How long does health information technician training take in Illinois?

Most people become a Health Information Technician in Illinois through a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles.

Do health information technicians need a license in Illinois?

No statewide license is required for health information technicians in Illinois. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

How to Become a Health Information Technician in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do health information technicians earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), health information technicians in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $56,440 (using the related "Medical Records Specialists" BLS category, since health information technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Illinois is roughly 0.75 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for health information technicians in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 5,740 workers in the related "Medical Records Specialists" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois medical records specialists earn a median annual wage of $56,440 ($27.14/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,740 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 10.4% above the national median of $51,140 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $56,440 ($27.14/hr)
25th percentile: $46,290 per year
75th percentile: $64,360 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,520 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,890 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 5,740
Versus national median: 10.4% above the U.S. median of $51,140
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.75 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Illinois employs about 5,740 health information technicians earning a median $56,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Medical Records Specialists”). Training as a Health Information Technician here means completing a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles.

Compare Health Information Technician Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Kishwaukee College	66.2	$4,560 - $13,901	$49,273	42%	Yes*	64 mi
2	Waubonsee Community College	59.6	Contact school for pricing	$51,678	Not reported	Yes*	60 mi
3	Spoon River College	56.1	Contact school for pricing	$35,368	42%	Yes*	68 mi
4	Joliet Junior College	55.1	$4,530 - $13,800	$51,121	21%	Yes*	52 mi
5	Kankakee Community College	53.4	$5,220 - $25,830	$50,343	35%	Yes*	57 mi
6	Illinois Central College	50.0	Contact school for pricing	$55,058	Not reported	Yes*	36 mi
7	DeVry University-Illinois	39.0	Contact school for pricing	$63,172	37%	Yes*	70 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois employs approximately 5,740 workers in the related “Medical Records Specialists” category (SOC 29-2072), with a median annual wage of $56,440 ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 7.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Health Information Technician in Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track health information technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Medical Records Specialists (SOC 29-2072). Actual health information technician earnings may vary.

At a Glance

Training paths: medical billing, coding, or health-information program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles
Exam: CPC, CCS, or RHIT
Median wage (Illinois): $56,440 per year (based on related “Medical Records Specialists” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Health Information Technician in Illinois

How to become a Health Information Technician in Illinois? Complete a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Illinois? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CPC, CCS, or RHIT. See the licensing section below.

What do health information technicians earn in Illinois? The BLS does not track health information technician wages separately. Based on the related “Medical Records Specialists” category, the median annual wage in Illinois is $56,440, with entry-level wages around $38,890 and experienced workers earning $77,520 or more ¹.

How to Become a Health Information Technician in Illinois

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a billing, coding, or HIT program. Finish a certificate or associate program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT. Pass AAPC CPC, AHIMA CCS, or RHIT depending on the role. Employers typically require a named credential.
No statewide license in most states. Do not invent a licensing board for billers and coders.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Health Information Technician License Requirements in Illinois

Most states do not license medical billers, coders, or health-information technicians. Employers expect CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

Typical path

Complete a program.
Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Health Information Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical records specialists wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	4,510	$57,970	$59,350	$41,460	$78,470
St. Louis	1,410	$51,260	$56,070	$39,650	$78,000
Peoria	230	$49,860	$53,640	$37,810	$74,750
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	210	$45,560	$48,480	$38,400	$62,920
Rockford	120	$49,770	$51,810	$37,600	$70,610
Springfield	120	$55,800	$56,910	$39,720	$77,860
Paducah	80	$45,930	$50,080	$36,610	$65,410
Champaign-Urbana	70	$45,960	$52,120	$33,610	$82,800
Cape Girardeau	70	$51,090	$53,230	$36,450	$76,770
Bloomington	40	$47,710	$50,640	$36,320	$69,930
Kankakee	40	$56,450	$57,150	$37,020	$80,290
Decatur	30	$50,070	$51,160	$37,410	$66,190

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for health information technicians in Illinois? Illinois employs approximately 5,740 workers in the related “Medical Records Specialists” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 7.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do health information technicians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for health information technicians in Illinois is $56,440 (based on the related “Medical Records Specialists” category), which is $6,190 above the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)