How to Become a Health Information Technician in Texas: Education and RHIT Certification
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To work as a Health Information Technician in Texas, you'll need an associate degree from a CAHIIM-accredited program and the AHIMA Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential most Texas employers expect. Texas HITs earn a median wage of $78,060 a year ($37.53 an hour), well above the $67,310 national median. The catch is that not every "health information" program in Texas qualifies you to sit for the RHIT exam, and that's where most students get tripped up.
Columbia Southern University: A.S. in Health Information Science (Medical Coding)
- Format: online
- Length: about 2 years
- Credential: AS Health Information Science with medical coding focus
Herzing University: Associate of Science in Health Information Management
- Format: online
- Length: about 2 years
- Credential: AS Health Information Management
Confirm CAHIIM accreditation status directly with each program before enrolling. The catch is that not every health information associate degree is CAHIIM-accredited, and only graduates of CAHIIM-accredited programs can sit for the RHIT exam.
Where Texas HITs Get Hired
Texas has one of the largest healthcare employer footprints in the country. The major employer clusters for HITs include:
- HCA Healthcare hospitals (Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin)
- Memorial Hermann Health System (Houston metro)
- Baylor Scott & White Health (Dallas-Fort Worth, Central Texas)
- Methodist Health System (Dallas, San Antonio, Houston)
- UT Southwestern Medical Center and UT Health systems (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio)
- Texas Health Resources (Dallas-Fort Worth)
- Health insurance companies (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Centene, Molina)
- Medicare and Medicaid administrative contractors operating in Texas
HITs also work in physician group practices, ambulatory surgery centers, long-term care facilities, and consulting firms that audit healthcare records for compliance. Remote and hybrid HIT roles have become more common since 2022, especially for coding-focused positions.
Career Moves After RHIT in Texas
The RHIT is a starting point. Common upgrade paths Texas HITs pursue:
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA): Bachelor's-level credential through AHIMA. Opens HIM director and supervisor roles at larger health systems.
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS): Hospital inpatient coding specialty credential. Higher pay band than RHIT-only roles.
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC): Outpatient and physician practice coding credential through AAPC.
- Healthcare data analyst: Data analytics roles that build on the SQL, healthcare statistics, and EHR experience HIT programs cover.
- Health Information Manager: Supervisor role overseeing HIM departments. Usually requires RHIA plus 3-5 years of experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Health Information Technicians make in Texas?
Texas HITs earn a median annual wage of $78,060 ($37.53 per hour) according to BLS OES May 2024 data, which is about $10,750 above the national median of $67,310. Pay varies by employer type, credential, and metro market, with Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin generally paying above the state median.
What is the highest-paying job in Health Information Technology?
The highest-paying roles are typically Health Information Manager, Director of Health Information Management, and Health Informatics Specialist roles at large hospital systems or consulting firms. These usually require the RHIA credential (bachelor's-level), 5+ years of experience, and supervisory or specialty experience. Healthcare data analyst and clinical informatics specialist roles also pay above the standard HIT range, especially in metro Texas markets.
How do I become a medical coder in Texas?
Medical coding is a related but separate path. To work as a coder specifically, you can complete a coding-focused certificate (typically 9 to 12 months) and pursue the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate (CCA) for entry-level work or the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential. Coders fall under a different BLS occupation (Medical Records Specialists, 29-2072), and the pay band is generally lower than the RHIT-track HIT role. Many Texas students start as coders and add the RHIT or RHIA credential later.
Choosing the Right HIT Path in Texas
The decision filter is simpler than it looks. Confirm CAHIIM accreditation before enrolling. Pick an associate program that fits your schedule and budget. Plan for the RHIT exam fee and study time after graduation. The whole sequence runs about 2 to 2.5 years from your first class to your first RHIT-credentialed paycheck.
If your goal is the highest possible starting pay, target Texas's largest hospital systems where RHIT-credentialed roles consistently pay above the state median. If your goal is flexibility, online CAHIIM-accredited programs let you keep working while you study, and remote HIT roles have become more common across Texas employers since 2022.
