Health Information Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of health information specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for health information specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of health information specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for health information specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Health Information Specialists?
Do health information specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do health information specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for health information specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Health Information Specialists
Jobs Postings for Health Information Specialists By Education
- High School or GED: 80,263 (37%)
- No Education Listed: 62,345 (29%)
- Bachelor's degree: 56,383 (26%)
- Master's degree: 12,428 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 3,568 (2%)
High School or GED is the level of education sought the most by employers of health information specialists. According to job data, a High School diploma or GED was required for 37% of positions. In 29% of job listings no education level was listed and in 26% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Health Information Specialists
Jobs Postings for Health Information Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 39,600 (30%)
- 2-3 Years: 55,446 (42%)
- 4-6 Years: 22,662 (17%)
- 7-9 Years: 2,930 (2%)
- 10+ Years: 11,084 (8%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for health information specialists. In 42% of job postings for Health Information Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 17% of job postings for health information specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Health Information Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for health information specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 14 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective health information specialists, and in 2021 a total of 82,337 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective health information specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Health Information Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Health Information Specialists (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | 29,637 |
| Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder. | 9,924 |
| Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician. | 9,647 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | 7,952 |
| Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary. | 7,715 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | 29,637 |
| Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder. | 9,924 |
| Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician. | 9,647 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | 7,952 |
| Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary. | 7,715 |
| Medical Office Assistant/Specialist. | 4,884 |
| Medical Office Management/Administration. | 3,543 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other. | 3,492 |
| Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator. | 3,302 |
| Medical Informatics. | 2,004 |
| Medical Transcription/Transcriptionist. | 198 |
| Medical Staff Services Technology/Technician. | 26 |
| Disease Registry Data Management. | 8 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. | 5 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Health Information Specialists
Turn patient data into knowledge that improves lives with Franklin’s M.S. in Health Informatics. Finish your master's online in as few as 12 months.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Health Information Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by health information specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for health information specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Health Information Specialists
Based on 0 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Health Information Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
Top 5 Common Skills for Health Information Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 76,591 | 38% |
| Management | 47,703 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 46,415 | 23% |
| Detail Oriented | 34,101 | 17% |
| Operations | 30,866 | 15% |
Based on 0 job postings related to health information specialists, was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with % of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for health information specialists, followed by management, customer service, detail oriented, operations and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 76,591 | 38% |
| Management | 47,703 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 46,415 | 23% |
| Detail Oriented | 34,101 | 17% |
| Operations | 30,866 | 15% |
| Writing | 30,511 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 29,850 | 15% |
| Leadership | 29,281 | 14% |
| Microsoft Excel | 28,527 | 14% |
| Research | 28,478 | 14% |
| Microsoft Office | 23,574 | 12% |
| Computer Literacy | 21,218 | 10% |
| Multitasking | 20,781 | 10% |
| Organizational Skills | 19,219 | 9% |
| Clerical Works | 18,556 | 9% |
| Collections | 18,464 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 17,922 | 9% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 17,040 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 16,545 | 8% |
| English Language | 16,127 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about health information specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for health information specialists.
What do health information specialists do?
How much do health information specialists make?
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