Washington / Health information management programs

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

Washington has 6 CAHIIM-accredited HIM and health informatics programs. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: Shoreline Community College's AAS, scoring 84/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Seattle, Washington
6

Programs ranked

84

Top score

$62K

WA median HIM wage

5,010

HIM jobs in WA

Key Takeaways

  • Shoreline Community College AAS ranks #1 in Washington (84/100). PhD director, Seattle-metro location, fully online.
  • University of Washington is the only WA institution offering both a CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM and a CAHIIM-accredited MS at one school, both under director Dr. Karima Lalani (PhD + MBA + RHIA + FACHE). Top-tier R1 medical research reputation.
  • Washington has 6 active CAHIIM-accredited programs: 3 AAS, 2 bachelor's (UW + Tacoma CC applied baccalaureate), 1 master's (UW MS Health Informatics).
  • Tacoma Community College runs a rare CAHIIM-accredited Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) at community-college tuition, paired with a same-school CAHIIM AAS feeder under the same director.
  • Median HIM salary in Washington is 62,270 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 98,130. 5,010 working in this occupation.
  • UW Medicine is the dominant Seattle-metro academic health system, paired with Swedish/Providence, MultiCare, Virginia Mason Franciscan, Seattle Children's, and Kaiser Permanente Washington. MultiCare and Providence dominate Tacoma and Spokane respectively. PeaceHealth anchors Bellingham and Vancouver, WA.
  • OneHealthPort is Washington's nonprofit HIE, providing clinical messaging, query-based retrieval, and identity-management services.
  • Washington medical record retention is at least 10 years from the date of last patient encounter (WAC 246-320-126), with extended retention for minors.

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 ranked programs

The 6 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in Washington, ranked.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Shoreline Community College AAS Shoreline 84/100 Continuing
#2 University of Washington BS Seattle 83/100 Continuing
#3 Tacoma Community College AAS Tacoma 82.5/100 Continuing
#4 Spokane Community College AAS Spokane 81.5/100 Continuing
#5 University of Washington MS Informatics Seattle 78/100 Initial
#6 Tacoma Community College BS Tacoma 76.5/100 Initial
#1
84/100

Overall score

Shoreline Community College

Best fully-online AAS (PhD director, Seattle metro)

AAS Shoreline, WA Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #1

Shoreline Community College in the north Seattle metro. Director Dr. Melanie Meyer holds PhD + RHIA + CCS + CPHQ, the strongest AAS-director credential stack in Washington. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Sits inside the largest WA HIM employer market with direct adjacency to UW Medicine, Swedish/Providence, Virginia Mason Franciscan, and Seattle Children's.

Program Director

Melanie Meyer , PhD, RHIA, CCS, CPHQ

Address

16101 Greenwood Ave N, HOPE Division, Shoreline, WA, 98133

Contact

(206) 546-4757
mmeyer@shoreline.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall84/100

Visit program at shoreline.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
83/100

Overall score

University of Washington (BSHIM)

Best in-state BSHIM (R1 academic medical center, FACHE director)

BSHIM Seattle, WA Campus Based CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #2

University of Washington BSHIM in Seattle. Director Dr. Karima Lalani holds PhD + MBA + RHIA + FACHE. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Campus-based only (the trade-off for the top-reputation BSHIM at one of the most prestigious medical research universities in the country). UW also runs an MS in Health Informatics at the same school under the same director, the only same-institution BSHIM + MS HI stack in Washington.

Program Director

Karima Lalani , PhD, MBA, RHIA, FACHE

Address

1959 NE Pacific St, H-670, Box 357660, Seattle, WA, 98195-7660

Contact

(206) 543-8810
klalani@uw.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)9/10
Delivery (15%)5/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)7/10
Reputation (5%)10/10
Overall83/100

Visit program at healthinformationmanagement.uw.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#3
82.5/100

Overall score

Tacoma Community College (AAS)

Best Tacoma AAS (with same-school BSHIM bridge)

AAS Tacoma, WA Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #3

Tacoma Community College AAS. Director Corinne Jarvis holds MEd + RHIA. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Pairs with the Tacoma CC BSHIM (an applied baccalaureate at the same college) for a same-institution AAS-to-BS pathway, both run by the same director. Direct adjacency to MultiCare and Virginia Mason Franciscan in Tacoma.

Program Director

Corinne Jarvis , MEd, RHIA

Address

6501 S 19th St., Tacoma, WA, 98466

Contact

(253) 566-5077
cjarvis@tacomacc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)7/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall82.5/100

Visit program at tacomacc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#4
81.5/100

Overall score

Spokane Community College

Best fully-online AAS (longest CAHIIM review cycle in Washington)

AAS Spokane, WA Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2033-2034

Why it ranks #4

Spokane Community College. Director Barbara Flock holds RHIA + CPHQ. Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle of any WA program, next review 2033-2034. Fully online. Feeds Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, MultiCare Deaconess, and the Inland Northwest health systems.

Program Director

Barbara Flock , RHIA, CPHQ

Address

1810 N Greene St, MS 2011, Spokane, WA, 99217

Contact

(509) 533-7413
barbara.flock@scc.spokane.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)8/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall81.5/100

Visit program at scc.spokane.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#5
78/100

Overall score

University of Washington (MS Health Informatics)

Best top-reputation MS in Health Informatics

MS Health Informatics Seattle, WA Campus Based CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #5

University of Washington MS in Health Informatics, Seattle. Same director as the UW BSHIM (Dr. Karima Lalani, PhD + MBA + RHIA + FACHE). Initial CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Campus-based only. Pairs with the UW BSHIM at the same school for a same-institution BS-to-MS progression. Top-tier institutional reputation, direct UW Medicine pipeline.

Program Director

Karima Lalani , PhD, MBA, RHIA, FACHE

Address

1959 NE Pacific St, H-670, Box 357660, Seattle, WA, 98195-7660

Contact

(206) 543-8810
klalani@uw.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)9/10
Delivery (15%)5/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)7/10
Reputation (5%)10/10
Overall78/100

Visit program at health-informatics.uw.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#6
76.5/100

Overall score

Tacoma Community College (BSHIM)

Best community-college applied baccalaureate BSHIM

BSHIM Tacoma, WA Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #6

Tacoma Community College BSHIM, an applied baccalaureate degree (Bachelor of Applied Science) at the community-college tuition tier. Director Corinne Jarvis (MEd + RHIA, same director as the Tacoma CC AAS). Initial CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Fully online. A rare CAHIIM-accredited bachelor's at a community-college tuition rate.

Program Director

Corinne Jarvis , MEd, RHIA

Address

6501 S 19th Street, Tacoma, WA, 98466

Contact

(253) 566-5077
cjarvis@tacomacc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)7/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)9/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall76.5/100

Visit program at tacomacc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Washington HIM programs by category.

Best Seattle-metro fully-online AAS (PhD director)

Shoreline Community College

Dr. Melanie Meyer (PhD + RHIA + CCS + CPHQ). Fully online, direct UW Medicine / Swedish / Virginia Mason Franciscan adjacency.

Best top-reputation in-state BSHIM

University of Washington

R1 medical research university, FACHE director, direct UW Medicine pipeline.

Best top-reputation MS in Health Informatics

University of Washington

UW MS HI under the same FACHE director as the BSHIM. Same-school BS-to-MS progression.

Best Tacoma AAS (MultiCare / Virginia Mason Franciscan)

Tacoma Community College

Pairs with the Tacoma CC BSHIM (applied baccalaureate) at the same school for the only community-college BAS pathway in WA.

Best fully-online AAS (longest review cycle)

Spokane Community College

Continuing CAHIIM with the longest WA review cycle (2033-2034). Providence Sacred Heart + MultiCare Deaconess pipeline.

Best applied baccalaureate BSHIM (community-college tuition)

Tacoma Community College

Rare CAHIIM-accredited Bachelor of Applied Science at community-college tuition. Fully online.

Best Inland Northwest AAS (Spokane)

Spokane Community College

Direct Providence Sacred Heart, MultiCare Deaconess, and Inland Empire hospital network adjacency.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in WA

Washington State community colleges

Shoreline, Spokane, and Tacoma CC (AAS + BAS) qualify for the Washington College Grant (the state's progressive grant covering tuition for moderate incomes), College Bound Scholarship, and Pell.

Credentials

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

Washington does not license HIM staff. The Washington State Health Information Management Association (WSHIMA) is the state AHIMA component.

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical WA Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AASRecords, ROI, coder at UW Medicine / Providence / Swedish / MultiCare / Virginia Mason Franciscan
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIMHIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Washington.

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

  • Median: $62,270 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $67,480
  • 10th pct: $45,500 · 90th pct: $98,130
  • Statewide employment: 5,010

Seattle metro (UW Medicine, Swedish/Providence, Virginia Mason Franciscan, Seattle Children's, Kaiser Permanente WA, Fred Hutch) anchors the upper end and pays well above the national median. Tacoma (MultiCare) and Spokane (Providence, MultiCare Deaconess) sit near the WA median. Bellingham (PeaceHealth) and rural WA pay below the median.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K Washington MED $62K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Washington health information management job market and top hospital employers.

UW Medicine. Seattle. UW's academic health system, includes Harborview Medical Center (Level I trauma), UW Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, Northwest Hospital, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center collaboration.

Swedish Medical Center. Seattle. Part of Providence (post-2012). Five Puget Sound hospitals.

Providence Washington. Includes Providence Regional Everett, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (Spokane), and Swedish.

MultiCare Health System. Tacoma HQ. 11 hospitals across Puget Sound + Inland Northwest (MultiCare Deaconess in Spokane).

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Seattle + Tacoma. Part of CommonSpirit Health.

Seattle Children's Hospital. One of the largest pediatric systems in the West.

Kaiser Permanente Washington. Formerly Group Health Cooperative. Integrated payer + provider.

PeaceHealth. Bellingham (St. Joseph Medical Center) + Vancouver, WA (Peace Health Southwest).

Health information exchange

OneHealthPort.

OneHealthPort is Washington's nonprofit HIE. Originally founded as a single-sign-on identity-management service for WA payers and providers (still a meaningful service), OneHealthPort expanded into clinical data exchange and now provides clinical messaging, query-based retrieval, ADT alerting, and HIE services for participating WA providers. Connection is voluntary, not state-mandated.

State regulation

Washington state laws affecting health information management.

  • Medical record retention (WAC 246-320-126 and RCW 70.41.190). Washington hospitals must retain medical records for at least 10 years from the date of last patient encounter. Some specialty records (radiology images, fetal monitoring strips) have shorter or longer minimums.
  • Patient access (RCW 70.02 / Uniform Health Care Information Act). WA's UHCIA is one of the more comprehensive state-level health information privacy statutes in the country.
  • My Health My Data Act (RCW 19.373). Washington's 2023 consumer health data privacy law, broader than HIPAA, applies to consumer health data outside of HIPAA-covered entities. Has significant downstream implications for HIM compliance scope in WA.
  • Washington data breach notification (RCW 19.255). Breach notification within 30 days of discovery.

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 WA estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. OneHealthPort HIE.
  6. Washington Student Achievement Council: Washington College Grant, College Bound Scholarship.
  7. Washington State Legislature: WAC 246-320, RCW 70.02 (UHCIA), RCW 19.373 (My Health My Data), RCW 19.255.
  8. WSHIMA.

FAQ

HIM programs in Washington: frequently asked questions.

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

On our methodology, Shoreline Community College ranks #1 (84/100). University of Washington #2. Tacoma Community College #3.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in WA?

6 active. 3 associate, 2 bachelor's (UW + Tacoma CC applied baccalaureate), 1 master's (UW MS Health Informatics).

What is the average HIM salary in WA?

Median $62,270 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $98,130.

Does WA require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which Washington hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

UW Medicine, Providence (incl. Swedish + Sacred Heart), MultiCare, Virginia Mason Franciscan, Seattle Children's, Kaiser Permanente Washington, PeaceHealth.

What is OneHealthPort?

Washington's nonprofit HIE, also operates a single-sign-on identity service for WA payers and providers.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in WA?

Yes for AAS and the Tacoma CC BAS. UW BSHIM and MS Health Informatics are campus-based only.