Health Information Technology (HIT) is where IT and healthcare meet.
In the Health Information Technology program at Ivy Tech, you’ll learn essential skills to help you launch a career in the field from Ivy Tech instructors who have real-world experience. You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience that will prepare you for the Registered Health Information Technician certification exam, which Ivy Tech students have historically passed at a rate well above the national average.
As an Ivy Tech Health Information Technology student, you will:
Develop a deep knowledge of healthcare law, health record content, medical coding and billing, quality initiatives, clinical documentation improvement, healthcare statistics, and the medical record.
Study health informatics.
Learn to bridge the gap between health information and information technology.
Understand how to ensure privacy and security.
Become an expert in handling health information.
Extern at a community healthcare facility, an opportunity that can lead to a full-time role upon graduation.
Career Options
Health information technology professionals play an essential role in the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities, as they’re responsible for managing the electronic systems that store patient data.
They can work for hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, state health organizations, behavioral health facilities, long-term care facilities, and medical record vendors. These careers offer flexibility as roles can sometimes be done remotely.
Health information technology careers can center on various skills, including data quality, revenue cycle management, consumer health information, data analytics, informatics, and privacy, risk, and compliance.
Here are just a few of the roles you could take on after you graduate:
Medical Records Clerk
Release of Information Specialist
Medical Record Coordinator
Medical Biller
Medical Coder
With the Health Information Technology program, you’ll be job-ready in just a few semesters. Many students even get hired before graduation!
Degree Types Offered
Credential Type
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
Long-Term Certificate
– known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
HOW TO APPLY
Future Students
Students interested in the Health Information Technology program must apply to Ivy Tech first using the Ivy Tech general application. In this application, apply for the Healthcare Specialist program with an interest in Health Information Technology. Apply to Ivy Tech Now
The Health Information Technology program at Ivy Tech has a selective admissions process, which means not all students who apply to the program will be accepted. Learn More about Selective Admissions
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
The Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology is a selective admission program that empowers you to make an impact in the medical field through tech.
Long-Term Certificate
known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
As a medical coding student, you'll establish a solid foundation of medical coding and health information technology knowledge that can easily translate into a career in the field. Students are able to start working in just two semesters. Some get hired before they complete the program!
The Medical Coding Technical Certificate (TC) program can be completed in two semesters, or about one year.
Building on Your Certificate
If your goal is to earn an associate degree in Health Information Technology, you can earn this certificate as a great first step. The certificate is designed to provide a gateway into entry-level HIT careers. That means you may be able to enter the workforce in your desired field after getting this certificate while you continue taking classes to pursue your associate degree. At Ivy Tech, we call this stacking credentials.
Health Information Technology is offered at 2 Ivy Tech locations in Indiana. Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options:
Want to make a difference in the healthcare industry without working directly with patients? Or, would you like to find a way to use technology to help others? If so, health information technology could be a great fit for you.
Careers in health information technology often require the following skills, goals, and personality traits:
Detail-oriented
Desire to work in healthcare but without physical patient contact
Self-motivated
Ability to work independently and on a team
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Strong critical thinking skills
Problem solving
Research
Professionalism
Lifelong learner
Sound Like You?
If you identify with the traits above, health information technology may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
Prerequisite Courses for Health Information Technology
Associate of Applied Science In order to enroll in the Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology program, you must complete six prerequisites:
ENLG111 – English Composition
APHY101 – Anatomy and Physiology I
MATH200 – Statistics
COMM101 – Fundamentals of Public Speaking or COMM102 – Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
HLHS101 – Medical Terminology
IVYT112 – Student Success – Health Sciences And Nursing
Please note: The math prerequisite for this program is different from that of other health-related programs.
Medical Coding Technical Certificate Students seeking the Medical Coding TC must complete the following prerequisites:
APHY101 – Anatomy and Physiology I
APHY102 – Anatomy and Physiology II
HLHS101 – Medical Terminology
IVYT112 – Student Success – Health Sciences And Nursing
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Health Information Technology Courses
Descriptions of Health Information Technology courses can be found in our online course catalog:
See when specific courses will be offered by searching our course list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the course in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming courses are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Course Formats
Health Information Technology courses are offered in different formats based on the campus you attend.
Fort Wayne – The Health Information Technology degree is completely online, with the exception of the externship. Students are required to complete a 40-hours externship at a healthcare facility in or near their community.
Indianapolis – Courses are taught in a Learn Anywhere format, meaning students can choose whether to take classes online or in-person. Students attend class one day per week.
Step 1
Apply to Ivy Tech
Students interested in the Health Information Technology program must first submit the Ivy Tech general application and complete requirements for admission to the college. During this application, you should apply for Healthcare Support program with a concentration in Health Information Technology. Admission to the college does not ensure acceptance to a health science program, but students can be working on prerequisite courses for Health Information Technology after admission to the college and before applying to the program itself.
Students are welcome to attend an information session to learn more about the program and ask questions of our faculty and staff. Each campus will hold information sessions, so please reach out to your local campus for upcoming dates. Attending an information session is not required to apply to the program.
Apply to the Health Information Technology Program
Following completion of prerequisite courses, you may apply for the Health Information Technology AAS program through the online application for health science programs.
The Health Information Technology program is a selective admission program, which means there are a limited number of spots each year. Applicants must meet the criteria outlined in the Essential Functions of Health Information Technicians document. Additionally, selected students must pay for and submit to a background check, drug test, and physical exam.
Students may apply to the Health Information Technology Program by the following dates based on the location you wish to attend:
Associate of Applied Science
Spring Program Start
August 15 – October 15
Medical Coding TC
Fall Program Start
March 15 – May 15
Filling Out the Health Information Technology Online Application
If you are not a current Ivy Tech Community College student, please Apply Now. You will need a C# (Ivy Tech student ID number) and Ivy Tech single sign-on login credentials in order to apply.
If you are transferring from another institution, please make sure that your transcripts are evaluated at least 4 weeks prior to the application deadline.
Check to make sure your personal information is accurate.
Select the programs and campuses you would like to be considered as an applicant. You can select up to three different programs and three different campuses.
You must meet all of the prerequisites for a program in order to submit your application. If you receive a message indicating that you do not meet the prerequisites, then please remove that program selection in order to proceed with the application.
Upload any necessary documents.
Make sure grades in the system are accurate. If not, please contact your home campus registrar or advisor.
You will be able to submit your application if you are currently enrolled in a course identified as a prerequisite for the program.
Once complete, submit your application.
You will receive an email confirmation in your Ivy Tech email account that your application has been submitted and is pending review.
Once you have submitted your application, you have the option to reopen it to make changes.
Note: DO NOT USE THE “BACK” function on your computer. Use the navigation pane at the side of the page to navigate.
Students can select up to three credential types and three campuses each on the application. Offers of acceptance are for a specific credential and a specific campus. The offers are determined through eight rounds of auto-selection and six rounds of manual selection.
If you are accepted, you will receive an email from the online application system to your Ivy Tech email account offering you a seat in the program you selected. Offers are emailed beginning within one week of the application close date and continue until program capacity is met or one week before the start of semester classes. Each round of offers begins at 6:00 am and applicants have until 11:59 pm the following day to either accept or reject an offer.
Depending on their rank and offers, a student could potentially receive multiple offers. Once you accept one offer, you are immediately withdrawn from all other offers and you will be contacted by the chair or dean of the program with information about the program orientation date, time, and location.
If a student fails to respond, then the offer expires. If a student rejects an offer three (3) times, the application is removed from the auto-selection application pool but will then be available for manual selection rounds that occur later in the process.
You do have the ability to withdraw your application at any point during the admission cycle. However, once you withdraw your application, you will not be able to apply again until the next application cycle.
What If I Don’t Get Admitted?
The Health Information Technology program does not maintain a waitlist. Non-admitted applicants can reapply in the next semester’s application cycle. You may also want to meet with your advisor. Advisors can assist students in exploring other programs of interest in Ivy Tech’s School of Health Sciences if they have applied several times and have not been accepted into the program. Ivy Tech offers many programs similar to Health Information Technology that lead to high-demand jobs that may be new to you but fit your passion to help others.
What is Selective Admission?
The Health Information Technology program is a selective admissions program. Due to the nature of this program and the high number of applications received, we are only able to accept a small number of students each year.
Weighted Point System
A weighted point system is used to evaluate applicants for admission. Student applications are assigned points based on their grades in prerequisite courses. Point totals for applicants receiving admission offers will vary between campuses. Point totals are not shared.
General Education Weighted Point System
When multiple course attempts are reported on applicant transcripts (including transcripts from other colleges and universities), the highest earned grade of the first three attempts will be used for the selection decision score through the application period. Points for courses transferred from other institutions will be awarded from the grade recorded on the transcript from the other institution provided transfer credit appears on the Ivy Tech transcript.
Point System
Course
Points Awarded by Grade
Associate of Applied Science
Science Courses
APHY101
MATH200
HLHS101
A = 30 points
B = 20 points
C = 10 points
D = 0 points
F = 0 points
Non-Science Courses
ENGL111
COMM101 or 102
A = 15 points
B = 10 points
C = 5 points
D = 0 points
F = 0 points
Medical Coding Technical Certificate
APHY101
APHY102
HLHS101
A = 30 points
B = 20 points
C = 10 points
D = 0 points
F = 0 points
CAHIIM-Accredited Program
Ivy Tech is proud to be accredited by CAHIIM, a nonprofit organization that sets industry standards for health information management and health informatics programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
This accreditation is typically held by four-year universities, so it is well known in the industry and particularly beneficial to Ivy Tech graduates when seeking out jobs.
The information below is provided in accordance with accreditation requirements.
The Health Information Management accreditor of Ivy Tech Community College-Central Indiana 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 2022 for the Indianapolis campus and 2025 for the Fort Wayne campus.
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.
Outcome Data by Campus
FORT WAYNE CAMPUS | Data from 2021 - 2022 Academic Year
Graduation Rate
78%
Employment Rate
64%
RHIT Certification Exam Pass Rate
75%
Indianapolis CAMPUS | Data from 2020 - 2021 Academic Year
Graduation Rate
100%
RHIT Certification Exam Pass Rate
89%
Graduates Working in Healthcare Field within 1 Year of Graduation
If you’re not yet an Ivy Tech student, contact us at 1-888-489-5463 and we’ll be happy to help.
Current Students
Contact your academic advisor, who can answer any questions you have about the Health Information Technology program and your certificate and degree options.
Find Local Advising Contact Info
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Call 1-888-489-5463 and we'll get you started.
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12pm Zoom Link
Starting Oct. 28th Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other days by appointment from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. **Special Saturday December 7 @ 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.