Where Can I Find Medical Records Training Online?

If you're interested in becoming a medical records technician or manager, we've included details about the vocation below.

You can even complete training options online to start your career.

Read on for information about programs that offer electronic medical records (EMR) or electronic health records (EHR) training online as well as those that provide certifications.

What Can I Do with Medical Records Training?

This health professions career requires training in areas such as medical coding, healthcare terminology, data management, privacy regulations, and medical ethics.

Job titles may include related terms such as:

• medical records technicians or managers
• electronic health record specialists
• medical coders
• electronic medical records coordinators

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical education needed is a postsecondary nondegree award such as a certificate program.

Future Outlook

The field of medical records management has been rapidly changing because of:

• technological advances in health information technology (HIT)
• the move to digital record-keeping for electronic health records (EHR) and electronic medical records (EMR)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% increase in jobs for medical records and health information technicians by 2031.

Today, the field stands at the cusp of a new revolution accompanying the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and the automation of medical coding.

Medical Records Certification

Most employers of medical records technicians and managers prefer to hire candidates who have professional certification. Several organizations provide credentialing.

National Healthcareer Association

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers certification exams for:

• certified electronic health record specialists (CEHRS)
• certified billing and coding specialists (CBCS)
• certified medical administrative assistants (CMAA)
• certified medical assistants (CCMA)

American Medical Certification Association

The American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) issues certification for electronic health records specialists (EHRC).

Online Medical Records Training Programs

The following schools are among dozens across the country that offer an entry-level online non-degree program. We've chosen to highlight programs that require at least 100 hours of classwork.

After completing such a certificate program, you should feel confident sitting for the National Healthcareer Association's CEHRS exam.

1. Agnes Scott College

A prestigious liberal arts college for women, Agnes Scott College now also provides professional training programs such as online electronic health records training.

The course's main objective is to prepare you to pass the CEHRS exam to become a medical records technician or health record specialist.

Using the Harris CareTracker, you'll learn the EHR architecture, hardware, networks, software, and interfaces. Also covered are HIPAA privacy and security rules and patient visit management.

This self-paced course can be completed in six months if you average six hours per week. Tuition is $1,975.

2. Ashworth College

Ashworth College provides a career certificate in electronic medical records. The required online courses are Electronic Medical Records Orientation and Electronic Medical Records.

These courses will train you in both the EHR and EMR software and prepare you in areas such as compliance with HIPAA Privacy Rules. Tuition is $449.

3. Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State University's College of Professional Education is home to the training course titled Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist + Medical Terminology that's certified by the NHA.

Self-paced through 14 lessons, this six-month course not only prepares you to take the CEHRS exam, but also proctors it as well. The tuition price is $2,320.

4. Kentucky Community & Technical College System

If you'd like to earn a certificate or an associate degree as a medical records specialist, most of Kentucky's 16 community colleges offer a:

• medical records specialist (MRS) associate degree that requires 40 credit hours
• electronic health records specialists (EHRS) certificate that requires 28 to 30 credit hours

You can earn either the certificate or diploma online at the following schools, except where noted:

• Ashland Community and Technical College
• Bluegrass Community and Technical College
• Big Sandy Community and Technical College
• Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
• Hazard Community and Technical College
• Jefferson Community and Technical College (MRS only)
• Madisonville Community College
• Hopkinsville Community College
• Maysville Community and Technical College
• Owensboro Community and Technical College (EHRS only)
• Somerset Community College
• Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (EHRS only)
• Southeast Community and Technical College (EHRS only)
• West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Online course tuition is $186 per credit hour plus $28 per credit hour in fees, for a total per credit cost of $214.

5. Louisiana Delta Community College

Louisiana Delta Community College's online electronic health records specialist course introduces students to medical and health records software for creating and maintaining patient records and code-setting.

The course teaches the legal HIPAA rules regarding patient confidentiality and medical records disclosure.

The course tuition of $1,998 includes the cost of the CEHRS exam along with test prep resources.

6. City University of New York

The City University of New York's Medgar Evers College is home to a CEHRS course that prepares students for the National Health Association's CEHRS exam.

When you enroll for the $1,395 course, which requires 100 class hours, you'll have lesson sections in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, medical records analysis, ICD-10, and computer skills for medical billing.

7. Miami Dade College

At Miami Dade College's School of Continuing Education and Professional Development, you could earn an online certificate in the electronic health records certificate program for just $749.

Students learn to manage the accuracy and security of patients' medical data in both electronic and hard-copy forms. You will also learn coding, billing, reimbursement, auditing, record release protocol, and workplace etiquette.

Coursework is synchronous through MDCLive, the school's online system.

8. Penn Foster

If your career goal is to become an electronic medical records (EMR) technician, Penn Foster may be the place to get your training online. You can complete the program in two to three months.

At this accredited high school, college, and career school, you can study online to prepare yourself for the NHA's CEHRS exam.

The program cost is only $399, which covers two courses and earns you 11.6 continuing education units (CEUs).

9. University of Cincinnati, Clermont

The Clermont campus of the University of Cincinnati offers an online Electronic Health Records Specialist Micro-Credential with the goal to prepare its students for the NHA's CEHRS credential.

The micro-credential consists of two courses. The course credits may apply to an undergraduate certificate or to UC Clermont's Associate of Applied Science in health information systems degree.

10. University of Illinois, Springfield

The University of Illinois at Springfield is home to a CEHRS training course. Tuition is $1,975 for this self-paced training program averaging six months in duration.

Students will learn to use real EHR software and the Harris CareTracker, to write a chief complaint, and to obtain a patient's history and vital information.

The course emphasizes learning the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Security Rule. You'll also learn to report public health information and communicate professionally with patients.

Find Your Medical Records Training Program Today

To enter the medical records and health information field, you'll need to determine your goal, such as a particular certifying exam, and then find a training program that will prepare you specifically for that exam.