Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar Career Assessment
Health data, records systems, and registries — ND in-demand occupation
Welcome
Health information technologists manage health data and records systems. Medical registrars (like cancer registrars) collect and track data about specific diseases.
This is a behind-the-scenes healthcare job focused on data. You will explore whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar?
Health information technologists make sure health records are complete, accurate, secure, and useful. Medical registrars collect detailed information about patients with certain conditions, like cancer or trauma, for research and reporting to the state and nation.
The Reality: The work is detail-heavy and mostly on a computer. It is small in North Dakota, so many people work remotely for out-of-state organizations.
Your Responsibilities:
- Review health records for accuracy and completeness
- Collect and enter data into registries (like cancer registries)
- Follow patients over time (follow-up data)
- Run reports on health data
- Protect patient privacy and data security
- Help set up and improve electronic health record systems
- Report data to state and national programs
- Train staff on records rules
You are the guardian of health data.
A Day in the Life
8:00 AM — Log in. Review new cancer cases from last week.
8:30 AM — Read pathology and treatment notes. Record the cancer type, stage, and treatment in the registry.
10:30 AM — Update follow-up information on patients treated last year.
12:00 PM — Lunch.
1:00 PM — Run a report for the cancer committee meeting.
2:30 PM — Check the data for errors before sending it to the state registry.
3:30 PM — Answer a question from a research team about the data.
Focused, quiet data work that supports patient care and research.
Training in North Dakota
No state license is needed. Most jobs ask for an associate degree in Health Information plus the RHIT credential. Cancer registrars earn the ODS credential.
Training Pathways:
- Associate degree in Health Information (2 years): Leads to the RHIT credential.
- Bachelor's in Health Information Management (4 years): Leads to RHIA and management roles.
- Cancer Registry training: Online programs accredited by NCRA, often after a health information degree.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton or fully online) — Health Information Technician AAS; North Dakota's only CAHIIM-accredited HIT program
- Online NCRA-accredited cancer registry programs
- Online bachelor's programs in Health Information Management (for RHIA)
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Strong computer and reading skills. Anatomy and medical terminology.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like tuition, exam fees, or supplies. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Some ND employers also help pay for training if you agree to work for them afterward.
Certification & Licensing
No license. Credentials are expected. Employers look for national credentials.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician, AHIMA) — after an accredited associate degree
- RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator, AHIMA) — after a bachelor's
- ODS (Oncology Data Specialist, NCRA; formerly CTR) — for cancer registrars
The Exams: RHIT and RHIA exams are computer-based, about 3.5–4 hours. The ODS exam is also computer-based.
Cost: About $300–$400 per exam. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Keeping It Current: All credentials require continuing education every 2 years.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $18.73–$24.66/hour ($38,950–$51,300/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $39.03/hour ($81,170/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $39.86–$47.12/hour ($82,900–$98,010/year)
What that means: The middle pay is high, but this is a very small group in ND, so the numbers can jump around. Entry-level pay is closer to the lower range.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 40 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 40 (about 13% growth, but only a few jobs). Expect fewer than 5 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 15% growth — much faster than average.
Outlook: Growing fast nationally, but very few jobs in ND. Most ND residents in this field work remotely for out-of-state health systems and registries, or start as medical coders and move up.
Who Hires in ND: Hospitals and cancer centers, state health departments and registries, research organizations, health IT companies, and remote registry companies.
Work Setting: Offices or remote. Regular daytime hours. Very computer-based.
Physical Demands: Light. Sitting at a computer most of the day.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 29-9021); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Cancer Registry Manager — Lead a hospital registry.
Path 2: Data Analyst — Use health data to find trends.
Path 3: Health Information Manager — Run a records department (RHIA).
Path 4: Privacy or Compliance Officer — Protect patient data.
Path 5: Health IT — Help build and improve health record systems.
Path 6: Quality and Research — Support research teams.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Important data work behind the scenes
- Many remote jobs
- Regular hours
- No direct patient care
- Growing fast nationally
- Good pay once experienced
What's Hard:
- Very few jobs in ND
- Often need experience first (like coding)
- Detail-heavy work
- Long hours at a screen
- Must keep up with changing rules and systems
- Isolated if remote
- Specialized credentials take time
Be Honest: Do you enjoy data and details? Are you OK working remotely for an out-of-state employer? Will you start in coding or records and work your way up?