Explore Bakersfield College’s fully online Health Information Technology program
and get ready for a career managing and protecting important health information.
About the Program
The Health Information Technology (HIT) program at Bakersfield College teaches you how to manage, organize, and protect health
information using technology. You’ll learn about:
Medical coding and terminology
Electronic health records
Healthcare reimbursement systems
Data analysis and privacy laws
Graduates are prepared to work in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and government
agencies. This program emphasizes accuracy, privacy, and security in handling health
records. Students are also prepared to take the national exam to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).
What is Health Information Technology?
Health Information Technology is the use of computers and digital systems to manage patient information. It includes
tools such as electronic health records, telehealth, and health information exchanges
that help healthcare workers provide better and safer care.
People in this field collect, store, and share health data to improve efficiency,
reduce medical errors, and protect patient privacy. HIT plays an important role in
keeping the healthcare system running smoothly.
Is Health Information Technology right for Me?
If you’re interested in healthcare but prefer working behind the scenes, HIT could
be a great fit. This program is ideal for people who like technology, pay attention
to detail, and want to help improve patient care through information management.
You may be a good match for this program if you:
Enjoy working with computers and data
Pay close attention to details
Think critically and solve problems
Communicate clearly and work well with others
Value privacy, ethics, and professionalism
Graduates can find jobs in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, insurance
companies, and government offices.
The Associate of Science in Health Information Technology prepares you for a career
managing patient data and supporting healthcare operations. Students gain the skills
needed to keep health information accurate, secure, and accessible across the healthcare
system.
Select the degree title for the catalog description and requirements.
More About the HIT Program
The Bakersfield College HIT Program's mission is to provide students from diverse
economic, cultural, and educational backgrounds the lower division course requirements
needed for students to obtain an Associate of Science degree in Health Information
Technology while providing progressive, comprehensive, and high-quality courses to
prepare students for an impactful future in the health information profession, assure
both academic and personal growth, and promote life-long learning and the pursuit
of advanced learning opportunities.
Apply the knowledge and skills needed to perform Health Information Technology Associate
Degree entry-level competencies as defined by the American Health Information Management
Association’s (AHIMA) Council for Excellence in Education (CEE).
Apply the knowledge and skills needed to successfully pass the national Registered
Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam.
Compete in the job market in the field of health information technology or enroll
in an advanced degree program.
Demonstrate the ability to work effectively as an individual and collaboratively in
a group to resolve health information challenges in a changing healthcare environment.
2021/2022 Outcomes
RHIT Certification Exam Pass Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 100% of students graduated within 150% of the advertised time to
graduate from the HIT program
Employment Rate: 87% of graduates from the HIT program were employed in healthcare
within one year of graduation
Graduate Program Satisfaction Rate: 100%
2020/2021 Outcomes
RHIT Exam Pass Rate: N/A
Graduate Satisfaction Rate 90%
Employment Rate: 100%
Student Retention Rate: 86%
Graduation Rate: 100% of students graduated within 150% of the advertised time to
graduate from the HIT program.
Health information professionals play a critical role in health care—even though they
rarely interact with patients. Every time you hear a health statistic on the news,
read a doctor’s diagnosis in your medical record or use your health insurance card,
you can be sure a Health information technician has played a part. Health information
technicians are specialists in preparing, analyzing and managing medical records.
They play a key role in coding and reimbursement and are considered experts in assuring
the privacy and security of health data. In Bakersfield College’s HIT program, students
learn how to collect, analyze, monitor and report health data, using the latest technology.
As more doctors and hospitals move toward electronic health records, trained technicians
in this field will become more in demand than ever.
Health Information Technology graduates are employed in hospitals, clinics, physician’s
offices, ambulatory care facilities, long term care facilities, home health agencies,
consulting firms, and any organization that uses patient data or health information,
such as pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms, and health product vendors.
Upon program accreditation, graduates will be eligible to apply for writing the national
examination for certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).
In accordance with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, Bakersfield College provides
services and benefits to students regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry,
gender, age, religion, marital status, medical condition or disability. The lack of
English language skills will not be a barrier to administration and participation
in vocational education programs. (Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972; and Section 503 and 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; as amended.)
Upon enrollment in HEIT B30, a physical examination will be required to demonstrate
that the student meets the technical standards necessary to meet the physical requirements
required of health information professional practice experience.
As a condition of enrollment to HEIT B30, all students are required to submit to and
pass a designated drug and alcohol screen.
As a condition of enrollment in any Allied Health Program with a clinical component,
students are required to submit to and pass a designated background screen. Every
student offered space in the Program will be required to submit to a background screening
as part of his or her clinical requirement for admission. Please note the following:
A history of felony conviction(s) or any bar, exclusion, or other ineligibility for
federal program participation could render a student ineligible for clinical placement,
as determined by the clinical agencies.
If a student cannot obtain background clearance from the clinical agencies, it will
not be possible to place the student in the clinical areas, which is a required component
of the Program.
In the event that a student cannot obtain a background clearance due to background
restrictions, the space will be forfeited.
Students who are found to be ineligible for clinical placement by the clinical agency
after admission to the radiography program shall be subject to dismissal from the
Program, as they will be unable to complete mandatory clinical rotations.
Immunizations and health tests are needed for acceptance in a clinical education center,
and to protect the health and welfare of the student and the community. Immunizations
may include but are not limited to rubella, varicella, hepatitis B and seasonal influenza.
A tuberculosis screening is also required.
The medical exam, drug and alcohol screen, background screen, immunizations, and health
tests are performed at the expense of the student.
The student must possess a current American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers
(CPR & AED) card. This card must be provided at the start of the HEIT B30 course and
be kept valid during the entire course.
American Health Information Association (AHIMA)
AHIMA Foundation offers scholarships annually to student members in pursuit of degrees
in Health information Management or Health Informatics.
For more information on student scholarships through membership, please visit the
AHIMA Foundation website.
California Health Information Association (CHIA)
The CHIA Awards and Scholarship Fund offers a variety of scholarships, awards and
grant monies to CHIA professional and Emerging Professional (Student) members, and
to California’s CAHIIM-accredited programs.
Financial aid is money awarded to help you meet your educational expenses. There are
many types of aid offered at Bakersfield College, funded by federal and state agencies
and private organizations and are either need-based or non-need based. The major types
are grants, scholarships, work study, and loans.
Purpose: Develop Health Information professionals and advocate for practice excellence.
Paying For Education
You CAN Afford BC
Don’t let finances get in the way of your goals. Get help paying for college costs
like tuition, books, or sometimes even the rent with a variety of financial aid options
to help you reach your educational and career goals.
With a Health Information Technology associate degree, there are various career paths
available in the healthcare industry. Some possible careers include:
Health Information Technician
Medical Coder
Health Information Analyst
Medical Records Technician
Electronic Health Records Specialist
Compliance Officer
Beyond BC
Transfer to a University
Graduates with an Associate Degree from Bakersfield College may choose to continue
their education at a university to earn a 4-year degree. See your Counselor and/or
a Transfer Specialist for specific questions, options, and opportunities.
Accreditation: The Health Information Management accreditor of Bakersfield College is the Commission
on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
The College’s accreditation for Associate degree in Health Information Technology
has been reaffirmed through 2028-2029. 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.
Certification: As a Bakersfield College HIT program graduate, students are eligible to apply for
writing the national examination for certification as a Registered Health Information
Technician (RHIT).
Take the classes that meet your education and career goals. Create your Comprehensive
Student Education Plan (CSEP) with your Counselor or Ed. Advisor. Call (661) 395-4421.
