How long does medical billing and coding specialist training take in Kentucky?

Most people become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Kentucky through a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles.

Do medical billing and coding specialists need a license in Kentucky?

No statewide license is required for medical billing and coding specialists in Kentucky. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

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

Q: How much do medical billing and coding specialists earn in Kentucky?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical billing and coding specialists in Kentucky earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,410. Employment concentration in Kentucky is about 1.68 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for medical billing and coding specialists in Kentucky?

Kentucky currently employs approximately 4,210 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kentucky medical records specialists earn a median annual wage of $48,410 ($23.28/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,210 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.3% below the national median of $51,140 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,410 ($23.28/hr)
25th percentile: $40,570 per year
75th percentile: $61,720 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $74,520 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,290 per year
Workers employed in Kentucky: 4,210
Versus national median: -5.3% below the U.S. median of $51,140
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.68 - this occupation is more concentrated in Kentucky than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Kentucky employs about 4,210 medical billing and coding specialists earning a median $48,410 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.

Compare Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Schools in Kentucky

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. 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 (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Elizabethtown Community and Technical College	55.0	$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state	$43,584	59%	Yes*	30 mi
2	Bluegrass Community and Technical College	51.0	$4,808 in-state / $6,512 out-of-state	$48,181	43%	Yes*	49 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Jefferson Community and Technical College	49.7	$4,808 in-state / $6,512 out-of-state	$50,106	35%	Yes*	42 mi
4	Somerset Community College	47.1	$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state	$43,252	43%	Yes*	61 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Sullivan University	43.9	$15,480	$53,068	71%	Yes*	37 mi
6	ATA College	43.3	$14,200	$40,854	46%	Yes*	42 mi
Sponsored Ad

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.

Kentucky employs approximately 4,210 medical billing and coding specialists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,410 ¹. The state’s concentration of medical billing and coding specialist jobs is 1.68x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Kentucky, 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 (Kentucky): $48,410 per year ¹

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

How to become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Kentucky? 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 Kentucky? 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 Kentucky? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in Kentucky is $48,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,290 and experienced professionals can earn $74,520 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Kentucky

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.

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist License Requirements in Kentucky

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.

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Louisville/Jefferson County	1,610	$53,460	$57,300	$38,650	$74,520
Cincinnati	1,300	$51,350	$57,620	$39,480	$79,680
Lexington-Fayette	540	$49,760	$53,910	$37,820	$71,680
Huntington-Ashland	470	$52,000	$54,360	$36,750	$77,320
Bowling Green	180	$44,770	$49,020	$36,720	$60,280
Clarksville	120	$47,050	$50,290	$35,740	$71,930
Elizabethtown	110	$44,480	$51,050	$36,960	$71,280
Paducah	80	$45,930	$50,080	$36,610	$65,410
Owensboro	60	$45,400	$49,240	$29,180	$77,600

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 Kentucky? Kentucky currently employs approximately 4,210 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 Kentucky? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Kentucky.

How much do medical billing and coding specialists earn in Kentucky compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in Kentucky is $48,410, which is $1,840 below the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data ¹.

In Kentucky

Best Trade Schools in Kentucky (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)