RHIT and RHIA Certification Cost in 2026: Exam Fees, Total Investment, and How to Save

The RHIT and RHIA exam costs in 2026 are $229 for AHIMA members and $299 for non-members. Both exams are priced identically by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), but the total cost to earn either credential is much higher because both require a CAHIIM-accredited degree before you can sit for the test.

For most candidates, the realistic total cost for RHIT certification is $5,000 to $25,000 (including an associate degree), and the total cost for RHIA certification is $20,000 to $80,000+ (including a bachelor’s degree). Study materials, practice tests, and recertification fees add another $200–$700 over your first two years.

Here’s the short version:

This guide breaks down every cost involved in earning the RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) and RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator) credentials in 2026, the cheapest legitimate paths, and five practical ways to lower your bill — including how to reduce your out-of-pocket cost to zero.

The RHIT and RHIA Exam Fee: What You’ll Actually Pay

According to AHIMA’s official certification pages, the RHIT exam costs $229 for AHIMA members and $299 for non-members. The RHIA exam costs the same: $229 for members and $299 for non-members. Test re-take fees are identical to the original exam fee.

That’s the base exam price. Your checkout total September be slightly higher depending on your state’s sales tax or payment processing fees.

Here’s a quick look at what that fee covers:

• One attempt at the 3.5-hour, 150-question computer-based exam
• Exam delivery through Pearson VUE testing centers
• Immediate score reporting (pass/fail)
• Digital credential upon passing (passing score is 300)
• Inclusion in AHIMA’s certified credential holder directory

That fee does not include study materials, practice exams, AHIMA membership, your required degree, or any prep courses. It’s purely the cost of sitting for the test.

One thing to know: if you fail, you pay the full $229–$299 again for every retake. AHIMA requires a 30-day waiting period after a failed attempt before you can reapply.

RHIT vs RHIA Exam Cost Comparison

A common question is whether the RHIA exam costs more than the RHIT exam since RHIA is the higher-tier credential. It doesn’t. Both exams are priced identically by AHIMA. The cost difference between the two credentials comes entirely from the degree requirement, not the exam itself.

Check out our RHIT vs. RHIA comparison: Which Health Information Credential Is Right for You?

RHIT and RHIA Exam Cost by Country

AHIMA prices both exams in U.S. dollars. The exams are primarily intended for U.S. healthcare professionals, but international candidates can sit for them if they meet specific eligibility criteria (such as graduating from a program with an AHIMA reciprocity agreement).

Before booking, confirm your eligibility on the AHIMA website and the final price inside your Pearson VUE checkout.

Beyond the Exam Fee: Total RHIT and RHIA Certification Cost

The exam fee is the easiest part of your budget to calculate. The real cost of becoming RHIT- or RHIA-certified comes from the mandatory degree, study materials, and any prep courses you choose to use.

A candidate already working in a hospital’s health information department who studies independently will spend very differently from a career-changer with no healthcare background who needs a full degree plus structured training.

Here’s what a realistic budget looks like, broken down by component.

The Degree Requirement: Your Biggest Cost

You cannot sit for the RHIT or RHIA exam without a CAHIIM-accredited degree. This is non-negotiable, and it’s by far the largest cost of either certification.

Community college associate programs are the cheapest legitimate path to RHIT. Many run between $3,000 and $8,000 per year for in-state students. Public university bachelor’s programs are typically $10,000–$25,000 per year. Online CAHIIM-accredited programs (like Western Governors University’s BS in Health Information Management) sit in the middle of the range, often with flat-rate per-term tuition.

Study Materials ($25 to $200)

The official AHIMA exam preparation book is the closest you can get to “studying from the source.” For RHIA, AHIMA Press also publishes a dedicated RHIA Exam Prep book with two full-length practice exams and over 800 questions.

Practice Exams ($0 to $120)

Practice exams are arguably the highest-ROI study investment. They reveal which content domains you’re weak in before you walk into a $299 test.

• AHIMA online practice exam: Around $50–$80 for a single-use, simulated exam.
• PassITExams RHIT/RHIA practice tests: Free questions on our website; paid bundles for $25-$30.
• Third-party practice exams: $20–$50 per month for app-based question banks.

AHIMA Membership ($49 to $225)

This is where most candidates leave money on the table. AHIMA membership reduces your exam fee by $70, gets you free CEUs, and reduces your recertification fee. The membership pays for itself in most cases.

If you’re still in school, the student membership is a no-brainer. $49 + $229 = $278, which is still cheaper than the $299 non-member exam fee — and you get a year of CEUs, networking, and discounts on top.

RHIT/RHIA Exam Prep Courses ($0 to $1,500)

If you want structured instruction beyond a textbook, prep courses fill that gap.

Most CAHIIM-accredited programs include an exam-prep capstone or review course in your final term. If yours does, you September not need to buy additional structured training.

RHIT and RHIA Recertification Cost

Your RHIT or RHIA credential isn’t lifetime. AHIMA requires a 2-year recertification cycle, which means you’ll have ongoing maintenance costs as long as you want to keep the letters after your name.

According to AHIMA’s recertification FAQ, if you hold one credential, the recertification fee is $249 for non-members. If you hold more than one credential, the first recertification fee is $249 and each additional certification is $50.

CEU Requirements

Recertification Cost Comparison

The math actually favors membership. Maintaining membership at ~$189–$225/year for two years ($378–$450) gets you reduced recertification fees plus complimentary CEUs that would otherwise cost hundreds. Non-members pay the full $249 every 2 years and must source (and pay for) every CEU themselves.

Free Ways to Earn CEUs

• AHIMA Engage community webinars (free to members)
• Your state HIM association (often hosts free or low-cost CEU events)
• Employer-sponsored training (most hospital HIM departments offer CEU-eligible in-services)
• Authoring articles or presenting at HIM conferences
• Passing a higher-level AHIMA credential (automatically resets your cycle)

If you pass the RHIA after holding the RHIT, the RHIA credential supersedes your RHIT. You no longer need to maintain the RHIT separately.

5 Ways to Save on RHIT and RHIA Certification Fees

The exam itself is a small piece of the puzzle. Here’s where you can actually cut costs without compromising your credentials’ legitimacy.

1. Join AHIMA as a Student Before You Test

This is the easiest $70 you’ll ever save. Student membership is roughly $49/year, and it drops your exam fee from $299 to $229 — a net saving of about $21 once you factor in the membership. The bigger win is access to discounted exam prep materials, free CEUs you can carry into your first recertification cycle, and a recent-graduate 50% off transition rate when you finish school.

2. Use Your Capstone Course Prep Materials

Most CAHIIM-accredited programs hand out the AHIMA RHIT or RHIA Exam Prep guide as part of the capstone course. Rasmussen University, for example, includes the AHIMA RHIT Exam Prep guide (with access codes for online resources) in its HIT Capstone course. If your program does this, don’t buy duplicate study guides. Check with your program coordinator before purchasing anything.

3. Request Employer Reimbursement

If you’re already working in healthcare — even in an entry-level role like medical records clerk, registration, or billing — many employers will reimburse your exam fee on passing because credentialed RHITs and RHIAs improve their department compliance and coding accuracy scores. Hospitals, insurance companies, and large physician groups especially tend to have formal certification reimbursement policies. Ask HR or your direct manager before you pay out of pocket.

4. Pass on the First Try

This sounds obvious, but the single biggest hidden cost of either certification is the retake fee. Each failed attempt is another $229–$299, plus the lost productivity of 30+ more days of waiting and studying. Candidates who skimp on practice exams to “save money” often spend more on retakes than they would have spent on a $50 practice test bundle. Invest in at least one full-length, timed practice exam (AHIMA’s official one is ideal) and don’t book your exam until you’re consistently scoring at or above the passing threshold.

5. Apply for State and Component Association Scholarships

Every state has a state-level AHIMA component association (NJHIMA in New Jersey, CHIA in California, FHIMA in Florida, etc.). Many of them offer scholarships specifically for RHIT and RHIA candidates. NJHIMA, for example, reimburses the cost of a student’s first-year AHIMA membership for any student enrolled in an RHIA or RHIT program in New Jersey. AHIMA’s national Foundation also offers merit and need-based scholarships for HIM students. These are heavily underutilized — many state chapters report scholarships going unawarded each year because nobody applies.

How to Prepare for RHIT and RHIA Certification with Zero Out-of-Pocket Cost

The total RHIT or RHIA bill — degree, exam fee, study materials, and membership — can easily climb into five figures. But with the right combination of grants, employer programs, and free resources, you can legitimately reduce your out-of-pocket cost to zero dollars. Here’s how.

1. Get Your Associate or Bachelor’s Degree Funded 100% Free

You cannot skip school to take the RHIT or RHIA exam. To avoid paying for your mandatory degree:

• Apply for federal Pell Grants: If you qualify financially, federal funding can entirely cover community college tuition for a CAHIIM-accredited HIT or HIM associate program. For lower-cost online bachelor’s programs in HIM, Pell Grants can also cover a substantial chunk of the cost.
• Utilize state workforce grants: Many states fund healthcare and Health Information Technology (HIT) degrees entirely through “free community college” initiatives or high-demand workforce grants. States like Tennessee, Oregon, New York, and Michigan have specific HIT-related workforce funding pipelines. Check your state’s department of labor or workforce development site.
• Seek employer tuition reimbursement: If you currently work in a hospital or clinic — even in an entry-level role like patient registration, scanning, or medical records — many employers will fully fund your CAHIIM-accredited HIT or HIM degree. Hospital chains like HCA, Ascension, and the VA system are particularly aggressive about this because they need RHIT and RHIA staff for compliance.
• Apply for AHIMA Foundation scholarships: The AHIMA Foundation awards multiple merit- and need-based scholarships each year to HIM students. Most go to applicants who simply submit a complete application.

2. Get Your Exam Fee Covered

Once you graduate, you can get the $229–$299 exam fee paid for by others:

• Employer sponsorship: Many healthcare employers gladly pay for the exam fee because having credentialed RHIT and RHIA staff improves their department compliance and coding accuracy scores. Some employers pay the fee upfront; others reimburse you after you pass. Ask before you pay.
• Academic vouchers: Some CAHIIM-accredited community colleges and universities bundle the cost of the AHIMA exam voucher directly into your final semester fees, or offer institutional scholarships to cover it. WGU and select community college programs are known to do this.
• State component association grants: State AHIMA chapters frequently offer small awards specifically to cover the exam fee for first-time candidates from their state.
• Workforce reentry programs: If you’ve been unemployed and are in a state workforce program, the program will often cover the exam fee as part of your reentry plan.

3. Use 100% Free Study Resources

Beyond the official AHIMA prep book (which your program September already provide), there’s a surprising amount of free, high-quality study material online:

• Mometrix Academy and Practice Test Geeks offer free RHIT and RHIA practice questions and free study guides.
• AHIMA’s exam content outlines (free downloads on the AHIMA website) tell you exactly which domains are weighted most heavily on the exam.
• YouTube channels like CDIChat, HIM Hub, and various professor-run RHIT/RHIA prep playlists offer free domain-by-domain reviews.
• Anki and Quizlet have thousands of community-built RHIT/RHIA flashcard decks. Search for “RHIT exam” or “RHIA exam” decks built by recent test-takers.
• Library access: Your community college library almost certainly has a recent edition of the AHIMA RHIT/RHIA Exam Prep book. Free to borrow, free to study from.

If you stack these — federal Pell Grant for the degree, employer reimbursement or state grant for the exam fee, and free online study resources — you can realistically earn the RHIT or RHIA credential without writing a single check.

Is the RHIT or RHIA Worth the Cost?

The numbers say yes — especially for RHIA.

According to PassITExams Salary data, RHIT-certified professionals earn a median total salary of approximately $78,000, while data place average RHIT salaries in the $57,000–$99,000 range nationally. Top earners in specialized roles or high-cost-of-living states (Washington, New York, DC) push above $75,000.

RHIA salaries are significantly higher. According to multiple 2026 salary surveys, RHIA average pay sits between $80,000 and $120,000, with senior RHIA’s in director or compliance roles routinely exceeding $100,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15% growth in HIM-related occupations from 2024 to 2034, and 28% growth for Medical and Health Services Managers (a common RHIA career destination) through 2032.

Even at the higher end of degree costs, the salary lift relative to non-credentialed health information clerks (typically $35,000–$45,000) usually recoups your investment within the first 1–2 years of work.

RHIT and RHIA Certification Cost FAQ

How much does the RHIT exam cost in 2026?

The RHIT exam costs $229 for AHIMA members and $299 for non-members. This is the official fee from AHIMA.

How much does the RHIA exam cost in 2026?

The RHIA exam costs the same as the RHIT: $229 for AHIMA members and $299 for non-members. The exam fee is identical even though RHIA requires a higher degree.

Do I have to pay again if I fail the RHIT or RHIA?

Yes. Each retake costs the full exam fee ($229–$299). AHIMA requires a 30-day waiting period before you can reapply. You must submit a new application each time.

What’s the total cost of getting RHIT certified?

If you already have the required associate degree, the total can be as low as $400–$700 (exam + books). Starting from scratch with degree included, expect $5,000–$20,000+.

What’s the total cost of getting RHIA certified?

If you already have the required bachelor’s degree in HIM, the total can be as low as $400–$700. Starting from scratch with a bachelor’s degree, expect $20,000–$80,000+ depending on the school.

Can I get a discount on the RHIT or RHIA exam?

Yes. Joining AHIMA as a student member (~$49/year) drops the exam fee from $299 to $229. Many state component associations offer scholarships, and many employers reimburse the fee on passing.

How much does RHIT or RHIA recertification cost?

The recertification fee is $249 every 2 years for non-members. For AHIMA members, it’s bundled with reduced rates into the annual membership renewal. RHIT requires 20 CEUs every 2 years; RHIA requires 30 CEUs.

Is the RHIT or RHIA exam fee refundable?

If you withdraw or are deemed ineligible, AHIMA refunds the exam fee minus a $75 processing fee. After you receive your Authorization to Test letter, the fee generally becomes non-refundable.

How long is the RHIT/RHIA Authorization to Test valid?

You must schedule and sit for your exam within 120 days of receiving your Authorization to Test letter from AHIMA.

Is RHIA harder than RHIT?

Both exams use the same 150-question format and 300 passing score. RHIA covers more management, data governance, and leadership content, while RHIT focuses on operational HIM tasks like coding, privacy, and EHR maintenance. RHIA is generally considered more conceptually difficult because it tests higher-level analytical and management skills.

Should I get RHIT first, then RHIA?

It depends on your degree. If you have an associate degree, RHIT is your only option. If you have a CAHIIM-accredited bachelor’s, skip RHIT and go straight to RHIA — it’s the higher-tier credential and supersedes the RHIT. There’s no benefit to holding both.

Bottom Line: Budget Smart, Prepare Well

The RHIT and RHIA exams cost $229–$299, but the real investment ranges from a few hundred dollars (if you already have your degree) to tens of thousands (if you’re starting with a degree program). The smart move isn’t spending the least amount possible — it’s understanding which costs are negotiable and which are not.

Here’s a practical budget breakdown for three common scenarios:

The degree requirement is the dominant cost — and it’s also where the biggest savings live. Federal Pell Grants, state workforce grants, AHIMA Foundation scholarships, and employer tuition reimbursement programs can collectively bring your tuition to zero. Once your degree is paid for, the exam fee, study materials, and first year of AHIMA membership rarely top $500 combined.

If you’re considering RHIT or RHIA certification, it pays for itself quickly. RHIT salaries of $52,000–$75,000 and RHIA salaries of $75,000–$90,000+ make either credential one of the highest-ROI healthcare investments you can make without a clinical license. Budget thoughtfully, use the available free funding pipelines, and aim to pass on the first try.

Sources:

• AHIMA RHIT certification page: https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/rhit/
• AHIMA RHIA certification page: https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/rhia/
• AHIMA Recertification FAQ: https://www.ahima.org/contact-us-faqs/faqs-recertification/
• AHIMA Membership Types and Benefits: https://www.ahima.org/ahima-membership/membership-types-and-benefits/
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Healthcare Occupations: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm