How long does health information technician training take in Montana?

Most people become a Health Information Technician in Montana 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 Montana?

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

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), health information technicians in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,190 (using the related "Medical Records Specialists" BLS category, since health information technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Montana is about 1.27 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Montana currently employs approximately 820 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

Montana medical records specialists earn a median annual wage of $50,190 ($24.13/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 820 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.9% below the national median of $51,140 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,190 ($24.13/hr)
25th percentile: $43,970 per year
75th percentile: $59,770 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $64,540 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $40,460 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 820
Versus national median: -1.9% below the U.S. median of $51,140
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.27 - this occupation is more concentrated in Montana than the national average

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

Montana employs about 820 health information technicians earning a median $50,190 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 Montana

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	Brigham Young University-Idaho	65.8	Contact school for pricing	$56,787	55%	Yes*	217 mi
2	Miles Community College	65.0	$5,818 - $17,452	$43,022	55%	Yes*	247 mi
3	Flathead Valley Community College	54.5	$4,912 - $14,882	$47,642	28%	Yes*	180 mi
4	North Idaho College	46.4	Contact school for pricing	$50,312	37%	Yes*	277 mi
5	Great Falls College Montana State University	45.7	$4,028 - $16,664	$48,830	33%	Yes*	42 mi
6	Fort Peck Community College	33.2	$2,250 - $10,164	$31,073	16%	—	283 mi
7	Little Big Horn College	20.6	$3,200 - $11,635	$27,429	11%	—	191 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, Montana employs approximately 820 workers in the related “Medical Records Specialists” category (SOC 29-2072), with a median annual wage of $50,190 ¹. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.27x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. 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 Montana, 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 (Montana): $50,190 per year (based on related “Medical Records Specialists” category) ¹

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

How to become a Health Information Technician in Montana? 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 Montana? 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 Montana? The BLS does not track health information technician wages separately. Based on the related “Medical Records Specialists” category, the median annual wage in Montana is $50,190, with entry-level wages around $40,460 and experienced workers earning $64,540 or more ¹.

How to Become a Health Information Technician in Montana

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 Montana

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 Montana

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Montana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	260	$50,190	$51,980	$40,560	$62,820
Missoula	90	$52,530	$53,350	$38,730	$65,960
Bozeman	60	$53,000	$55,810	$46,280	$66,420
Helena	60	$48,410	$55,110	$40,290	$78,030
Great Falls	50	$50,650	$51,990	$40,460	$59,360

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 Montana? Montana employs approximately 820 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 Montana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Montana.

How much do health information technicians earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for health information technicians in Montana is $50,190 (based on the related “Medical Records Specialists” category), which is $60 below the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

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)