How Do I Become a RHIA

Key Information:

Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIAs) play a crucial leadership role in managing and protecting digital patient data across healthcare systems.
To become an RHIA, you must complete a CAHIIM-accredited Health Information Management degree, pass the AHIMA-administered exam, and maintain certification through continuing education.
RHIAs are in high demand due to the healthcare industry’s rapid shift to digital records, with strong job growth and average salaries ranging from $70,000 to over $100,000.
This career is ideal for those who enjoy healthcare, data, and technology but prefer non-clinical leadership roles that directly impact patient privacy and healthcare efficiency.

With all the tech upgrades and the explosion of digital patient data, healthcare requires individuals who can effectively organize, protect, and manage that information. That’s why the role of a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) is becoming more important than ever.

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RHIAs help keep healthcare systems running behind the scenes. They make sure medical records are accurate, private, and easy to access when needed—all while staying on top of the latest regulations and tech tools.

In this guide, we’re breaking it all down—from how to become a Registered Health Information Administrator to salary potentials and job opportunities. We’ll also talk about AHIMA, the organization that manages the RHIA credential.

Related:

What Is a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)?

Before discussing how to become a Registered Health Information Administrator, it’s helpful to understand what the role actually involves.

RHIAs play a vital role in today’s healthcare world. Here’s what they do and where they work:

Manage patient health information. They ensure medical records are accurate, secure, and organized. They also work with health IT systems and use coding and classification tools to handle patient data.
Understand the bigger picture. RHIAs are well-versed in the medical, legal, ethical, and administrative side of healthcare. They help protect patient privacy and make sure everything meets industry standards.
Take on leadership roles. Many RHIAs lead teams, oversee departments, join admin committees, and help plan budgets.
Work across departments. They collaborate with clinical, financial, administrative, and IT teams—basically anyone who relies on patient data for decisions or day-to-day operations.
Find opportunities in many settings. RHIAs work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, mental health centers, and outpatient care settings.
Explore non-clinical career paths. Many also work in insurance companies, health tech firms, consulting, government agencies, education, and pharmaceutical companies.

In short, the core responsibilities of RHIA are:

Data Governance
Compliance With HIPAA
Analytics Oversight
Team Leadership

You might’ve come across other roles in health information, like RHITs, medical coders, or CDI specialists. So, what’s the difference? The Registered Health Information Administrator career path usually involves hands-on, day-to-day work—like organizing records and coding—while other roles are more focused on leadership, managing systems, and making big-picture decisions.

Ready to become one? Let’s begin the step-by-step guide on how to become a Registered Health Information Administrator.

Step 1: Earn a Health Information Management Degree

The first among the many RHIA certification requirements you must meet is the right education. That means earning a Health Information Management (HIM) degree from a college/university accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics /7 Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

You can get either a Bachelor’s or a Master’s in Health Information Management degree. Both will qualify you for the RHIA exam as long as CAHIIM accredits them.

As you work toward your degree in Health Information Management, you’ll take a mix of courses that blend healthcare, technology, and business. These classes are designed to give you the skills you need to manage patient information, understand health systems, and lead in a digital healthcare environment.

Here’s a peek at the kind of coursework you’ll take:

Medical terminology and anatomy
Health data management and coding
Information systems and technology
Legal and ethical issues in healthcare
Healthcare statistics and analytics
Leadership and management in HIM

A lot of schools now offer online HIM degrees, which is perfect if you’re working full-time or juggling other responsibilities.

Whether you go to school online or in person, meeting the health information administrator education requirements is the first (and arguably most important) step on your RHIA journey.

Step 2: Understand RHIA Certification Requirements

You might wonder if you could still meet the RHIA certification requirements even if your path hasn’t been perfectly traditional. The good news? AHIMA offers several ways to qualify — but the baseline is firm.

International pathway: If you earned your HIM degree outside the U.S., you might still be eligible. You’ll need to get your credentials reviewed by AHIMA.
Early testing: Students in the final term of their program may be eligible to take the exam early. (Check with AHIMA for details.)

The application process for the RHIA exam eligibility is pretty straightforward. You’ll create an account on the AHIMA website, submit your application, pay the exam fee, and provide documentation like transcripts. Then it’s just a matter of scheduling your test date.

Step 3: Prepare for the AHIMA RHIA Exam

The AHIMA RHIA exam is your proving ground — the final step that demonstrates you’ve got the knowledge and skills for the field.

So, what can you expect?

180 multiple-choice questions
4-hour time limit
You’ll take it at a testing center or via a remote proctor.

The exam is broken into these main areas (called domains):

Data Content, Structure, and Standards – Think health records, documentation, and classification systems.
Information Protection – Covers privacy, security, and compliance (aka HIPAA).
Informatics, Analytics, and Data Use – Focuses on using data to improve healthcare quality.
Revenue Cycle Management – Covers reimbursement, coding, and billing processes.
Leadership – Includes project management, training, and ethics.

As the final step in the RHIA certification process, this part can be particularly challenging. However, with the right preparation strategy, it’s absolutely doable.

Use official AHIMA prep materials – They’re tailored to the test.
Purchase RHIA exam prep books (Amazon offers several solid options).
Join a boot camp or online study group.
Take practice exams and familiarize the format.
Make a study schedule. Four weeks? Six weeks? Everyone’s different, but give yourself time to prepare properly.

And don’t forget to schedule your exam early. Testing spots can fill up fast, especially during graduation season.

Step 4: Pass the RHIA Exam and Maintain Certification

Once you complete all the RHIA certification process and pass, you’ll officially be a Registered Health Information Administrator! But your journey doesn’t stop there. To keep your RHIA status active, you’ll need to complete 30 Continuing Education Units or CEUs every 2 years.

You can earn CEUs by attending workshops, taking courses, publishing articles, or participating in webinars. AHIMA offers numerous opportunities to keep your knowledge current.

Why does this matter? Because healthcare is constantly changing. Whether it’s new privacy laws or updated technology, RHIAs need to stay on top of it all.

RHIA Career Opportunities and Work Settings

It’s time to reap what you sow. The Registered Health Information Administrator career path opens doors to numerous roles that blend healthcare, technology, management, and data. You can pursue job titles like:

Health Information Manager
Clinical Data Analyst
Compliance Officer
HIM Director

These roles aren’t limited to just hospitals either. RHIAs work in:

Insurance companies
Government health agencies
Public health organizations
Research institutions

RHIA Salary Potential and Job Outlook

RHIA salary potential typically falls between $70,000 and $100,000+, depending on your:

Geographic region
Type of employer
Years of experience
Additional certifications or degrees
Leadership responsibilities

As for the RHIA job outlook? It’s looking good.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics discloses that health information roles are projected to grow 16% from 2023 to 2033 as more healthcare systems transition to digital platforms with stricter privacy regulations.

Is RHIA Certification Right for You?

Now that you know how to become a Registered Health Information Administrator, it’s time to know if it’s the right move.

It could be a great fit if you:

Enjoy working with data, tech, and systems
Have strong attention to detail
Are interested in healthcare but not in direct patient care
Want to be in a leadership or management role
Like solving problems and improving processes

On the flip side, if RHIA doesn’t quite feel right, there are other paths to explore in the HIM world:

Registered Health Information Technician: more hands-on with data entry and coding.
Certified Health Data Analyst: focuses on analytics and data insights.
Certified Professional in Healthcare Information & Management Systems: great if you’re leaning toward IT and informatics.

Conclusion

RHIAs are critical players in advancing patient care, improving operations, and making sure sensitive health data is handled with care. If that sounds like a career you’d be proud of, now’s the time to get started.

Let’s recap the game plan for becoming a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA):

Earn your Health Information Management degree from a CAHIIM-accredited program.
Check your RHIA exam eligibility and apply through AHIMA.
Prep for and take the RHIA exam using solid study materials and practice tests.
Pass the exam and maintain your credentials with ongoing education.

Once you’ve got those four steps down, you’ll be ready to take on a rewarding career that blends technology, leadership, and healthcare.

Explore accredited programs. Check out AHIMA’s website. Make a plan.

Because this isn’t just a job—it’s a high-impact, future-proof career.

How Do I Become a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)?