Trade Schools
If you want to start a career as a medical biller and coder and you’re wondering where to complete your training, this page is for you.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical records specialists was $46,660 as of May 2021.
This means that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.
Depending on education, region of employment, the industry, and a variety of other factors, salaries range from less than $30,000 to more than $74,000.
Pennsylvania Medical Billers and Coders earned $48,070 on average, according to BLS.
As a medical biller and coder, you will help healthcare facilities manage insurance claims, invoices, and payments.
You will need to learn how to take the provider’s diagnostic and procedural notes and convert them into the correct codes for record and billing purposes.
All these skills can be achieved by attending a post-secondary training program.
Although there are no formal educational requirements for medical billers and coders, earning a certificate or diploma can make it easier for you to find a job in the field.
This page compiles information about the best medical billing and coding schools in Pennsylvania.
1Penn Foster
About the School
Penn Foster offers a Career Diploma in Medical Billing and Coding.
The program can be completed in 11 months.
Students who graduate from this program are prepared to sit for:
- Certified Billing & Coding Specialist exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association
- Certified Professional Coder exam offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders
- Coding Associate exams offered by the American Health Information Management Association
Students also receive a voucher covering the cost of their CBCS exam- a $115 value.
Courses Offered
The Medical Billing and Coding curriculum includes courses such as:
- Medical Office Procedures
- Body Systems and Medical Terminology
- Electronic Medical Records
- Basic Medical Coding
- Intermediate Medical Coding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 925 Oak Street, Scranton, PA 18515
- Phone: 800-275-4410
- Website: https://www.pennfoster.edu
2Central Penn College
About the School
Central Penn College offers a Medical Billing & Coding Certificate program that prepares students for work in the healthcare field.
The program includes 18 credits and prepares students for work in the fast-paced field of medicine in as few as nine months.
Classes are available online.
Students prepare to sit for the American Association of Professional Coders exam.
The skills covered by this program prepare students to support doctors, nurses, and other medical and administrative staff members in learning the laws, rules, and regulations covering health insurance plans.
The plans include Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, PPOs, and HMOs.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes courses on:
- Medical Terminology and Pharmacology
- Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology
- Medical Insurance
- Diagnostic Coding
- Procedural Coding
Central Penn College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Contact Information
- Address: Central Penn College, 600 Valley Rd., P.O. Box 309, Summerdale, PA 17093-0309
- Phone: 800-759-2727
- Website: https://www.centralpenn.edu
3Community College of Philadelphia
About the School
Community College of Philadelphia offers a Medical Billing and Coding program available online.
This program prepares students to start a career in medical facilities, health insurance companies, specialty pharmacies, medical suppliers, consulting firms, as well as national medical coding and billing companies.
The program costs $2,995.
The course includes 370 hours.
The college offers programs at four other Philadelphia locations, in addition to its main campus.
Courses Offered
The Medical Billing and Coding curriculum covers topics such as:
- Medical coding terminology
- Disorders and medical procedures common to each body system
- Legal, ethical, and regulatory concepts
- The main coding manuals
- How to code diagnoses, services, and procedures for all systems of the body
The program prepares students for the professional certification that best aligns with their interests and career goals.
Students learn how to use the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System and the CPT Category II and ICD-10 Codes.
Contact Information
- Address: 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Phone: 215-751-8000
- Website: https://www.ccp.edu
4Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
About the School
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College offers a variety of associate degree and certificate programs.
Courses Offered
The Medical Coding & Billing Associate in Applied Science degree program at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College focuses on electronic billing and reimbursement.
Students learn to create and use electronic medical records.
The program also covers the following objectives:
- Protecting the security of medical records
- Reviewing records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations
- Entering appropriate codes
- Utilizing the Revenue Cycle approach
- Entering data into the patient chart
- Processing, preparing, and submitting appropriate insurance forms
- And more
The college has signed transfer agreements to allow students to continue their studies in Medical Billing and Coding with:
- Saint Francis University
- Seton Hill University
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Contact Information
- Address: 101 Community College Wy, Johnstown, PA 15904
- Phone: 814.262.6400
- Website: https://www.pennhighlands.edu
5Harrisburg Area Community College
About the School
Harrisburg Area Community College offers a variety of degree, certificate, and diploma programs.
The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Courses Offered
The Medical Coding Specialist at Harrisburg Area Community College is a non-credit Certificate program.
Students learn to perform tasks such as:
- Analyzing health records and assigning codes for diseases and procedures
- Maintaining patients’ accounting records
- Researching and reviewing insurance claims
- Performing data entry payment information
- Abstracting key information from health records
- Monitoring compliance with policies and procedures
The program can be completed in approximately 10 months by attending classes two nights per week or in only three months by attending three days per week.
Learners get hands-on practice using medical billing and coding software.
Graduates receive a voucher for the certification exam of their choice:
- Certified Professional Coder
- Certified Coding Associate
- Certified Billing and Coding Specialist
Contact Information
- Address: One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110
- Phone: 800-ABC-HACC
- Website: https://www.hacc.edu
6Lackawanna College
About the School
Lackawanna College is a private, accredited college that serves students of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
It has a main campus in downtown Scranton and satellite centers in Covington Township, Hawley, Hazleton, Sunbury, Towanda, and Tunkhannock.
The college offers educational opportunities to students from all walks of life.
The college offers numerous associate and bachelor’s degrees and certificates at its main campus and satellite campuses.
Courses Offered
The college offers a Medical Billing & Coding Certificate program.
The program teaches medical terminology, billing, and coding.
Students complete 525 hours of coursework.
The program is available in Scranton, Towanda, and online.
The curriculum focuses on skills and coding competencies used in hospitals and physician practices and it covers the latest coding standards.
Students prepare to take the Certified Coding Associate exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 501 Vine Street, Scranton, PA 18509
- Phone: 1-877-346-3552
- Website: https://www.lackawanna.edu
7Erie Institute of Technology
About the School
Erie Institute of Technology offers programs in different academic areas to suit student interests and talents.
The program offers practical hands-on laboratory training along with classroom instruction.
By attending classes at the institute, students prepare for tomorrow’s job market.
Courses Offered
Erie Institute of Technology offers a Medical Billing and Coding Program that can be completed in nine months.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Career Success Strategies
- Medical Office Procedures
- Medical Terminology Essentials
- Insurance Procedures
- Diagnostic Coding
- Procedural Coding
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Advanced Medical Coding
- Disease Process
Contact Information
- Address: 940 Millcreek Mall, Erie, Pennsylvania 16565
- Phone: (814) 868-9900
- Website: https://erieit.edu
8All State Career Education
About the School
All State Career Education offers flexible class schedules to allow busy students to combine work with their education.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Career placement assistance is available for all graduates.
All State Career Education has two campuses in Pennsylvania: Essignton and West Mifflin.
Courses Offered
The Medical Billing and Coding Administrator program available at All-State Career provides comprehensive real-world training.
The programs are taught by experienced and dedicated instructors who prepare students for the on-the-job challenges they will encounter once they begin their careers.
The school equips students with the skills needed for this profession through small class sizes, hands-on work, and a passionate faculty.
To qualify for admission at All-State Career Education, in most cases, applicants must be a high school graduate or its equivalent.
Contact Information
- Address: 1200 Lebanon Rd. West Mifflin, PA 15122
- Phone: 412.823.1818
- Website: https://www.allstatecareer.edu
9Pennco Tech
About the School
Pennco Tech is a top trade school that offers career training programs for in-demand professions.
The school has two campuses in Blackwood, New Jersey, and Bristol, PA.
Courses Offered
The Medical Billing and Coding program is available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Students prepare for careers as medical billing and coding technicians by learning skills such as:
- Reviewing medical data and keeping it organized at all times
- Completing medical records to ensure their accuracy
- Correctly putting clinical codes into medical classification software
- Entering healthcare records in the proper format
- Acting as a liaison between medical offices and insurance companies
- Maintaining electronic records
Students prepare for positions as medical records coordinators, medical records directors, health information clerks, medical billing managers, or medical records analysts.
Contact Information
- Address: 99 Erial Rd, Blackwood, NJ 08012
- Phone: 856-232-0310
- Website: https://www.penncotech.edu
10Bidwell Training Center
About the School
Bidwell Training Center provides hands-on career training programs that prepare students for work opportunities in a variety of industries.
Bidwell receives funding from The State of Pennsylvania, private foundations, and individual donors which makes it possible for residents of Pennsylvania who hold a high school diploma or equivalent to receive full tuition, textbooks, uniforms, and supplies required for training.
Courses Offered
The Medical Coder/Biller program at Bidwell Training Center is an eight-month program that prepares students with the skills to help healthcare facilities get reimbursements from insurance companies while processing health insurance claims.
Students also receive hands-on training during an externship in a medical facility, where they apply their new skills in a professional environment.
The program focuses on courses such as:
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Communications & Professional Skills
- Computers & Professional Skills
- CPT Coding I-III
- Encoding
- Mathematics
- Medical Claims Processing
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1815 Metropolitan Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
- Phone: 412-323-4000
- Website: https://bidwelltraining.edu
Regional Salary in Pennsylvania
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 430 | $48,860 | $23.49 | $67,630 | $36,530 |
| Altoona, PA | 90 | $41,640 | $20.02 | $57,630 | $28,760 |
| Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | 150 | $44,920 | $21.6 | $57,460 | $35,160 |
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA | 60 | $49,190 | $23.65 | $64,440 | $31,940 |
| Erie, PA | 140 | $45,410 | $21.83 | $58,780 | $31,130 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 40 | $44,500 | $21.39 | $57,190 | $33,820 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 530 | $48,220 | $23.18 | $67,710 | $36,340 |
| Johnstown, PA | 70 | $45,420 | $21.84 | $63,900 | $31,200 |
| Lancaster, PA | 260 | $45,510 | $21.88 | $58,500 | $35,030 |
| Lebanon, PA | 80 | $48,780 | $23.45 | $68,160 | $36,310 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,000 | $53,790 | $25.86 | $77,740 | $37,490 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 2,460 | $46,350 | $22.28 | $60,170 | $35,500 |
| Reading, PA | 290 | $49,320 | $23.71 | $69,290 | $36,260 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA | 240 | $42,850 | $20.6 | $56,920 | $31,220 |
| State College, PA | 40 | $43,310 | $20.82 | $56,300 | $34,650 |
| Williamsport, PA | 80 | $44,820 | $21.55 | $59,810 | $34,170 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 270 | $44,680 | $21.48 | $58,400 | $34,680 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Medical billers and coders are a liaison between insurers, medical offices, and patients.
If you want to start a career in this field, this page provides you with information about the schools and programs that can prepare you for certification exams and employment in this field.
After completing your research, the next step is to decide what program best fits your needs and learning style.
