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

Most people become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Tennessee 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 Tennessee?

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

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical billing and coding specialists in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,780.

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

Tennessee currently employs approximately 4,440 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

Tennessee employs about 4,440 medical billing and coding specialists earning a median $48,780 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 Tennessee

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	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro	66.6	Contact school for pricing	$50,879	76%	—	50 mi
2	Herzing University-Nashville	61.1	$13,450	$58,575	Not reported	Yes*	41 mi
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3	Volunteer State Community College	46.8	$4,756 in-state / $17,740 out-of-state	$47,655	28%	Yes*	61 mi
4	Columbia State Community College	44.7	$5,296 in-state / $18,112 out-of-state	$46,284	30%	—	13 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Nashville State Community College	39.5	$4,730 in-state / $17,714 out-of-state	$48,592	18%	Yes*	36 mi
6	Allied Health Careers Institute	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$31,044	80%	—	51 mi
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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.

Tennessee employs approximately 4,440 medical billing and coding specialists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,780 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 Tennessee, 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 (Tennessee): $48,780 per year ¹

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

How to become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Tennessee? 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 Tennessee? 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 Tennessee? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in Tennessee is $48,780 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,320 and experienced professionals can earn $79,960 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Tennessee

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 Tennessee

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 Tennessee

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	1,640	$51,300	$55,650	$39,970	$79,960
Knoxville	760	$47,660	$50,230	$37,740	$74,080
Memphis	660	$53,100	$59,320	$38,560	$95,530
Chattanooga	350	$49,020	$76,090	$37,450	$105,240
Clarksville	120	$47,050	$50,290	$35,740	$71,930
Kingsport-Bristol	120	$45,830	$46,670	$31,410	$63,490
Johnson City	100	$47,150	$49,790	$35,650	$67,200
Jackson	90	$57,150	$57,350	$37,560	$81,020
Cleveland	30	$45,760	$47,730	$35,350	$70,260
Morristown	30	$40,550	$43,810	$23,920	$62,650

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 Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 4,440 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 Tennessee? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Tennessee.

How much do medical billing and coding specialists earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in Tennessee is $48,780, which is $1,470 below the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data ¹.

In Tennessee

Best Trade Schools in Tennessee (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Tennessee

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)