Education · 1 of 5

The path

One to two years, then a certification exam. No clinical placement and no patient contact.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Biology and English help most. A diploma or equivalent is the entry requirement.

2. 2

   Accredited program

   1 to 2 years

   An associate degree in health information management, or a shorter coding certificate. Accreditation decides which exams you can sit.

3. 3

   Learn the code sets properly

   Inside the program

   Anatomy, disease processes, medical terminology, and then the diagnosis and procedure coding systems themselves.

4. 4

   Certification exam

   One sitting

   The Registered Health Information Technician exam is 150 questions over three and a half hours at a testing center, with a passing score of 300.

5. 5

   First job

   Year 1

   Records handling, release of information or apprentice level coding, checked by a senior coder until you are accurate.