New York employs 8,510 medical billing and coding specialists at $47,220 median — 6% below the national average in a state where living costs run 15% above national. Five SUNY and CUNY programs offer certificates starting at $3,000, but only Lehman College provides AAPC-approved curriculum that employers recognize.
Salary and employment data: Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS New York
New York · Training Path
How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in New York
New York's community college system offers multiple entry points, though program quality varies significantly across SUNY and CUNY campuses.
- 1
Associate Degree in Health Information Technology or Medical Coding
education2 years · $18,000-$32,000
Complete an associate degree covering medical terminology, ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS, reimbursement systems, compliance, and electronic health record workflows. Certificate programs exist, but the associate path remains common and is preferred by many employers.
- 2
Coding Practicum or Externship
training licensing4 months · $0-$1,000
Complete supervised coding or revenue-cycle practicum hours in a hospital, physician office, or billing environment to translate classroom knowledge into real-world workflows.
- 3
CPC or CBCS Certification
training licensing2 months · $299-$399
Pass a widely recognized entry-level coding exam such as the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or NHA Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).
- 4
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
careerOngoing ·
Begin entry-level coding and billing work in hospitals, physician offices, insurers, or vendor partners assigning codes, processing claims, and supporting revenue-cycle operations.
Accredited Programs · New York
Accredited Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Programs in New York
Accreditation matters because New York's licensing board typically only recognizes graduates from programs vetted by a national body. The programs below hold active accreditation and are in good standing as of the last verification date.
5 of ~undefined accredited programs in New York
| Institution | Credential | Length | Estimated Cost | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUNY Schenectady County Community College Schenectady | Certificate | 1 yr | $4,400–$5,500 | Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) programmatic accreditation for this certificate. |
| Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) New York | Certificate | 4 mo | $3,000–$3,500 | Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation for this CE program. |
| SUNY Rockland Community College Suffern | Certificate | 3 mo | $2,997 | Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation for this workforce program. |
| Lehman College (CUNY) Bronx | Certificate | 1y 6mo | $5,400–$5,500 | Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). AAPC-approved curriculum. No CAHIIM programmatic accreditation. |
| Suffolk County Community College Selden | Certificate | 1 yr | $5,000–$6,000 | Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation. |
Loading programs...
Last verified 2026-04-05. Program details — including tuition, duration, and accreditation — verified against each institution's official website.
New York · Licensing Authority
Licensing and Certification in New York
New York regulates this career through the credentials below. The “issuing body” is the organization that awards and renews the credential — some are national associations, others are New York's own licensing authority.
| Credential | Issuing Body | Type | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPC (Certified Professional Coder) (AAPC) | American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) | certification | voluntary |
| CCS (AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association)) | American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) | certification | alternative |
| CBCS (NHA (National Healthcareer Association)) | National Healthcareer Association (NHA) | certification | alternative |
New York · BLS OEWS 2024
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in New York
AAPC certification costs $300 but employers in New York's competitive health care market treat it as essential rather than optional.
10th
$47,216
25th
$59,758
Median
$47,220
75th
$74,443
90th
$98,904
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 8,510 employed in New York
HealthJob Analysis · New York
Is It Worth It? ROI in New York
Year 4
Break-even
$828k
20-year net
$26k
Education cost
20-year net earnings = cumulative income minus education cost and the years you weren't earning.
Assumes New York median salary of $47,220, 2% annual wage growth, no loan interest. Does not account for cost of living.
HealthJob Analysis · New York
AI & Automation for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in New York
Major New York health systems like NYU Langone and NewYork-Presbyterian have deployed AI coding tools from Epic and 3M, but they use human coders to review complex cases and handle insurance denials.
Tasks that are changing
- AI handles major parts
- AI augments
- AI assists
- Human-only
Retrieve patient medical records for staff
EHR search and access fundamentally changes retrieval from manual filing to digital querying, altering workflow.
Compile and maintain patient medical records
Enter patient data into computer
EHR systems like Epic streamline data entry with forms and autocomplete, making workers faster but not replacing the entry process.
Code patient data using classification systems
Maintain health record indexes and retrieval systems
EHR platforms like Epic handle indexing, storage, and retrieval automatically, assisting specialists in management.
Process patient admission or discharge documents
EHR systems automate much of admission/discharge paperwork generation and processing.
Scan health records into electronic formats
OCR and scanning software handle major digitization, with humans handling exceptions; widespread in transition to EHR.
Assign patient to DRGs using software
AI products in use today
New York · Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in New York?
- Medical billing and coding specialists in New York earn $47,220 median salary, ranging from $47,216 at the 10th percentile to $98,904 at the 90th percentile. The state pays 6% below national average despite higher living costs.
- What certification do I need for medical billing and coding in New York?
- New York requires no state license for medical billing and coding specialists. However, most employers require AAPC CPC certification ($300 exam) or AHIMA CCS certification ($399 exam), with hospital systems typically preferring the CCS credential.
- Which New York colleges offer medical coding programs?
- Five New York community colleges offer medical coding certificates, ranging from $3,000-$5,500 tuition. Only Lehman College (CUNY) provides AAPC-approved curriculum that employers specifically recognize, while other programs offer regional accreditation only.
- How long does medical coding training take in New York?
- Medical coding certificate programs in New York range from 3 months (SUNY Rockland) to 18 months (Lehman College). Most programs run 12 months and cost $4,000-$6,000 at SUNY and CUNY schools.
- Is medical coding in demand in New York?
- New York employs 8,510 medical billing and coding specialists with 7.8% projected growth through 2032. Major health systems like Mount Sinai and NYU Langone continue hiring despite AI automation because complex cases still require human expertise.
Sources & Data
These references are used to build salary, training-path, and job-outlook estimates shown on this page.
- •Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- •O*NET OnLine
- •AAPC
- •AHIMA
- •NHA
- •HealthJob AI Impact Analysis
- •BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Medical Records Specialists
- •AHIMA Certification Overview
- •AAPC Certified Professional Coder
- •Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS State Data — New York
Data last refreshed: April 2026
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