10 Top Healthcare IT Certifications

The Growing Demand for Healthcare IT Professionals

With new privacy laws and the transition to electronic record keeping, individuals with knowledge and training in healthcare IT are in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for medical records and health information technicians is expected to grow by 13% through 2026, faster than average! These healthcare IT certifications are in demand across the country and individuals holding one or more of these will definitely be competitive in the job market.

The Importance of Certification in Healthcare IT

In the world of healthcare IT, certifications are valuable. Earning a certification means you have knowledge and skills in relevant systems or procedures. Certification is a validation of that skill set. We have highlighted what we feel are the top 10 healthcare IT certifications. We have included a variety of certifications at all different skill levels. We researched job postings on Indeed, Glassdoor, and Monster.com to see what employers were looking for.

Overview of Top Certifications

Below are our top 10 healthcare IT certifications. We present a snapshot of several key certifications and their prerequisites.

Certification	Issuing Organization	Sample Minimum Eligibility Requirement
HCISPP	(ISC)2	At least two years of paid work experience in the Common Body of Knowledge.
CHDA®	AHIMA	RHIT® and minimum of three (3) years of healthcare data experience, OR Baccalaureate degree and a minimum of three (3) years of healthcare data experience.
CPHIMS	HIMSS	Baccalaureate degree and five years of information and management systems experience (three in healthcare setting), OR Graduate degree or higher and three years experience (two in healthcare setting).
CAHIMS	HIMSS	High school diploma or equivalent.

Detailed Ranking of Healthcare IT Certifications

10. Healthcare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP)

The HealthCare Information Security and Privacy certification offered by (ISC)2 is a healthcare cybersecurity certificate. This certification was introduced in 2013 and is now available at 882 locations in 114 countries. It combines cybersecurity with privacy best practices and techniques to protect patient health information.

To be eligible for the HCISPP, candidates should have at least two years of paid work experience in one or more areas in the Common Body of Knowledge. The Common Body of Knowledge include six domain areas including:

• healthcare industry
• regulatory environment
• privacy and security in healthcare
• information governance and risk management
• information risk assessment
• third party risk management

Healthcare positions that require the HCISPP include:

• compliance auditor
• practice manager
• risk analyst
• medical records supervisor

9. (CHDA®) – Certified Health Data Analyst

The AHIMA offers the Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA®) designation to validate and recognize individuals with expertise in health data analysis. The exam is based on a set of competencies and candidates have three hours and thirty minutes to complete the multiple choice exam. To be eligible to sit for the CHDA exam for certification, candidates should meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Healthcare information management credential (RHIT®) and minimum of three (3) years of healthcare data experience; OR
• Baccalaureate degree and a minimum of three (3) years of healthcare data experience; OR
• Healthcare information management credential (RHIA®); OR
• Master’s in Health Information Management (HIM) or Health Informatics from an accredited school; OR
• Master’s or higher degree and one (1) year of healthcare data experience

8. Certified Professional in Healthcare Information & Management Systems (CPHIMS)

The Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) credential is offered through the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). This credential validates that the candidate meets an international set of professional knowledge and competencies in healthcare information and management systems. Individuals awarded with CPHIMS certification demonstrate a commitment to their professional development and increase their credibility with their employer. To be eligible to take the CPHIMS exam, you must either:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and Have five years of information and management systems experience, with three of those years in a healthcare setting OR
• Hold a graduate degree or higher from an accredited college or university and Have three years of information and management systems experience, with two of those years in a healthcare setting

7. CAHIMS (Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems)

The CAHIMS certification is another great healthcare IT certification offered by the HIMSS. By earning certification as a Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems, professionals demonstrate their professional knowledge and skills in healthcare information and management systems employers. The CAHIMS can help establish a foundation for professional development as you advance your career path and gain more experience and education in the field. To be eligible to sit for the CAHIMS exam, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent. The test is comprised of 115 multiple choice questions. Candidates have two hours to complete the exam.

6. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

The Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT®) offered by the AHIMA, demonstrates that a health information...