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

Most people become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?

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

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical billing and coding specialists in North Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,620.

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

North Carolina currently employs approximately 6,760 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

North Carolina employs about 6,760 medical billing and coding specialists earning a median $49,620 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 (North Carolina): $49,620/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in North Carolina: 6,760 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.09x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 7.1% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Schools in North Carolina

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	Central Carolina Community College	60.6	Contact school for pricing	$42,844	Not reported	Yes*	34 mi
2	Sandhills Community College	58.9	Contact school for pricing	$43,952	50%	Yes*	25 mi
3	Stanly Community College	53.1	Contact school for pricing	$44,892	54%	Yes*	28 mi
4	Montgomery Community College	52.6	Contact school for pricing	$41,824	65%	Yes*	9 mi
5	Randolph Community College	51.7	Contact school for pricing	$39,546	56%	Yes*	16 mi
6	Davidson-Davie Community College	51.6	Contact school for pricing	$44,533	44%	Yes*	37 mi
7	Richmond Community College	49.0	Contact school for pricing	$42,771	43%	Yes*	38 mi
8	Rowan-Cabarrus Community College	47.2	Contact school for pricing	$43,916	33%	Yes*	43 mi
9	South Piedmont Community College	45.0	Contact school for pricing	$46,657	37%	Yes*	41 mi
10	Guilford Technical Community College	35.2	$2,320 - $20,529	$44,924	31%	Yes*	39 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.

North Carolina employs approximately 6,760 medical billing and coding specialists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,620 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 North Carolina, 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 (North Carolina): $49,620 per year ¹

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

How to become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in North Carolina? 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 North Carolina? 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 North Carolina? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in North Carolina is $49,620 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,840 and experienced professionals can earn $79,670 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in North Carolina

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 North Carolina

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 North Carolina

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	1,450	$51,110	$58,080	$40,150	$82,090
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	970	$50,590	$53,970	$37,200	$75,600
Raleigh-Cary	900	$54,340	$60,580	$37,130	$93,950
Durham-Chapel Hill	620	$57,290	$59,850	$40,730	$82,040
Winston-Salem	520	$62,590	$56,250	$36,700	$78,030
Greenville	390	$62,570	$59,690	$37,390	$79,670
Greensboro-High Point	360	$45,180	$50,290	$36,640	$73,140
Fayetteville	280	$51,570	$54,770	$36,510	$80,820
Asheville	270	$44,280	$48,110	$37,940	$66,730
Wilmington	220	$42,930	$54,530	$37,080	$109,410
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton	150	$39,900	$43,640	$31,170	$59,240
Pinehurst-Southern Pines	130	$47,360	$47,850	$34,710	$62,090
Rocky Mount	90	$40,360	$46,600	$36,630	$66,980
Jacksonville	80	$51,930	$52,590	$35,870	$69,240
Goldsboro	60	$44,500	$53,190	$35,430	$84,190
Burlington	40	$43,220	$48,500	$37,950	$64,510

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 North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 6,760 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 North Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in North Carolina.

How much do medical billing and coding specialists earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in North Carolina is $49,620, which is $630 below the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Carolina

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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)