Loading...
Loading...
Medical Coder
Medical coding is a certification-based profession — no state requires a license. However, employers universally require AAPC CPC or AHIMA CCS/CCA certification. Compare certification requirements, exam fees, and employer expectations across all 50 states.
51
Total States
0
States w/ License Req
$2,089
Avg Initial Investment
51
States w/ Cert Req
Medical coding is governed by national certification bodies, not state licensing boards. Here are the three key areas to understand.
No US state requires a license to work as a medical coder. Instead, the profession is governed by national certification organizations: AAPC (offering the CPC credential) and AHIMA (offering CCS and CCA credentials). Virtually all employers require one of these certifications.
Most medical coding programs are certificate (4-6 months) or associate degree (2 years) programs covering medical terminology, anatomy, ICD-10-CM/PCS, and CPT/HCPCS coding. The CPC exam is 150 questions over 5 hours 40 minutes with a 70% passing score requirement.
Maintaining certification requires ongoing CEUs: 36 CEUs every 2 years for CPC holders, 30 CEUs every 2 years for CCS holders. Annual membership renewal ($190/year AAPC, $229/year AHIMA) is also required to maintain credentials.
Side-by-side fees, hours, exams, and timelines across all 50 states. Sort by cost, hours, or any column.
Compare All StatesFind out if your license transfers to another state and what extra steps are needed.
Check ReciprocityLook up a license on the official state board — fast links to every state's verification portal.
Study Materials & Exam Prep — CPC Exam
Prepare for your CPC Exam with Mometrix study guides, flashcards, and practice tests.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Practice Tests for the CBCS Exam (Certified Billing & Coding Specialist)
Exam Edge offers realistic timed practice tests for the CBCS Exam (Certified Billing & Coding Specialist) with detailed answer explanations — ideal complement to a study guide.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Click any state to see full requirements, costs, and step-by-step instructions →
| State | State License | Cert Required | Exam Fee | Total Investment | CEU Requirement | State Notes | Confidence | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | California employers in large healthcare systems may require additional specialty certifications beyond CPC/CCS. | medium | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | Florida's large Medicare population means coders should be well-versed in Medicare coding guidelines. | medium | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | New York's large hospital systems often prefer coders with both CPC and CCS credentials. | medium | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | Nashville's concentration of healthcare companies (HCA, Community Health Systems) may require specialty coding credentials. | medium | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | Texas's large healthcare market means employers may prefer specialty certifications (e.g., CPC-P for payer-side coding). | medium | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | No | Yes | $299-$499 | $2,089-$5,589 | 36 CEUs every 2 years | — | medium | March 2026 |
Medical coders often work alongside other healthcare professionals. Explore related certification and licensing requirements.
Study guides for CPC, CCS, and CCA medical coding certification exams.
Browse Study Guides on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Shop essential tools and supplies to get started in your career.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
Moving to a new state?
See which states have reciprocity for Medical Coder licenses and what's required to transfer.