Idaho / Health information management programs

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

Idaho has 1 CAHIIM-accredited HIM program, at the associate level. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. The single ISU AAS scores 84.5/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Idaho
1

Programs ranked

84.5

Top score

$53K

ID median HIM wage

1,490

HIM jobs in ID

Key Takeaways

  • Idaho State University AAS is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Idaho. Pocatello. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Scores 84.5/100 on our seven-factor methodology.
  • Program director Glenna Young holds BS + RHIA + CCS, an HIM + inpatient coding combination useful for graduates aiming at inpatient coder or HIM-supervisor roles.
  • Idaho State University is Idaho's health sciences anchor, a Carnegie R2 public university with the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences. The HIM AAS sits inside that broader health sciences institutional context.
  • No CAHIIM BSHIM or MS in Idaho. ID 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 Idaho is 53,460 per BLS OEWS May 2025, above the national median of 51,140. 90th pct 77,840.
  • St. Luke's Health System is Idaho's largest system, headquartered in Boise. Multi-hospital network with the academic flagship St. Luke's Boise Medical Center.
  • Saint Alphonsus Health System (Trinity Health subsidiary) is the second-largest Boise-metro system. Kootenai Health (Coeur d'Alene) dominates north Idaho.
  • Idaho does not license HIM staff. AHIMA credentials (RHIT, RHIA, CCS) function as the de facto standard. IdHIMA is the Idaho AHIMA component.

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 →

Programs taking applications in Idaho now

HIM, health informatics, and medical coding programs currently accepting students.

The CAHIIM program in Idaho

The single CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Idaho.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Idaho State University AAS Pocatello 84.5/100 Continuing
#1
84.5/100

Overall score

Idaho State University

Best (only) in-state AAS (Idaho State University, RHIA + CCS director, St. Luke's + Saint Alphonsus pipeline)

AAS Pocatello, ID Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #1

Idaho State University AAS in Pocatello. The only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Idaho at any level. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Program director Glenna Young holds BS + RHIA + CCS, an HIM + inpatient coding credential combination. Idaho State is a public 4-year Carnegie R2 university and is the state's health sciences anchor (with the ISU College of Health and the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences). Strong reach into St. Luke's Health System (the largest ID system, Boise HQ), Saint Alphonsus (Trinity Health, Boise), Kootenai Health (Coeur d'Alene), Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (HCA, Idaho Falls), and Portneuf Medical Center (Pocatello, co-located with ISU).

Program Director

Glenna Young , BS, RHIA, CCS

Address

Health Information Technology, Owen-Redfield Complex 921 S 8th Ave. Stop 8380, Pocatello, ID, 83209

Contact

(208) 282-4524
younglen@isu.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)9/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)8/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall84.5/100

Visit program at isu.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Idaho HIM pathways by category.

Best (only) in-state AAS

Idaho State University

Pocatello. Continuing CAHIIM. Fully online. RHIA + CCS director. Carnegie R2 health sciences anchor.

Best inpatient-coding pathway

ISU (CCS director)

Director Glenna Young's CCS credential signals a curriculum with strong inpatient-coding emphasis.

Best St. Luke's pipeline

ISU AAS

St. Luke's Health System is the largest Idaho system (Boise HQ). ISU's online AAS reaches Boise students without relocation.

Best Saint Alphonsus pipeline

ISU AAS

Saint Alphonsus (Trinity Health) is the second-largest Boise-metro system. ISU graduates feed into Trinity Health regional HIM operations.

Best Portneuf / Pocatello pipeline

ISU AAS

Portneuf Medical Center is co-located with ISU in Pocatello, providing direct practicum and entry-level opportunities for ISU students.

Best Kootenai Health / north Idaho pipeline

ISU AAS

Kootenai Health (Coeur d'Alene) dominates north Idaho. ISU's fully-online delivery reaches the Idaho Panhandle without a campus there.

If you want a BSHIM in ID

No CAHIIM BSHIM in Idaho

Online options accepting ID students: Weber State (Ogden UT, closest mature BSHIM), WGU (Salt Lake, competency-based), Davenport (Grand Rapids MI), Rutgers (Piscataway NJ).

If you want an MS in HIM in ID

No CAHIIM MS in Idaho

Online options accepting ID students: Dakota State, Davenport, Rutgers, SWOSU, USC Columbia.

Credentials

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

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

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical ID Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AAS (ISU in-state)Records, ROI, coder at St. Luke's / Saint Alphonsus / Kootenai / EIRMC / Portneuf
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIM (no in-state, online out-of-state needed)HIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Idaho.

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

  • Median: $53,460 (national: $51,140, +$2,320)
  • Mean: $57,240
  • 10th pct: $39,930 · 90th pct: $77,840
  • Statewide employment: 1,490

The Boise metro and Coeur d'Alene anchor the upper end of the ID HIM wage distribution; St. Luke's, Saint Alphonsus, and Kootenai Health are the largest single employers. Idaho Falls (EIRMC), Pocatello (Portneuf), and Twin Falls (St. Luke's Magic Valley) pay near the ID median. Rural Idaho pays below.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K Idaho MED $53K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Idaho health information management job market and top hospital employers.

St. Luke's Health System. Boise HQ. The largest Idaho system. St. Luke's Boise Medical Center is the academic flagship. Multi-hospital network with St. Luke's Magic Valley (Twin Falls), St. Luke's Wood River (Ketchum), St. Luke's Jerome, St. Luke's McCall, St. Luke's Elmore.

Saint Alphonsus Health System. Boise. Trinity Health (CHE Trinity) subsidiary. Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center (Boise), Nampa, Ontario OR, Baker City OR.

Kootenai Health. Coeur d'Alene. The dominant healthcare system in north Idaho (the Idaho Panhandle), with the Kootenai Health regional medical center as the anchor.

Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Idaho Falls. HCA Healthcare facility. The largest hospital in eastern Idaho.

Portneuf Medical Center. Pocatello. Co-located with ISU. Joint venture between Portneuf District Health and Ardent Health Services.

Madison Memorial Hospital. Rexburg. Independent community hospital in eastern Idaho.

Bingham Memorial Hospital. Blackfoot. Critical access hospital.

West Valley Medical Center. Caldwell. HCA Healthcare facility serving western Treasure Valley.

Health information exchange

Idaho Health Data Exchange (IHDE).

IHDE (Idaho Health Data Exchange) is Idaho's state-designated health information exchange, providing clinical messaging, patient record retrieval, and ADT notifications across participating Idaho providers. Participation is voluntary; most major ID hospital systems participate (St. Luke's, Saint Alphonsus, Kootenai, EIRMC, Portneuf).

State regulation

Idaho state laws affecting health information management.

  • Patient access (Idaho Code 39-1392 to 39-1392e). Idaho's Hospital Records Act grants patients access to medical records with statutory copying-fee caps.
  • Medical record retention (IDAPA 16.03.14 hospital licensing rules). Idaho hospitals must retain adult medical records for at least 10 years; minor records: age of majority plus 5 years.
  • Breach notification (Idaho Code 28-51-104, 28-51-105). Notice to affected ID residents within a reasonable time; AG notification for breaches affecting 50,000+ ID residents.
  • No state HIM licensure. Idaho's licensing boards regulate clinical professions; HIM credentials are AHIMA-issued (RHIT, RHIA, CCS).

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 ID estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. IHDE (Idaho Health Data Exchange).
  6. Idaho Statutes: Idaho Code 39-1392, Idaho Code 28-51-104.
  7. Idaho State Board of Education: in-state tuition for ISU.

FAQ

HIM programs in Idaho: frequently asked questions.

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

Idaho State University AAS is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Idaho, scoring 84.5/100 on our methodology.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in ID?

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

What is the average HIM salary in ID?

Median $53,460 per BLS OEWS May 2025 (above the national median of 51,140). 90th pct $77,840.

Does ID require a license to work in HIM?

No. AHIMA credentials (RHIT, RHIA, CCS) are the standard.

Which Idaho hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

St. Luke's Health System, Saint Alphonsus Health System (Trinity Health), Kootenai Health, EIRMC (HCA), Portneuf Medical Center, Madison Memorial, West Valley Medical (HCA).

What is IHDE?

Idaho's state-designated HIE. Provides clinical messaging across participating ID providers.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in ID?

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

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

Most common ladders: ISU AAS into Weber State BSHIM (Ogden UT, closest mature BSHIM) or WGU BSHIM (Salt Lake, competency-based, fully online). Davenport and Rutgers are also fully online and accept ID students.