Should I choose a certificate, diploma, or degree-level program?

This will depend on your interests, career goals, and the financial and time investments you are willing to make.

An accredited health information management diploma program equips students with the technical training they need to enter the profession in roles such as a classification and coding or chart management specialist, a release of information or privacy analyst, a health records abstractor, and more. These programs are typically two years in length.

An accredited health information management degree program equips students with a blend of theory and application-based training. Graduates may enter the profession at an intermediate level in roles such as decision support, privacy, or information management analyst, information standards specialist, transition and change management lead, and more. These programs are typically three to four years in length.

An accredited health information management degree program offers a blend of theory and application-based training. Graduates may enter the profession at an intermediate level in roles such as decision support, privacy, or information management analyst, information standards specialist, transition and change management lead, and more. These programs are typically 3–4 years in length.

It is important to note that a combination of education, qualifications, skills, and experiences is factored into an employer’s hiring decision.