Medical Billing and Coding Programs in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has one of the most robust healthcare industries in the United States, with two major metro areas (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) each serving as major medical centers. If you're considering medical billing and coding here, you'll earn an average of $62,733 per year, about 25% above the national BLS median of $50,250 (AAPC 2023 Salary Survey).

Pittsburgh is home to UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), one of the largest healthcare systems in the country with over 95,000 employees. Philadelphia's healthcare corridor includes Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Temple University Health System, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Central PA adds Geisinger Health, Penn State Health, and UPMC Pinnacle.

PA's two in-state programs are both in the Pittsburgh area. For residents in Philadelphia or elsewhere outside western PA, online programs may be more convenient. For an overview of this career, see our guide to medical billing and coding.

Pennsylvania has two in-state institutions offering MBC programs, both in the Pittsburgh area. For Philadelphia-area residents, online programs are often more convenient. You may qualify for workforce development funding through PA CareerLink, the state's workforce system. For more on online options, see our online programs guide.

Certification is a practical requirement for employment in PA's competitive healthcare market. You won't need a state license, but employers expect one of these three credentials:

CPC (Certified Professional Coder) from AAPC: The most widely recognized credential nationally. It's 100 questions over 4 hours with a 70% passing threshold. Cost is $425 for one attempt or $499 for two, plus AAPC membership ($222/yr, $157 for students). AAPC has active chapters in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown, and Scranton.

CCA (Certified Coding Associate) from AHIMA: An entry-level credential well-suited for hospital and HIM settings. The exam is 105 questions over 2 hours, costing $199 for members or $299 for non-members. A strong option for inpatient coding roles at UPMC, Penn Medicine, or Geisinger.

CBCS (Certified Billing and Coding Specialist) from NHA: Covers both billing and coding with 100 scored questions plus 20 pretest questions at roughly $117. All three exams offer remote proctoring. For detailed comparisons, see our certification comparison guide.

At $62,733/yr ($30.16/hr), Pennsylvania's medical billing and coding salaries sit 25% above the national BLS median (AAPC 2023 Salary Survey). The Philadelphia metro tends to offer higher nominal wages, driven by competition among Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Temple, and insurance companies. Pittsburgh, while slightly lower in nominal wages, benefits from a much lower cost of living and massive UPMC hiring volume.

Central PA (Harrisburg, State College, Danville) also offers competitive salaries through Geisinger, Penn State Health, and UPMC Pinnacle. Nationally, professionals with 3+ credentials average $81,227/yr (AAPC 2025). For a full salary breakdown, visit our salary guide.

Key employers include UPMC (95,000+ employees, Pittsburgh), Penn Medicine (Philadelphia), Jefferson Health (Philadelphia), Geisinger (Danville/central PA), Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown), Penn State Health (Hershey), Temple University Health System (Philadelphia), and WellSpan Health (York). Insurance companies headquartered in the Philadelphia suburbs add additional demand.

Career advancement includes coding specialization, auditing, compliance, and HIM leadership. UPMC and Penn Medicine both offer significant internal advancement given their system size. Remote work also lets you access employers in neighboring states like New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. See our step-by-step career guide for more.