Health Information Technology

To learn more, visit: https://www.morainepark.edu/academics/programs/health-information-technology/

Program Number: 10-530-1
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Campus: Online, (clinicals required)
This program is eligible for financial aid

Imagine being employed in the booming health information technology (HIT) field in as little as two years. With an associate degree in HIT from Moraine Park Technical College, you will learn the latest and greatest about the occupation where health care meets the cutting edge of technology.

About the Program

Become a health information management professional, one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S., with a Health Information Technology degree.

Moraine Park’s Health Information Technology program—which can be completed online on a full-time or part-time basis—is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT).

Our Health Information Technology graduates have exceeded the national pass rate on the RHIT exam for more than 25 years, and 100 percent of program students have received a favorable rating on the professional practice site supervisor evaluation in all technical domains and employability skills.

All core program classes are offered online. Job shadowing in this field is recommended prior to application. Learn more about a career in health informatics at http://www.ahima.org/careers.

What You’ll Learn

Health information technicians collect, analyze and report health care data, helping ensure patients receive high-quality care. Moraine Park students learn from instructors who are currently working in the field, gaining knowledge of disease, treatments, computer systems and organizational skills.

CAHIIM Accredited Program logo

The Health Information Management accreditor of Moraine Park Technical College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for associate degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2027/2028. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.

  • Moraine Park's Health Information Technology (HIT) graduates have exceeded the national pass rate on the RHIT exam for over 25 years. 100% of Moraine Park's HIT graduates taking the exam in 2021-2022 passed. The national pass rate was 69%.
  • The 2021-2022 HIT graduation rate was 78%.
  • 100% of the 2022 program students were identified as potential or strong job candidates on the professional practice experience evaluations.
  • 100% of the responding 2020-2021 graduates were employed within six (6) months of graduation. 

Transfer Opportunities

Earn credits at MPTC and transfer to a four-year college to earn your bachelor’s degree.

Visit the Transfer to a Four-Year College page for more information on credit transfer agreements between Moraine Park and four-year colleges, both public and private.
 

Additional Information

State Certification Disclosure: Moraine Park’s Health Information Technology program prepares students to obtain the educational requirements to pursue certification to be employed/practice in the state of Wisconsin. No determination has been made if the curriculum matches the educational requirements for preparation, examinations, or certification for other states. Visit the Accreditation page for more details about certification.

Certification Organization: American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

Successful completion of 530-166 HIT Capstone is the exit assessment graduation requirement for the program.

 

Admission Process

Standard Admissions steps details

This program also requires:

  • Health Requirements
  • Criminal Background Check

Credit for Prior Learning

Earn college credit outside the classroom through Moraine Park’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) opportunities. Credit opportunities are available for:

  •   Previous college coursework from prior institutions
  •   Military training and experience
  •   Passing of MPTC or national exams
  •   Skills or knowledge developed on the job or through other life experiences

Visit MPTC’s Credit for Prior Learning page for more information.

Approximate Costs

Tuition

Occupational

  • $146.20 per credit (resident)
  • $219.30 per credit (out-of-state resident)

Associate of Arts/Associate of Science

  • $188.90 per credit (resident)
  • $283.35 per credit (out-of-state resident)

Online students are not charged out-of-state fees.

Student Fees

  • $4.50 minimum per course Material Fee
  • $12.50 per-credit Supplemental Fee for Undergraduate courses
  • $10 minimum per credit Online Course Fee (Fee suspended for 2023-2024)
  • $4.50 per term mandatory Student Accident Insurance Fee

Please refer to Tuition & Fee Information for additional enrollment fee information.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is available for associate degree and technical diploma programs (those that are 2 semesters in length and typically with 28 credits or more). Processing can take 4-5 weeks after a student's completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is received. Visit the Financial Aid page to learn more.

Course Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Credits
501-101 Medical Terminology 3
501-107 Digital Literacy for Healthcare 2
530-162 Foundations of HIM 3
804-189 Introductory Statistics 3
806-189
Basic Anatomy
or General Anatomy and Physiology
3-4
890-101 College 101 2
 Credits16-17
Semester 2
530-163 Healthcare Stats and Analytics 3
530-178 Healthcare Law and Ethics 2
530-182 Human Diseases for the Health Professions 3
530-184 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding 3
530-197 ICD Diagnosis Coding 3
801-136 English Composition 1 3
 Credits17
Semester 3
530-159 Healthcare Revenue Management 3
530-161 Health Quality Management 3
530-164 Introduction to Health Informatics 3
530-199 ICD Procedure Coding 2
Behavioral Science Course 3
Communication Course 3
 Credits17
Semester 4
530-165 Intermediate Coding 3
530-166 HIT Capstone 1
530-167 Management of HIM Resources 3
530-196 Professional Practice 3
Social Science Course 3
 Credits13
 Total Credits63-64

Program Outcomes

  • Apply coding and reimbursement systems.
  • Model professional behavior and ethics.
  • Apply organizational management techniques.
  • Apply data governance principles to ensure the quality of health data.
  • Apply informatics and analytics in data use.

Pathways 

Earn a technical diploma and associate degree along this pathway. Start with some courses for entry-level employment, and continue with additional courses for higher wages and job advancement.

Career Opportunities

  • Coding Specialist
  • Release of Information Specialist
  • Health Information Technician
  • Reimbursement Coordinator
  • Data Quality and Integrity Monitor
  • Data Security, Privacy and Confidentiality Manager
  • Health Data Analyst
  • Enterprise Content Information Manager

Statewide Median Salary for Recent Graduates

$42,138