.010 et seq.). Breach notification within the most expedient time possible.
  • No state HIM licensure. AK's licensing boards regulate clinical professions; HIM credentials are AHIMA-issued or AAPC-issued (RHIT, RHIA, CCS; CPC, CIC, COC).

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 AK estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams and AAPC Certifications.
  5. healtheConnect Alaska.
  6. Alaska Statutes: AS 18.23.005, AS 45.48.010.
  7. Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education: Alaska Performance Scholarship, UA Scholars.

FAQ

HIM programs in Alaska: frequently asked questions.

What is the best CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Alaska?

University of Alaska Southeast AAS is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Alaska, scoring 87/100 on our methodology.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in AK?

1 active, at the associate level. No CAHIIM BSHIM or MS in AK.

What is the average HIM salary in AK?

Median $61,090 per BLS OEWS May 2025 (well above the national median of 51,140). 90th pct $90,530 (one of the highest in the country).

Does AK require a license to work in HIM?

No. AHIMA credentials (RHIT, RHIA, CCS) and AAPC credentials (CPC, CIC, COC) are the standard.

Which Alaska hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

Providence Alaska Medical Center, Alaska Native Medical Center (ANTHC + Southcentral Foundation), Alaska Regional (HCA), Mat-Su Regional, Foundation Health Partners (Fairbanks Memorial + Tanana Valley), Bartlett Regional (Juneau), SEARHC (Sitka), the regional tribal corporations, and the federal Indian Health Service.

What is healtheConnect Alaska?

Alaska's state-designated HIE (formerly Alaska eHealth Network). Provides clinical messaging across participating AK providers including the tribal health system.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in AK?

Yes for the UAS AAS (fully online). For BSHIM or MS, AK students must take a CAHIIM program from out of state.

If I want a BSHIM after my UAS AAS, what's the typical ladder?

Common ladders: UAS AAS into Weber State BSHIM (Ogden UT) or WGU BSHIM (Salt Lake, competency-based, fully online). Davenport and Rutgers are also fully online and accept AK students.