Core Competencies

Introduction - CAHIIM Accreditation

The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) has established Domains of Knowledge and competencies within each Domain. Each competency is identified by a numbering system, a short title and a Bloom's Taxonomy level. The Curriculum Map for the AS in Health Information Technology is featured below. Each of the six domains lists competencies for the entry-level professional.

AS Degree programs that are accredited by CAHIIM must provide documentation of competencies taught at least to the Bloom's level specified in the Curriculum Map. You will be required to complete certain assignments in each of your classes.

For each Competency, a Chapter Crosswalk to the Health Information Technology - An Applied Approach resource book is noted in the "chapter" column. This will be very helpful when you are taking practice exams and identifying your areas of weakness. Start by reviewing material in the crosswalked chapters. The RHIT exam is based on this material.

Resources

The Registered Health Information Technology examination is an entry-level exam that is based on the current foundation textbook in use at the time the exam was developed. This textbook has been used as a foundation for health information technology courses since the 4th edition published in 2012. The textbook is available from AHIMA and a number of private sites. It is also available in a digital version.

Remember to get the most current edition. Information in this field changes rapidly and prior editions may have incorrect information.

You will also find it useful to purchase a review book. Three examples are listed below.

AHIMA: Closest to the style of questions you will see on the exam. Student-created practice exams available.
Jones & Bartlett: Ability to create instructor monitored exams; very stable website; challenging questions but answer key often incorrect
Cengage: "With and Without Code Book" questions for classification systems, challenging questions; instructor monitored classroom; unstable website.

In addition to this website and the resources noted above, you can also find many practice exams on the Internet.

Mometrix also markets RHIT exam flashcards that many students find helpful. They are small and very portable. You can review whenever you have downtime such as when on public transportation or waiting in a line.

AHIMA has excellent resources for the student preparing for national exams.

There are many practice exam options also available on Quizlet.

The secret to success in the RHIT exam is consistency. A little review every day is more effective than a lot of study the week before you sit for the exam. Check out the examples below and see what else you can find. Share your successes on our blog page.