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Quick Summary: What You Need to Know
If you’re short on time, here are the key takeaways:
- Health information technology (Health IT) is one of the fastest-growing healthcare fields — projected to grow about 15% from 2024 to 2034, far above the roughly 3% average for all U.S. occupations.
- You don’t need to be a doctor or nurse to build a meaningful healthcare career. Health IT roles work behind the scenes with data, records, and systems.
- Most entry-level roles require an associate degree, making this a faster, more affordable path into healthcare than many clinical careers.
- Demand is driven by the explosion of electronic health data, an aging population, and the shift toward digital recordkeeping across every hospital and clinic.
- Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology offers a fully online, CAHIIM-accredited Associate of Science in Health Information Technology program that prepares you for the field in about 75 weeks.
The Healthcare Jobs Nobody Talks About
When most people picture a healthcare career, they imagine doctors, nurses, or surgeons working directly with patients. But there’s an entire layer of the healthcare system working quietly behind the scenes — and it’s booming.
Health information technology professionals are the people who make sure your medical records are accurate, secure, and instantly available to the providers who need them. Every prescription sent electronically, every test result logged in your chart, and every insurance claim coded correctly depends on skilled Health IT workers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of health information technologists and medical registrars is projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. That’s not a niche trend — it’s a sustained, structural shift in how healthcare operates.
Why Is This Field Growing So Fast?
The growth isn’t an accident. A few powerful forces are driving demand:
The data explosion. The volume of electronic health information continues to grow, so more health information technologists are needed to analyze that data and offer insight that helps providers make informed decisions.
An aging population. Healthcare is projected to be the fastest-growing industry sector, driven in part by an aging population and the rising prevalence of chronic conditions.
The shift to digital records. Paper charts are gone. Electronic medical records (EMRs) and e-prescribing systems now run modern healthcare — and all require trained professionals to manage them.
Privacy and compliance demands. As privacy laws evolve, organizations need specialists who understand both the technology and the regulations protecting patient information.
Common Questions About Health IT Careers
Q: What does a health information technologist actually do?
A: They design, use, and maintain the systems that store and organize patient health data. These systems help nurses, physicians, and other providers compile, store, and analyze patient health information — for example, the electronic medical record (EMR). Day-to-day work can include managing health records, coding diagnoses and procedures, ensuring data accuracy, and protecting patient privacy.
Q: Do I need a four-year degree to get started?
A: No. Most entry-level Health IT roles are accessible with an associate degree. Cambridge’s Health Information Technology program is a two-year, 75-week associate degree designed specifically to get you job-ready.
Q: Can I study while working or raising a family?
A: Yes. Cambridge’s program is offered completely online, giving you the flexibility to balance school with work and life. Students get the same interaction with faculty and classmates as in-classroom study, delivered through video instruction and an online portal.
Q: Is the program accredited, and can I earn a certification?
A: Yes. Cambridge’s Health Information Technology program is programmatically accredited by CAHIIM, the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to sit for the AHIMA Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam — a credential that sets you apart and opens doors to advancement.
Q: What will I actually learn?
A: The curriculum connects technical skills to real patient impact, including health data content and structure, medical terminology and anatomy, and ICD-10 and CPT/HCPCS coding — the universal coding systems that support accurate billing and care documentation.
Q: Are there ways to advance beyond an entry-level role?
A: Absolutely. Many professionals move up by adding certifications or further education. If you want to grow into management and leadership, Cambridge also offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, which prepares students to understand both the clinical and regulatory sides of healthcare.
How Health IT Compares to Other Growing Healthcare Roles
Health IT is part of a broader healthcare hiring wave. For context:
Health information technologists and medical registrars: projected 15% growth (2024–2034). Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- The 40% growth between 2023 and 2033 figure
- The 31,900 average annual job openings over the decade
- The $129,480 average annual salary (as of May 2023)
Note: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Medical and health services managers: projected to grow 23 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average.
- Medical records specialists: projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034.
- Healthcare occupations overall: projected to grow much faster than average, with about 1.9 million openings each year, on average.
The takeaway: this isn’t a single hot job — it’s an entire ecosystem of opportunity, and Health IT is one of the most accessible entry points into it.
Is Health IT the Right Fit for You?
This career tends to suit people who are organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable with technology — but who also care about making a difference. You won’t be at the bedside, but your work directly affects patient care by ensuring providers have accurate, secure information when it matters most.
If you enjoy problem-solving, value stability and growth, and want a healthcare career without years of clinical training, Health IT deserves a serious look.
Take the Next Step Toward a Career That Matters
The Health IT field is growing faster than most people realize — and the window to enter it has rarely been better. With strong demand, accessible education, and clear pathways to advancement, there’s never been a smarter time to start.
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology makes that first step simple. Our fully online, CAHIIM-accredited Associate of Science in Health Information Technology program is built to fit your life, prepare you for industry certification, and connect you to a rewarding career — in about 75 weeks.
Ready to get started?
Explore the Health Information Technology program and curriculum.
Have questions about your career fit? Review our program FAQs.
Want to advance into leadership later? Learn about the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management.
Or simply call 877-206-4279 to speak with an admissions advisor today.
Your future in healthcare’s fastest-growing behind-the-scenes field starts with a single step. Take it with Cambridge.