Building a Successful HIM Career: How to Choose the Right Credentialing Organization

Starting or advancing your career in HIM takes more than just experience — it requires the right credentials from the right organization.

Each organization specializes in different areas of the healthcare industry, and aligning yourself with the right one can open doors to better roles, higher salaries, and long-term career growth.

In this guide, we’ll break down what each credentialing organization offers, who each path is best suited for, and what you’ll need to qualify — so you can build a career that’s strong, strategic, and future-ready.

AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association)

Founded: 1928

AHIMA is one of the oldest and most influential organizations in Health Information Management. Originally established to improve the quality of medical records in hospitals, AHIMA has since shaped the entire HIM profession as we know it today. Over the decades, AHIMA has been deeply involved in standardizing medical records, influencing HIM education programs, pushing for legislative protections around patient privacy, and leading the way in health data governance.

Through active lobbying, AHIMA helped shape major policies like HIPAA, meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), and standards for data integrity and information exchange. Today, AHIMA credentials are recognized by hospitals, health systems, consulting firms, and payer organizations nationwide.

Top AHIMA Certifications:

• RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) – Often required for medical record techs and data specialists. (2-year degree required)

• RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator) – Sought for HIM management and director roles. (4-year degree required)

• CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) – Highly valued for inpatient and facility coding positions.

• CHDA (Certified Health Data Analyst) – Essential for roles focusing on healthcare analytics.

• CHPS (Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security) – Needed for privacy officers and compliance managers.

AHIMA certifications typically require a formal education (associate’s or bachelor’s degree) and are seen as essential for building a serious career in HIM leadership, coding, data governance, and compliance.

HFMA (Healthcare Financial Management Association)

Founded: 1946

While not exclusive to HIM, HFMA plays a powerful role in the broader healthcare financial ecosystem — and that directly impacts HIM professionals working in revenue cycle, reimbursement strategy, and patient financial services. HFMA has long been a driving force in healthcare finance policy, revenue cycle optimization, reimbursement models, and value-based care advocacy.

Their influence extends into lobbying efforts around Medicare reimbursement reform, value-based payment structures, and ensuring healthcare financial management adapts to new models of care delivery.

Top HFMA Certifications:

• CRCR (Certified Revenue Cycle Representative) – Essential for revenue cycle, patient access, and billing staff.

• CHFP (Certified Healthcare Financial Professional) – Targeted for managers and mid-level finance professionals.

• CSBI (Certified Specialist in Business Intelligence) – For professionals focusing on healthcare data analytics tied to financial outcomes.

No formal degree is required for some HFMA certifications like CRCR, making them an attractive credential for HIM professionals looking to move deeper into revenue cycle management and payer strategy.

AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders)

Founded: 1988

AAPC exploded onto the scene in the late '80s to meet the demand for certified, standardized outpatient medical coders. Since then, it has become the largest medical coding organization in the world, heavily influencing the coding industry standards. AAPC certifications are recognized and often required by hospitals, physician practices, insurance companies, and auditing firms.

While AAPC isn't deeply involved in lobbying like AHIMA, it has shaped the field through education standards, coding ethics, and a global network of medical coding professionals.

Top AAPC Certifications:

• CPC (Certified Professional Coder) – Considered the gold standard for outpatient and professional fee coding.

• CPB (Certified Professional Biller) – Recognized for medical billing roles.

• CPMA (Certified Professional Medical Auditor) – Key for compliance and audit roles.

• CRC (Certified Risk Adjustment Coder) – Sought after in payer organizations and Medicare Advantage plans.

• CPCO (Certified Professional Compliance Officer) – For those moving into coding compliance leadership.

Many AAPC credentials require passing their exams without a formal degree, though experience in the field is often highly recommended.

AAHAM (American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management)

Founded: 1968

AAHAM focuses primarily on the front-end and back-end revenue cycle, including patient access, billing, collections, and reimbursement strategy. It has earned respect for its commitment to educating healthcare administrative managers and ensuring ethical standards around billing practices and patient financial communication.

AAHAM also engages in lobbying efforts supporting better patient financial transparency laws and advocating for clearer hospital billing practices.

Top AAHAM Certifications:

• CRCS (Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist) – Ideal for entry and mid-level revenue cycle professionals.

• CRCE (Certified Revenue Cycle Executive) – For billing office managers, directors, and VPs.

• CRIP (Certified Revenue Integrity Professional) – For those specializing in compliance and revenue optimization.

AAHAM certifications typically require a combination of work experience and passing a proctored exam.

HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society)

Founded: 1961

HIMSS is one of the biggest names in healthcare IT and digital health innovation. While not HIM-exclusive, its certifications are increasingly important for HIM professionals working with EHR optimization, data governance, and interoperability.

HIMSS is a major force in shaping national policies on EHR meaningful use, interoperability standards (like FHIR), cybersecurity, and telehealth. It also hosts the globally influential HIMSS Conference every year, bringing together healthcare leaders, CIOs, and policymakers.

Top HIMSS Certifications:

• CAHIMS (Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems) – Entry to mid-level roles in health IT support and project teams.

• CPHIMS (Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems) – Mid-senior health IT leadership and strategic roles.

While HIMSS doesn't require degrees for CAHIMS, CPHIMS typically expects significant healthcare or IT experience along with a degree.

AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association)

Founded: 1989

AMIA focuses on the science of medical informatics — the intersection of healthcare, information science, and data technology. They play a leadership role in advancing clinical informatics standards and promoting healthcare research through data integration.

AMIA is heavily involved in influencing healthcare informatics policy, supporting clinician informaticist credentialing, and helping shape academic pathways in health data science.

Top AMIA Certification:

• AHIC (AMIA Health Informatics Certification) – Designed for advanced professionals working at the intersection of healthcare and information systems.

The AHIC requires either a master’s degree or extensive professional experience in informatics.

NHA (National Healthcareer Association)

Founded: 1989

NHA provides certifications for entry-level healthcare administrative and clinical support roles. While not as prestigious for HIM leadership, their certifications are highly valuable for starting careers in medical administration, billing, coding, and EHR support.

NHA focuses more on equipping the allied health workforce and helping organizations staff efficiently for front-desk, patient access, and basic billing roles.

Top NHA Certifications:

• CBCS (Certified Billing and Coding Specialist) – For early-career billers and coders.

• CEHRS (Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist) – For administrative EHR roles.

• CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant) – For medical front desk and coordination positions.

Most NHA certifications require either a training program certificate or verified work experience.

How to Choose the Right Credentialing Organization for Your HIM Career

Choosing the right organization isn’t just about picking the most popular name — it’s about aligning your credentials with your long-term career goals. Here’s how to think about it strategically:

• Start with your end goal in mind. Are you aiming for coding, revenue cycle leadership, health IT, data analytics, or compliance?

• Follow employer demand. Check real job postings for your target role. Look at which certifications they prefer or require.

• Consider your current experience and education. Some certifications require a degree, others don't. Some require years of field experience first.

• Think about cross-training value. A coding cert from AAPC might pair powerfully with a data cert from AHIMA or a revenue cert from HFMA.

• Look at the organization’s industry influence. Certifications from organizations deeply involved in lobbying, education, and national standards (like AHIMA, HFMA, and HIMSS) often hold more long-term weight.

Choosing the right organization depends on where you want your career to go. Here’s a simple way to think about it:

• If you want to manage health records and information systems:➔ Look at AHIMA certifications like RHIT or RHIA.

• If you want to analyze health data and work with reporting and insights:➔ Go for AHIMA’s CHDA after getting your RHIT or RHIA.

• If you want to specialize in medical coding or auditing:➔ AAPC is your best bet with credentials like CPC, CRC, or CPMA.

• If you want to move into revenue cycle leadership or billing strategy:➔ HFMA and AAHAM offer powerful options like CRCR and CRCE.

• If you want to work on the tech side with EHRs, system optimization, and digital health:➔ Go with HIMSS and earn certifications like CAHIMS or CPHIMS.

• If you're aiming for advanced clinical informatics or big health data projects:➔ AMIA’s AHIC certification is the right move.

• If you want to start your career in medical billing, front desk, or EHR administration:➔ NHA offers practical certifications like CBCS and CEHRS.

Quick Tip About Certification Stacking

You don’t have to stay loyal to just one organization. Many top HIM professionals stack certifications from different groups to build well-rounded expertise. (Example: You could hold an RHIT from AHIMA, a CPC from AAPC, and a CRCR from HFMA — all working together to open bigger career opportunities.)

👉 Learn more about how to stack certifications the smart way here.

Final Thoughts: Picking the Right Organization for Your Career

Each credentialing body brings a unique contribution to the world of HIM and healthcare administration. Choosing the right organization — and the right credential — depends on where you are now and where you want your career to go.

Whether you're aiming for coding mastery, privacy leadership, revenue cycle management, or digital health innovation, understanding the roots, reputation, and recognition of these organizations will set you up for long-term success.

Ready to showcase your certifications the right way on your HIM resume?👉 Contact us today to build a resume that stands out in the HIM field!