HIT/CIM/Coding Frequently Asked Questions - Santa Barbara City College

Review the list of skills and technical requirements to assess your readiness to take online classes and go through the distance education orientation program.

New for Spring 2023 registration, students officially waitlisted for a class will automatically be registered in that class when a seat becomes available. You will be registered in the specific section for which you are waitlisted. Once you are registered in the class, you will be notified via your campus email confirming your registration and payment requirements and deadlines.

For more info on waitlists, go HERE.

If a course without a waitlist is closed, you will need to monitor the electronic schedule for a seat to become available prior to the beginning of the semester. (Note: If you leave the schedule open for any period of time - even 10 or 15 minutes can make a difference - you will need to periodically press the F5 key to refresh the schedule.) HIT/CIM faculty cannot add students to any course that is closed during the registration period; please do not email your instructor for an add authorization code. However, some instructors may do so during the drop/add period, which begins on the first day of classes. Once the semester is underway, you can email instructors to request an add authorization code, but please be aware that it is up to the instructor whether to add you or not.

Students are highly encouraged to review their student educational plans and recommended course sequencing with the HIT/CIM Academic Counselor, Dr. Gwyer Schuyler. Please review this information on academic planning and constructing a student educational plan.

There may be very rare instances in which non-waitlisted students are issued add authorization codes. These are only issued when an administrative error impacted the student's ability to register for the course, or to reinstate a student into a course. Please exercise extreme caution when dropping/adding courses in the campus portal.

Yes! You need to resubmit a new application, selecting the correct term.

Complete an SBCC application. Make sure to select the correct term!
If you are new to college and pursuing a degree, see the next question about new student holds.
If you have attended other colleges or are pursuing a certificate, there will be no new student holds. You will be able to register once your priority registration date comes up.
To find your registration date, you will log into the campus portal, go to ‘Registration’, then to 'Check Your Pre-Registration Requirements and Registration Appointment'.
Once your registration date is here, go to our web schedule, choose the classes that you want to register for, and write down their CRN numbers.
Log into the campus portal, and go to 'Add, Drop and Register for Classes'. Enter the CRN numbers into the ADD WORKSHEET screen. Be sure to pay for the courses ASAP within the campus portal!

First complete Online Orientation.
For Class Planning, email Gwyer Schuyler, Counselor, at schuyler@sbcc.edu to request a first semester plan. Include your Student ID # (K00…) and your major in your email. Include in your email how many units you want to take (consider our course load guidelines).
Gwyer will clear the hold and email you back with a plan.

Continuing students are given priority over new or returning students. Priority for continuing students is based on the number of units completed through SBCC. For more information on how to get into the classes you want to take, see our Academic Planning page.

NOTE: If you indicated Personal Enrichment as your educational goal on your application, you will not receive an early priority registration date. You can change that by submitting an Application for Admissions Corrections Form. You do not need to fill out the entire form, just fill in your name and student ID number in the top section, then mark option A in Area 7. Be advised that this change will not take effect immediately, but only in an upcoming term, which you must select at the top of the form.

That depends on your registration date. For Continuing students, Summer registration begins in mid April, Fall registration begins in late April, and Spring registration begins in mid November. To find your date, you will log into the campus portal, go to 'Registration', then to 'Check Your Pre-Registration Requirements and Registration Appointment'. For current term dates, refer to the Important Dates page.

Review each of our program's requirements from links on our home page.

Below are the required General Education areas, with SBCC's fully online course options in parentheses following each category. Certain classes meet two GE areas (example: GE Area B + GE Area E-2).
A. Natural Science with lab (BMS 146+BMS 146L)
B. Social and Behavioral Science + E-2. American Institutions (ASAM 101 or BLST 101 or CHST 101 or ETHS 101 or NATA 101 or HIST 101 or 102 or POLS 101)
C. Humanities + E-5. Multicultural/Gender Studies (AJ 105 or ART 215 or BLST 102 or CHST 102 or FS 116 or MUS 115 or 118)
D-1. English Composition (ENG 110) English Composition requirement is met if you have a BA/BS degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.
D-2. Communication and Critical Thinking + E-4. Oral Communication (COMM 121 or 122 or 131 or 141 or 161 or 162)
E-1. Mathematics (For HIT: PSY 150 Statistics; For CIM: FIN 100)
F. Information Competency (LIBR 101)

Complete all department requirements with a “C” or better in each course. Candidates for an Associate Degree are also required to complete at least 20% of the department requirements through SBCC. Pass/No Pass grading is not permitted in those courses needed to fulfill department requirements;
Complete at least 18 units of General Education Requirements (Areas A-D of the SBCC General Education pattern);
Complete the SBCC Institutional Requirements (Area E);
Complete the Information Competency Requirement (Area F);
Complete a total of 60 degree-applicable units (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher);
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all units attempted at SBCC;
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all college units attempted; and
Candidates for an Associate Degree are required to complete 15 units through SBCC.

Each program is made up of a number of courses of different unit values. For example, the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate requires 36 units. California residents are subject to an enrollment fee. Non-California residents are subject to the enrollment fee plus out-of-state tuition. There will also be textbook costs of $100 or more per class. Here is a list of current costs and information on financial aid.

The courses follow the semester calendar with a start date and end date. Assignments have due dates and exams are available for a certain period of time. Students do not have to be logged into the class at a given time so you can work at 11 pm or 5 am, or whatever works for you. You just have to be able to meet the deadlines of the assignments and exams.

The length of time it will take you depends on a few factors: how many classes you are comfortable taking each semester; the sequencing of courses; and if you are able to get into the classes you need. Please note that because of the volume of students trying to get into our classes, it can be very challenging to get into required courses in your major in your first semester. This is due to the fact that as a new student to SBCC, your priority registration date will come after all continuing students. Therefore, this can extend the time that it will take to complete your program by one or two semesters. For more information on planning your courses and to design a semester-by-semester schedule, go to our Academic Planning page.

Summer sessions are an intensive six week term covering 16 weeks of material. Here is the list of courses that are typically offered in the Summer: BMS 146, HIT 135, HIT 201, HIT 204, HIT 284, HIT 285, MGMT 101, and a range of General Education courses.

Review our Academic Planning page for class planning information and your next steps to request an SEP from Gwyer Schuyler, HIT/CIM counselor.

There are two ways to get these holds released: 1) request a full transcript evaluation or 2) have individual courses evaluated by following one of these procedures.

Please note that if you register for a course that has pre- and/or co-requisite(s) that you are currently taking through SBCC, but do not successfully complete, the system will drop you from the course once grades have been submitted.

Yes! You must earn your HIT AS degree in order to be eligible to take the RHIT Credential exam. There is a process to request early RHIT exam testing in your final semester of courses. Please refer to the AHIMA website for more information.

Please refer to our Transcript Evaluation page for more information and step-by-step instructions.

Current turn-around time is 1 to 2 weeks to get an email back with the determination.

Email Gwyer Schuyler schuyler@sbcc.edu with the course description.

You may be required to petition for reinstatement and through this process, you may be limited on the number of units you can take. See these policies and procedures related to probation and disqualification.

Go to our Graduating page.

Challenge exams for some HIT classes are available for those who qualify.

No, we can only apply coursework that was from a regionally accredited institution. You do have the option of taking up to 12 units of challenge exams for HIT coursework. Here is more information on challenge exams.

See our HIT CIM Department Policy Course Waivers.

The Computer Applications Department does not waive this requirement or have a challenge exam. You must have a comparable course or courses from a regionally accredited college or university OR Microsoft Office Certification.

The EPC Code is 624.

Many students decide to begin by pursuing the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate. Some then decide to continue onto the HIT AS degree. All but two of the courses for the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate are also required for the HIT AS degree!

National trends show growth in job availability in the HIM, CIM and Coding fields, however at the regional level, there can be great differences. We encourage students to research the job availability in their local area by contacting the Human Resources departments of local healthcare facilities and speaking to a representative. Check out job prospects and salary information below.

Health Information Technology and Medical Coding (RHIT Credential and CCA/CCS Credential):
1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2. California Employment Development Department.
3. American Health Information Management Association Salary Survey Report.

Cancer Information Management (ODS Credential):
National Cancer Registrar Association Job Prospects and Salary.

Yes, see below:

HIT Practicum - HIT 275
The HIT practicum is a supervised onsite experience performing CAHIIM/AHIMA-required HIT competencies for an affiliated healthcare organization. Content includes confidentiality, privacy and security of health information; retention, retrieval, storage and release of health information; electronic health records and compliance with reimbursement, regulatory and accreditation requirements for health information.

CIM Practicum - CIM 275
The CIM practicum is hands-on experience in all aspects of registry organization and operation. It is supervised clinical experience in performing NCRA-required cancer information management competencies in an actual registry setting.

Coding Practicum - HIT 280
The Coding practicum is in application of clinical classification systems, coding, case mix analysis, and use of coded and abstracted data. Discussion focuses on directed practice activities. Supervised clinical experience focuses on coding patient care records.

For more information, see our frequently asked questions about the practicum classes.