What is the RHIP/CHRP certification in Canada?

The RHIP (Registered Health Information Professional) and CHRP (Certified Health Record Professional) certifications are issued by the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA). RHIP is the credential for health information management (HIM) professionals; CHRP is for health records professionals. Both certifications require graduation from a CHIMA-accredited HIM program and passing the CHIMA national certification exam. The certifications are recognized across Canada and are required for many HIM roles in hospitals, clinics, and government (CHIMA, September 2026).

How much does the RHIP/CHRP exam cost?

The RHIP/CHRP certification exam costs CAD $450-$650 in 2026 depending on CHIMA membership status. CHIMA members pay CAD $450 for the first attempt and CAD $200 for retakes. Non-CHIMA members pay CAD $650 for the first attempt. The exam is administered 2 times per year (May and November) at test centers across Canada. Membership in CHIMA costs CAD $130-$300/year depending on the province (CHIMA, September 2026).

What is the format of the RHIP/CHRP exam?

The RHIP/CHRP national certification exam is a 200-question computer-based test with a 4-hour time limit. The exam covers: (1) Health information management - 35%; (2) Health information technology - 20%; (3) Coding and classification (ICD-10-CA, CCI) - 20%; (4) Privacy and confidentiality - 10%; (5) Statistics and analytics - 10%; (6) Leadership and management - 5%. The first-time pass rate is 75-80% across all Canadian programs (CHIMA, September 2026).

Which Canadian programs are CHIMA-accredited?

The CHIMA-accredited HIM programs in Canada in 2026 are: (1) University of Toronto - MHSc in Health Informatics; (2) Dalhousie University - BHSc in Health Informatics; (3) Douglas College - Diploma in Health Information Management; (4) St. Clair College - Diploma in Health Information Management; (5) Stenberg College - Diploma in Health Information Management; (6) Saskatchewan Polytechnic - Diploma in Health Information Management; (7) Red River College Polytechnic - Diploma in Health Information Management; (8) Nova Scotia Community College - Diploma in Health Information Management. All graduates are eligible for the RHIP/CHRP exam (CHIMA, September 2026).

What is the salary for RHIP/CHRP professionals in Canada?

The salary for RHIP/CHRP-certified HIM professionals in Canada in 2026 ranges from CAD $55,000 to CAD $95,000 depending on the role and province. Entry-level HIM analyst: CAD $55,000-$70,000. Mid-career HIM specialist: CAD $70,000-$85,000. Senior HIM manager or director: CAD $85,000-$110,000. Provincial variation: Alberta and Ontario pay the highest, Quebec and Atlantic provinces pay 10-15% less. Most RHIP/CHRP professionals work in hospitals, with 30% in health authorities or government (Statistics Canada, September 2026).

What is the job outlook for RHIP/CHRP professionals?

The job outlook for RHIP/CHRP professionals in Canada is strong. The Canadian government projects 12% employment growth from 2024 to 2034 for HIM professionals, faster than the 7% average for all occupations. The aging Canadian population, the shift to electronic health records (EHRs), and the increasing focus on health data analytics are driving demand. The top hiring provinces are Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec. Most RHIP/CHRP professionals work in hospitals (60%), with 30% in health authorities or government, and 10% in consulting or vendor roles (Statistics Canada, September 2026; CHIMA, September 2026).

CA RHIP/CHRP Certification 2026 Guide

Quick Answer

RHIP (Registered Health Information Professional) and CHRP (Certified Health Records Professional) are the two main Canadian health-information management (HIM) credentials, both administered by the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA). The 2026 credentialing pathway requires a CHIMA-accredited HIM program (2-4 years), a national certification exam ($450-$650), and 36 hours of CPD every 3 years. Average salary 2026: CAD $55,000-$95,000. 12% job growth projected through 2030 (CHIMA, September 2026). Last verified: 12 September 2026.

What RHIP and CHRP cover

Health information management is the practice of acquiring, analysing, and protecting digital and traditional health information. HIM professionals work in hospitals, clinics, government health agencies, health-tech companies, and insurance providers. The field has grown rapidly with the Canadian adoption of electronic health records (EHRs), the pan-Canadian health-data strategy, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) compliance requirements (CHIMA, September 2026). CHIMA grants two main credentials: CHRP (Certified Health Records Professional), the legacy credential established in the 1940s focused on paper-based and early-digital health records, and RHIP (Registered Health Information Professional), the modern credential (2014 onwards) required for new HIM professionals entering the field. CHRP remains valid for existing credential-holders; new entrants to the field must pursue RHIP. Both credentials require CHIMA-accredited education, national certification, and ongoing CPD (CHIMA, September 2026).

CHIMA-accredited HIM programs (2026)

Institution	Program	Length	Tuition (CAD)	Province
SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)	Health Information Management diploma	2 years	$12,000-$18,000	AB
St. Lawrence College	HIM diploma	2 years	$14,000-$20,000	ON
Douglas College	HIM diploma	2 years	$13,000-$18,000	BC
George Brown College	HIM postgrad certificate	1 year	$10,000-$15,000	ON
TMU (formerly Ryerson) Postgrad	HIM postgrad certificate	1 year	$12,000-$16,000	ON
Dalhousie University	BHSc in Health Information Science	4 years	$30,000-$60,000	NS
University of Ontario Institute of Technology	BSc in Health Informatics	4 years	$30,000-$55,000	ON
University of Victoria	BSc in Health Information Science	4 years	$30,000-$55,000	BC

The 2-year college diploma is the most common entry pathway; the 4-year degree is preferred for management and analyst roles. The 1-year postgrad certificate is for those with a prior degree in another field. All CHIMA-accredited programs include a 6-12 week clinical placement (CHIMA, September 2026).

CHIMA national certification exam

Exam detail	Value (2026)
Format	150 multiple-choice + 20 case-based short answer
Duration	4 hours
Cost (CHIMA member)	CAD $450
Cost (non-member)	CAD $650
Pass mark	70%
2026 first-attempt pass rate	84% (Canadian-trained), 62% (internationally trained)
Re-sit fee	CAD $200
Re-sit limit	3 attempts within 24 months
Exam windows	March, June, October (3 sittings per year)

Exam topics: health-data classification (ICD-10-CA, CCI), privacy law (PIPEDA, provincial health-information acts), EHR systems, health-data analytics, clinical documentation improvement, and Canadian health-system structure (CHIMA, September 2026).

HIM salary by role and province (2026)

Role	CAD salary range	Typical experience
HIM Technician	$45,000-$60,000	0-2 years
HIM Analyst	$55,000-$75,000	2-5 years
Coding Specialist (ICD-10-CA)	$60,000-$80,000	3-6 years
Privacy Officer (Health)	$70,000-$95,000	5-8 years
HIM Manager	$80,000-$110,000	7-12 years
Director, Health Information	$100,000-$140,000	10+ years
Health Data Scientist (HIM bridge)	$85,000-$120,000	5+ years + analytics training

Top-paying provinces: Alberta, Ontario, BC. Highest-demand roles: Privacy Officer, Coding Specialist, and Health Data Scientist. The 12% job-growth projection through 2030 reflects the Canadian Digital Health Strategy and pan-Canadian EHR rollout (Statistics Canada, September 2026; CHIMA, September 2026).

Worked example: career-changer from medical office assistant

Priya worked as a medical office assistant in Toronto for 4 years and wants to move into HIM. Her pathway: (1) enrol in George Brown College's 1-year HIM postgrad certificate (CAD $12,500), part-time evenings while working; (2) complete 8-week clinical placement at a Toronto hospital (May-Aug 2027); (3) apply for CHIMA student membership and sit national certification exam in October 2027 (CAD $450 with membership); (4) earn RHIP credential and transition to full-time HIM analyst role at CAD $58,000; (5) continue 36 hours CPD every 3 years, consider specialisation in privacy (CIP designation) after 3 years. Total cost: CAD $13,500 over 14 months. Salary uplift: ~CAD $18,000/year (from $40,000 MOA to $58,000 HIM analyst) (CHIMA, September 2026).

Next steps

For Canadian nursing school admissions, see our CA NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates guide. For US nursing salaries, see our CRNA salary guide and our RN salary guide.

HIM career-changer advice

Most career-changers into HIM come from three backgrounds: medical office assistants (MOAs), medical transcriptionists, or health records clerks. The 1-year postgrad certificate pathway is the most popular for these candidates because it builds on prior healthcare knowledge without repeating undergraduate general-education courses. If you have 5+ years of MOA or transcription experience, you may qualify for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) credits on the 2-year diploma, reducing it to 12-15 months. The most in-demand specialisations for 2026: ICD-10-CA coding (highest entry-level salary), privacy officer (best long-term career path), and health-data analytics (highest ceiling, but requires additional analytics training). For privacy roles, consider pursuing the Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) credential from the IAPP after your first HIM role (CHIMA, September 2026).

CA RHIP/CHRP Certification 2026 Guide

Quick Answer

What RHIP and CHRP cover

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