Medical Billing and Coding Programs in Colorado

Colorado's healthcare industry has expanded rapidly alongside the state's population growth. The state added nearly 750,000 residents between 2010 and 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau), and the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area has become one of the fastest-growing urban centers in the Mountain West. This growth has driven hospital construction, clinic expansion, and increased demand for the administrative professionals who keep healthcare revenue flowing.

Major healthcare systems in Colorado include UCHealth (the state's largest, with 14 hospitals), Intermountain Health (formerly SCL Health), Centura Health, Denver Health, and Children's Hospital Colorado. The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora is one of the largest academic medical campuses in the country. Each of these organizations employs medical billers and coders across inpatient, outpatient, and specialty settings.

Colorado doesn't require a state license or registration for medical billing and coding professionals. Certification is voluntary but expected by employers across the state. For a broader look at the field, see What Is Medical Billing and Coding?

Colorado has one IPEDS-reported medical billing and coding training program: Intellitec College in Grand Junction, a private for-profit institution offering campus-based training. Because it's located in western Colorado and doesn't offer a fully online option, accessibility is limited for students in the Denver metro area or other parts of the state.

Most Colorado residents pursuing this training enroll in nationally accredited online programs. Strong choices include Ultimate Medical Academy (the largest MBC program by completions), Penn Foster (self-paced diploma at $1,049-$1,869), Western Governors University ($7,710/year, competency-based and headquartered in neighboring Utah), Purdue University Global ($10,080/year), and DeVry University ($14,392/year).

When choosing a program, verify that it covers ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II coding systems, includes medical terminology and anatomy, and is approved by AAPC or accredited by AHIMA's CAHIIM. For a complete walkthrough, see How to Become a Medical Biller and Coder.

Colorado doesn't require a state license for medical billing and coding. Certification is voluntary but strongly preferred by employers. The CPC ($425-$499) from AAPC is the industry standard for outpatient and physician-office coding. The CCA ($199-$299) from AHIMA requires only a high school diploma. The CBCS (~$117) from NHA covers billing and coding fundamentals at the lowest cost.

Certified coders average $62,689 nationally (AAPC, 2024), and professionals with three or more certifications average $84,414. Colorado's AAPC local chapters, including the Denver chapter (one of the largest in the Mountain West), offer networking, continuing education, and study group resources. See our certification comparison for full details.

Medical billing and coding professionals in Colorado earn an average of $68,581 per year, or approximately $32.97 per hour (AAPC, 2024). That's roughly $18,300 above the national BLS median of $50,250. The Denver-Aurora metro area accounts for the largest share of coding positions and generally offers the highest pay. Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Grand Junction also have healthcare employer clusters.

The BLS projects 7% employment growth for medical records specialists from 2024 to 2034. Colorado's population growth rate, which exceeds the national average, suggests local job creation in healthcare will be robust. For a full salary breakdown by certification and experience, see our Salary Guide.

Colorado's healthcare job market is concentrated in the Front Range corridor (Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Boulder) but extends to regional medical centers across the state. UCHealth, Intermountain Health, Centura Health, Denver Health, and Children's Hospital Colorado are among the largest employers. The state also has a strong health technology sector with companies focused on health IT, revenue cycle management, and healthcare analytics based in the Denver metro area.

Remote work is widely available. Approximately 65.7% of medical coders work from home full time (AAPC, 2024). Colorado's Mountain time zone works well for employers on both the West Coast and in the Central time zone, making remote positions from national companies like Optum, Datavant, and Aviacode accessible. See our remote jobs guide for more.