How to become a Medical Records Specialist
Official title: Medical Records Specialists
Also called: Coder, Health Information Clerk, Health Information Specialist, Health Information Technician (Health Information Tech), Health Records Specialist, HIM Clerk (Health Information Management Clerk), Medical Coder, Medical Records Clerk, Medical Records Technician (Medical Records Tech), RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician)
Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the healthcare system. Classify medical and healthcare concepts, including diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment, into the healthcare industry's numerical coding system. Includes medical coders.
Main tasks
- Protect the security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
- Review records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations.
- Scan patients' health records into electronic formats.
- Release information to persons or agencies according to regulations.
- Enter data, such as demographic characteristics, history and extent of disease, diagnostic procedures, or treatment into computer.
- Maintain or operate a variety of health record indexes or storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store, or analyze information.
- Process patient admission or discharge documents.
- Retrieve patient medical records for physicians, technicians, or other medical personnel.
How to become one
Medical records specialists typically need a postsecondary certificate to enter the occupation, although some qualify with a high school diploma. Others might need an associate's or bachelor's degree. Certification may be required or preferred.
Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Health Information Management Hospital Coder.
- Apprenticeship: Medical Coder (Alternate Title: Patient Administration Specialist).
- Apprenticeship: Professional Fee Coder.
- Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award. Programs such as Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator; Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician; Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $51,140 a year The middle half earn $43,490 to $64,820.
- About 200,700 people work in this job now, and about 216,300 are projected by 2035. (+7.8%)
- People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Medical Records Specialist?
Medical records specialists typically need a postsecondary certificate to enter the occupation, although some qualify with a high school diploma. Others might need an associate's or bachelor's degree. Certification may be required or preferred.
How much does a Medical Records Specialist earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $51,140 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $43,490 to $64,820.
Is a Medical Records Specialist a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 200,700 to about 216,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Medical Records Specialist?
Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Health Information Management Hospital Coder.
Will AI change the work of a Medical Records Specialist?
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.