Medical transcription certification?

Question

Ok so I need to know if this is worth it.
I want to do medical transcription from home. The place I found in my town, Techskills, is offering to certify me in 6months for just under 7 thousand dollars.

Do I need a certification? A lot of jobs that i find in my area for it require like 2 years of experience.

techskills says that when I am done with the program they will give me a big list of transcrition agencys in my area to help put me in a job.

Is it worth it?

Answer 1

No as that price sounds so inflated. Please instead stick with the county community college (perhaps non-credit course section of course booklet) or county vo-tech school which is typically much less expensive and has more of a chance at having accreditation. And no one really knows if they will keep their word and give you a list of transcription agencies upon completion of the program. That's basically what those kinds of companies (or businesses, because they really just want your money :) are after between us and the wall. It's just as those other private schools that promise to help with job placement, but it really only goes by the leads that they get and they tend to graduate an overabundance of people which outweighs the job availability. You are right to question whether it's a good investment, and they certainly sound like a place that 'talks a good game' while charging an arm and a leg. I would bypass that place in a second! Take good care :)

Answer 2

That is a ripoff! I didn't pay that much to go a full year of college for medical transcription. After graduating, I filled in at a family practice center for 6 weeks and did transcription for one doctor. I then moved to Oklahoma, got a job as a per diem at a hospital there (with only the 6 weeks experience and a degree in hand), and stayed there for 2 years. A girl I worked with applied with another company and got the job, but didn't take it because she wasn't sure whether or not her family would be moving out of state. Therefore, she didn't accept the job. She told me about it, I applied, and was hired. I stayed with the hospital per diem and worked for this company (at home) for a year before finally deciding to go full time with them. I now live 2000 miles from the company I work for. Apparently, the other girl was not aware this can be done from anywhere in the world as long as you have long distance on your phone lines. This company does require at least 2 years experience. After being employed by them for 6 months, they will pay for your CMT test as long as you pass it (you pay first; you pass, they reimburse you the $85). If certified, you receive 0.05 cents extra per line. Doesn't sound like much until you multiply it out. The pay ranges from 0.7 to 10.5 cents per line, depending on how many lines you type in a 2-week pay period. The money is great; so are the benefits.

Good luck to you. I would definitely considering going to school for it. You would be considerably lucky to find a job in this career without a degree and some experience. However, it is hard to get experience when no one will hire you without it. I was very fortunate, but also very persistent. I did not give up and neither should you. Just get the schooling you need, and don't give this company you're talking about a single penny!

Answer 3

Sounds like a $7000 scam to me. They'll give you a list for agencies looking for people? Well, that's a big help. You could get that from the yellow pages.

Medical transcription is a good field, but you are right, most employers want experience. And finding a job where you can work at home without having experience will be the next thing to impossible - there is work at home in this field, but pretty much would go to people who have worked in the office for that company for quite awhile.

Answer 4

A short-cut is to get a job in the hospital - entry level i.e. outpatient cashier, outpatient registration, file room, etc. Once you put in your time there and gain good skills with their computer system as well as familiarity with medical terminology, it is easy to get transferred over when a job opens up. Another way to get good experience while working at the hospital is to put feelers out to the offices associated with the hospital that when they need vacation coverage for transcription, you'd be happy to help.