Certificate in Health Records and IT
The Certificate in Health Records and IT is a KNEC Craft Certificate programme that trains students in health records management and information technology skills for the health sector. The course is examined by KNEC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn health records management, medical coding, patient registration, data entry, and ICT applications in healthcare.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 134,378 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 116,250 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D (Plain) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 2 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 103 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers communication skills, mathematics, information communication technology, entrepreneurship, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology. Core units include health records management, medical coding and classification, patient registration, health data management, ICT in health facilities, hospital information systems, and industrial attachment in a health facility records department.
Kenya's health sector expansion, including new hospitals, health centres, and the rollout of universal health coverage, creates demand for certified health records personnel. Hospitals, clinics, health insurance companies, and health departments require trained records staff to manage patient information and health data systems.
Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in simulated records offices and computer laboratories. Students practice records management, medical coding, data entry, and health information system operation under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in hospital records departments or health facilities where students apply their skills in real healthcare environments.
Graduates work as health records assistants, medical records clerks, patient registration officers, and health data entry clerks in hospitals, clinics, health insurance companies, and county health departments. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Diploma in Health Records and Information Technology for specialised health information management roles.
This programme is suitable for KCSE graduates with a mean grade of D (plain) who are interested in healthcare administration and IT and seeking technical positions in health records and health information management environments.
What you study
8 subjects- Health Records Management
- Medical Terminology
- Health Information Systems
- Patient Registration
- Medical Coding
- Data Entry
- Health Data Analysis
- Confidentiality and Ethics
Modules
10 in the programmeIntroduction to Health Records and IT
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Health records concepts, career overview, healthcare systems, and fundamentals of health information management for entry-level health records practice.
Health Records Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles and practices of health records management including patient filing, record retention, health documentation standards, and records administration.
Medical Terminology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Medical terms, abbreviations, anatomical terminology, and clinical vocabulary for understanding and processing health records and medical documentation.
Health Information Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Electronic health records and health information systems including EHR software, patient databases, and digital health record management applications.
Patient Registration
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Patient registration, scheduling, and appointment management including patient data capture, booking systems, and front-desk health records procedures.
Medical Coding
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
ICD coding, medical coding systems, classification standards, and basic diagnostic and procedure coding for health records documentation.
Data Entry and Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Health data entry, validation, database management, and basic health information processing for maintaining accurate electronic health records.
Health Data Analysis
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Basic health statistics and data analysis including health indicators, data summarisation, and simple health data reporting for healthcare facilities.
Confidentiality and Ethics
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Patient confidentiality, data protection, health ethics, and privacy principles for handling sensitive health information and medical records.
IT Applications in Healthcare
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Computer applications, software, and IT in healthcare settings including hospital systems, health databases, and basic healthcare technology use.
Specialisations
Health Data Management
Specialisation in health data entry and analysis including database management, health statistics, data validation, and basic health data reporting.
Health IT Systems
Specialisation in health information systems including EHR management, hospital database administration, and basic healthcare software support.
Patient Services
Focus on patient registration and scheduling including patient data capture, appointment management, and front-desk health records operations in healthcare facilities.
Medical Coding
Focus on medical coding and classification including ICD coding, diagnostic coding, procedure coding, and accurate health record documentation.
A day as a student
Students attend theory on health records management and medical terminology, followed by practical sessions in health records labs — patient registration, data entry, medical coding, and using health information systems.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's healthcare digitisation creates strong demand. | Requires attention to detail and accuracy. |
| Professional work environment in healthcare facilities. | Handling sensitive patient information requires strict confidentiality. |
| Clear pathway to diploma and degree in health information management. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 349 health sciences coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
TVET 67,189/yr public. Pvt: WICHS 100K/yr, NCMTC ~116K/yr (northcoastmtc.ac.ke).
TVET government funding and HELB loans are available. Hospitals sometimes offer health records internships.
Funding options
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans
Scholarships
4 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties.
TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Scholarships you could apply for
8 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- University of Eldoret TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship
Closes 1 May 2027FullUniversity of Eldoret / Mastercard Foundation
Full tuition + living expenses
- Mombasa Cement Scholarship
Closes 31 May 2027PartialMombasa Cement Ltd
KES 100,000 per year
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Artisan Certificate in a relevant field or equivalent qualification.
When it next starts
Taught at 103 institutionsIncluding Uzima University, Chuka University, Turkana University College.
Including Chuka University, Turkana University College, Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Including Uzima University, Chuka University, Turkana University College.
How you are assessed
4 componentsPractical Lab Exercises
Practicum35% of the mark
Hands-on assessment of patient registration, data entry, and health information systems.
Final Certificate Examination
Exam100% of the mark
KNEC national examination for certificate in health records and IT.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Test25% of the mark
Regular tests on health records, medical terminology, and coding.
Health Records Project
Project20% of the mark
Complete a health records management or data analysis project.
Accreditation
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
Kenya National Examination Council
NationalRequired
Examining body for national certificate and craft certificate programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and examined by Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesMedical Records Clerk
High demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 72,000
Maintain and organise medical records in hospitals.
Health Records Assistant
High demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 80,000
Manage patient records and health data in healthcare facilities.
Health Data Entry Clerk
Moderate demandKsh 36,000 to Ksh 68,000
Enter and manage health data in information systems.
Patient Registration Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Manage patient registration and scheduling.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as health records assistants and medical records clerks in hospitals, clinics, and health programmes across Kenya.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist AssistantHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Health records is just filing
Health records involves medical coding, data analysis, health information systems, and patient data management — it's a technical field.
Health records doesn't need IT skills
Modern health records management uses electronic health records, databases, and health information systems.
Limited career prospects
Kenya's healthcare digitisation creates strong demand for health records and IT personnel.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.