How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Arizona (2026)

Arizona employs about 3,750 medical billing and coding specialists earning a median $47,630 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist here means completing a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles.

Key Facts

  • Median wage (Arizona): $47,630/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Employed in Arizona: 3,750 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Location quotient: 0.93x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Projected growth: 7.1% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

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Compare Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Schools in Arizona

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
155.9Contact school for pricing$42,93773%57 mi
254.1Contact school for pricing$68,59616%Yes*64 mi
353.7Contact school for pricing$50,34525%Yes*33 mi
453.0Contact school for pricing$68,13727%Yes*57 mi
551.4Contact school for pricing$48,76525%Yes*35 mi
650.2Contact school for pricing$38,25187%66 mi
743.4Contact school for pricing$39,60964%33 mi
841.9Contact school for pricing$39,60954%64 mi
929.5Contact school for pricing$41,96248%36 mi
1021.9Contact school for pricing$34,46150%64 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.

Arizona employs approximately 3,750 medical billing and coding specialists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,630 1. Nationally, medical billing and coding specialist employment 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 Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Arizona, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

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 (Arizona): $47,630 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Arizona

How to become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Arizona? 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 Arizona? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CPC, CCS, or RHIT. See the licensing section below.

What do medical billing and coding specialists earn in Arizona? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in Arizona is $47,630 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,530 and experienced professionals can earn $75,430 or more 1.

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Arizona

  1. Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
  2. Complete a billing, coding, or HIT program. Finish a certificate or associate program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  3. Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT. Pass AAPC CPC, AHIMA CCS, or RHIT depending on the role. Employers typically require a named credential.
  4. 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.

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist License Requirements in Arizona

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

Typical path

  1. Complete a program.

  2. Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

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

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler2,480$47,450$53,190$36,530$75,950
Tucson530$49,300$50,940$35,750$69,740
Flagstaff90$55,650$55,220$38,560$73,320
Prescott Valley-Prescott90$45,580$51,250$36,780$75,520
Lake Havasu City-Kingman80$41,570$48,160$36,610$64,040
Yuma80$45,140$49,110$37,140$68,470
Sierra Vista-Douglas60$43,830$47,270$37,010$66,000

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 medical billing and coding specialists in Arizona? Arizona currently employs approximately 3,750 medical billing and coding specialists 1. Nationally, medical billing and coding specialist employment is projected to grow 7.1% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do medical billing and coding specialists earn in Arizona compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in Arizona is $47,630, which is $2,620 below the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data 1.

In Arizona

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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


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

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)