Accreditation
Accreditation is Important
Accreditation should be an important factor in determining a school’s ability to provide you with a quality education. There are two main types of accreditation, regional and national. Regional accreditation is a measurement the US Department of Education (DOE) uses to ensure that a school’s curriculum meets the rigorous and up-to-date standards of education and professionalism.
Regional accreditation is the primary type of institutional accreditation recognized in the United States. Some institutions with online programs hold national accreditation rather than regional accreditation because they are unable to meet the rigorous standards of regional accreditation.
Many educational institutions across the country hold regional accreditation and do not recognize credits or degrees earned at institutions that are nationally accredited. This is very important if you plan on transferring from one college or university to another school or program, or if you plan to pursue additional degrees at different colleges or universities.
A degree from a regionally accredited program assures prospective employers that a graduate has undertaken a course of professional preparation that meets or exceeds the national criteria established by the profession for entry into the field; hence the degree is more marketable. Periodically, professionals in the field update the educational standards to ensure that the accredited programs reflect the current training needs for the profession. The student, as a consumer, can be reasonably assured that an accredited program has appropriate resources and operational policies, and that the program includes the knowledge and skills necessary for entry into the field. The accreditation process, which is undertaken voluntarily, is evidence that an attitude and philosophy of educational quality predominates.
University of Illinois at Chicago Accreditation
The University of Illinois at Chicago is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. The Higher Learning Commission is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL, 60602-2504, Phone: 312-236-0456. For more information, please visit: www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org.
UIC Health Informatics and Health Information Management Program Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Management programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
The Master of Science in Health Informatics program is the only online graduate programs designated as an Accredited Program by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
Only graduates of accredited baccalaureate and certificate programs in health information management are eligible to apply to take the RHIA national credentialing examination offered in health information management. For more information, please visit: http://www.cahiim.org. The Master of Science and Post Masters in Health Informatics programs do not guarantee elgilibty to sit for the RHIA national credentialing examination.
