Four Simple Steps on How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist

What is the process to become a Medical Transcriptionist?

The steps that are necessary to become a MT are shown below in a simple and easy to follow format just for you:

STEP 1 – Have your High School Diploma or GED Equivalent

All candidates must have a HS diploma or their GED to be eligible for accredited medical transcription training programs.

STEP 2 – Select an Accredited Medical Transcriptionist Program

Completing a certificate program in medical transcription or getting your associates degree is necessary for most employers. Accredited programs give their students the introduction and understanding of the necessary medical terminology, healthcare documentation and transcription methods. These programs, in most situations are offered at vocational training schools and community colleges. To see accredited medical transcription schools see the list below from the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity.

AHDI Accredited Medical transcription Programs

Step 3 – Get On the Job Training or Internship

It is very common for students in medical transcription training to receive on-the-job experience. If you are attending a course that does not offer any on the job training students should seek an internship or apprenticeship positions. See the opportunities at your school of choice.

Step 4 – Get Your Medical Transcription Certification

MT certification is not required but is strongly recommended for career enhancement and success. The best medical transcriptionists become certified and most employers are demanding it nowadays. The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity offers the (RHDS) Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist and the (CHDS) Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist certifications. These are the two most used and common certifications. Both certifications require the successful passing of an exam and also do require periodic retesting and continuing education courses.

RHDS certification – The (RMT) Registered Medical Transcriptionist certification is for those with less than 2 years of experience and who work in a single environment like a doctor’s office.

CHDS certification – The (CMT) Certified Medical Transcriptionist certification is for those who also hold the RHDS designation and also must have at least 2 years of acute care experience. The experience must also be in handling dictation in multiple medical field specialties.

Continuing education is required every 3 years to maintain MT Certification.

What does a Medical Transcriptionist do?

A medical transcriptionist, which is also known as a healthcare documentation specialist, listen to voice recordings made by doctors and physicians to convert them into written reports. There are speech recognition technologies available to healthcare professionals and transcriptionists convert those to written reports. Interpreting all medical terminology and medical abbreviations, checking discharge summaries, and other documents may also be done too. The core value of the MT cannot be understated. Below we get in to the MT job description.

Step 5 – Finding a job as a Medical Transcriptionist

Across the country in 2016 there were 57,400 jobs help by medical transcriptionists.

Where do Medical Transcriptionists Commonly Work?

Below are the locations and work environments that are the most common for medical transcriptionists to work according to bls.gov.

Hospitals 28%
Administrative support services 28%
Physicians Offices 24%
Self-employed 5%
Medical labs 3%

About Medical Transcription salary

What is the average salary for a Medical Transcriptionist?

The average salary for (MT) Medical Transcriptionists is $16.95 per hour and $35,250 per year per bls.gov’s latest data.

MT salary by state