How To Become a Health Information Services Manager

Health information is more than data, it is a person’s medical story that typically includes patient information, medical histories, clinical data, and electronic medical records such as lab results, diagnoses and procedures. Individually, this information reflects how a patient’s health changes over time. Collectively, it can help healthcare organizations understand population health trends and evaluate medical interventions.¹

Health Information Management (HIM) combines health information management and health informatics, focusing on acquiring, analyzing, and protecting medical information through health information technology and information systems to support quality patient care. It combines elements of business, science, and information technology. Health information management professionals typically help manage patient health information, ensuring electronic health records are complete, accurate, standardized and secure. They often serve as a link between clinicians, administrators, and technology teams, supporting the daily management of electronic health records (EHRs) and health data systems.¹

If you are considering becoming a Health Information Services Manager, you would be preparing to work with health data in a way that may keep it meaningful, protected, and usable. Educational programs in HIM typically integrate healthcare knowledge, information technology, management, finance, and law. Through formal training and credential preparation, you may begin building the competencies associated with managing and safeguarding health information across a variety of healthcare environments.¹

Steps To Becoming a Health Information Services Manager

While the exact path may vary, how to become a health information services manager typically follows these steps:²

1. Determine Your Entry Path

Consider your career path in health information services management by starting with a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree, which may influence entry-level positions and educational requirements.²

2. Complete an Accredited Program

Enrollment in a CAHIIM‑accredited program may provide access to coursework and practical experience designed to meet credentialing requirements, depending on individual eligibility and program completion. Coursework may include health data management, privacy and compliance, coding systems, leadership, and health information technology. Programs may be delivered online.²

3. Gain Practical Experience

Participation in field experiences could provide opportunities to apply knowledge of electronic health records, data analysis, or regulatory standards in real-world settings.²

4. Consider Professional Certification

Some individuals may pursue certification through the American Health Information Management Association^® (AHIMA^®), such as the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA^®) or Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT^®), depending on education and credentialing requirements. Certification could be considered to demonstrate professional competency.²

Health Information Options at Rasmussen University

Rasmussen University offers a range of structured academic pathways in the area of health information designed to support different starting points and experience levels:

Certificate Program

• Focused training in Medical Billing and Coding.
• Intended to develop foundational skills relevant to health information work and may serve as a stepping-stone into more advanced programs.³

Associate Degree: Health Information Technician

• May provide a technical foundation in managing patient health data and health information systems.⁴
• May support eligibility for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT^®) certification, depending on educational background and credentialing requirements.⁴

Bachelor’s Degree: Health Information Management (HIM)

Rasmussen University’s Health Information Management bachelor’s degree program is not available online to residents of some states. Please speak with an admissions representative to determine your eligibility for enrollment.

• A CAHIIM-accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Management may help prepare students with skills such as health information security and privacy, health law and compliance, leadership and management, and advanced data analytics.⁵

Rasmussen University’s Health Information Management bachelor’s degree program is not available online to residents of some states. Please speak with an admissions representative to determine your eligibility for enrollment.

• Students may complete the program fully online, with a required professional practice experience in a real-world health information setting during the final term.⁵
• The curriculum may include courses such as Advanced Data Analytics and Informatics in Healthcare, Electronic Health Record Application, and Advanced Health Information Leadership and Management.⁵

Laddered Pathway Structure

• Rasmussen’s Health Information options are designed to allow students to enter at the level that best matches their academic background, whether starting with a certificate, finishing an associate degree, or progressing into the bachelor’s program.⁵

Each pathway is intended to build knowledge and skills necessary for health information career paths with multiple start dates and support services.⁵

Typical Work Settings for Health Information Services Managers

Health Information Services Managers may work in a variety of healthcare-related environments, including:⁵

• Hospitals
• Healthcare systems
• Insurance companies
• Health information technology vendors

How To Advance as a Health Information Services Manager

After completing a Health Information Management degree program, you may choose to expand your knowledge and responsibilities in several ways:⁵

• Pursue Graduate Education: Depending on your situation and your personal goals, you may enroll in a master’s degree in business administration, healthcare administration or public health.⁵
• Earn Additional Certifications: In addition to the RHIA^® credential, you might explore specialty certifications in areas such as privacy and security, coding, data analysis, compliance, or informatics, based on eligibility requirements.⁶

Additional/specific work experience and/or advanced education may be required to earn certifications in the area of Health Information Privacy and Security, Coding and Data Analysis, Compliance, and Informatics. It is important to check the requirements needed to be eligible to sit for certification examinations.

These options represent examples of how you might continue developing within the health information management field after completing an undergraduate degree.

American Health Information Management Association^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois 60606, United States.
AHIMA^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois 60606, United States.
RHIA^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois 60606, United States.
RHIT^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois 60606, United States.

¹The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), Health Information 101, at https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/career-tools/career-pages/health-information-101 (accessed March 3, 2026).
²Rasmussen University, Health Information Management Programs, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/health-information-management/ (accessed March 3, 2026).
³Rasmussen University, Medical Billing and Coding Certificate, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/health-information-management/medical-billing-and-coding-certificate/ (accessed March 3, 2026).
⁴Rasmussen University, Health Information Technician Associate’s Degree, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/health-information-management/hit-associates/ (accessed March 3, 2026).
⁵Rasmussen University, Bachelor’s Degree in Health Information Management, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/health-information-management/bachelors/ (accessed March 3, 2026).
⁶The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), Certification Overview, at https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/ (accessed March 3, 2026).