Medical Transcription Training: Become Medical Transcriptionist

With baby boomers entering their golden years and the health care industry moving toward electronic record keeping, the medical transcription field is growing. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the medical transcription occupation is expected to grow "faster than average," with a projected growth rate of 14 percent. With double digit growth rates, an aging population, and a health care agenda stressing electronic medical records, opportunities for certified medical transcriptionists are outstanding!

Secure your future with a Medical Transcription career without having to put your work or family on hold in the process by becoming certified or earning an accredited Associate degree online, from the comfort of home, and at your own pace.

What Do Medical Transcriptionists Do?

Medical transcriptionists transcribe dictated and written physician notes into electronic documents. This involves listening to, reading, and understanding the information and then using appropriate technology, such as a word processor, to transcribe the information into a detailed and accurate medical document. The document then becomes part of the patient`s medical record.

Typing, word processing, and writing skills are prerequisites to the field of medical transcription. However, those skills are just the beginning. An in-depth understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology is needed as well as knowledge of pharmacology, treatment assessments, diagnostic procedures, and the legal concerns surrounding the health care industry.

Medical transcriptionists must also understand medical jargon, abbreviations, and acronyms in order to accurately decode any oral or written shortcuts into meaningful text. For example, physicians often use acronyms such as BID (twice per day) and QH (every hour) in their notes. To the layperson, these acronyms don`t make much sense. However, a properly trained health care professional understands that these acronyms are based on Latin with bis in die (BID) meaning "twice per day" and quaque hora (QH) meaning "every hour." With the proper coursework in medical terminology, a medical transcriptionist can quickly transcribe the information despite the abundance of medical jargon and acronyms.

In addition, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a complex set of regulations governing the health care industry. Medical transcriptionists must understand their role in protecting the privacy and confidentiality of protected health care information. Protecting this sensitive information often involves using specific technologies such as digital certificates and encryption. Coursework in basic computer security techniques helps ensure that the transcriptionist understands how to use technology effectively in order to secure these electronic documents.

Medical Transcription Education Requirements

Post secondary medical transcription training, such as a one-year certificate program or a two-year associate degree program, is preferred by employers. Employers want to know that the medical transcriptionist fully understands patient privacy concerns and the complex medical demands of the job.

Professional Certification

The American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT) awards the voluntary Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) to medical transcriptionists who pass written and practical examinations. Certification ensures competence, as is also customary in other fields. Medical transcriptionists are asked to keep abilities updated because medical terminology is always developing. CMTs must continually earn education credits every three years in order to remain certified.

Where do Medical Transcriptionists Work?

Medical transcriptionists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, laboratories, medical and document transcription companies, government medical offices, medical libraries, and even from the comfort of their own homes. Many experienced Medical Transcriptionists go on to start transcription service companies and hire other medical transcriptionists to work for them.

How much do Medical Transcriptionists Earn?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical transcriptionists earned a median average of $14.40 per hour as of mid-2006 with the highest earners making over $20 per hour. The highest paid transcriptionists worked in medical and diagnostic laboratories. Independent medical transcriptionists also command a higher rate though as self-employed professionals, these individuals have higher out-of-pocket expenses, must pay self-employment taxes, and do not receive any benefits. Medical Transcription service company owners can earn as much as their company can produce, giving ambitious transcriptionists the opportunity to grow as prosperous as their heights of their abilities and ambition takes them!

Medical Transcription Advancement Opportunities

With experience, medical transcriptionists can advance to supervisory positions, home-based work, editing, consulting, or teaching. Some become owners of medical transcription businesses. With additional education or training, some become medical records and health information technicians, medical coders, or medical records and health information administrators.

Becoming a medical transcriptionist is a terrific way to become involved in the growing health care industry. The baby boomers are aging, which is fueling the demand for additional health care workers. In addition, the health care industry is embracing the concept of electronic recordkeeping which offers additional opportunities for well-trained medical transcriptionists. Your career in Medical Transcription is without limits. Take your dreams and turn them into reality with Medical Transcription training!

Train For A Medical Transcription Career

Secure Your Future with a Medical Transcription Career!
Explore accredited Medical Transcription schools and request additional information about requirements, tuition, financial aid, and start dates directly from schools offering programs that match your interests:
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Find Medical Transcription Programs Near You

Empire College

Campus

Empire College, located in Santa Rosa, California, can give you the career training you need to launch or advance your career in the Business, Law, Technology, or Medical fields.

Programs:

• Medical Transcriptionist
• Medical Billing/Coding

Campus Locations:

Santa Rosa

Penn Foster Schools

Campus

Penn Foster offers affordable, self-paced career-focused distance education programs in fields like business, criminal justice, health services, technology, engineering, paralegal studies and more.

Programs:

• Medical Transcriptionist
• Medical Administrative Assistant
• Legal Transcriptionist

Campus Locations:

Scranton

Stratford Career Institute

Online

Stratford Career Institute can help you earn your diploma from home in as little as six months, thanks to their proven study methods.

Programs:

• Medical Transcriptionist
• Medical Office Assistant

Ashworth College

Campus

Get the hands-on training and skills it takes to succeed with Ashworth College, a respected, worldwide leader in distance education. Study at the times and places most convenient for you.

Programs:

• Medical Transcription
• Medical Office Assisting

Campus Locations:

Norcross

Everest College

Campus

Develop the skills to succeed in today's highly competitive business environment. Everest College can prepare you for a rewarding career in some of today's hottest fields.

Programs:

• Diploma - Medical Administrative Assistant
• Diploma - Medical Insurance Billing and Coding

Campus Locations:

San Bernardino
Santa Ana
Hayward
Ontario
Los Angeles
Gardena
San Jose
Alhambra
Reseda
LA Puente
San Francisco
Anaheim

Kaplan College - KHE

Campus

Don't wait another day to take the next step forward in your career. Kaplan College can give you the real-world knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field.

Programs:

• Diploma: Medical Office Specialist
• Diploma: Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

Campus Locations:

Salida
Bakersfield
Stockton
Chula Vista
San Diego
Vista

Milan Institute

Campus

Successful careers begin at the Milan Institute. We offer quality hands-on training, experienced faculty and a staff committed to helping you realize your goals.

Programs:

• Administrative Medical Assistant
• Accounting

Campus Locations:

Indio
Visalia

American Career College

Campus

American Career College (ACC) offers hands-on training that will prepare students for careers in the healthcare industry at three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County, California. ACC's programs combine classroom lectures and hands-on training to prepare students for a Diploma or Associate of Occupational Science degree.

Programs:

• Health Claims Examiner/Medical Biller

Campus Locations:

Anaheim
Los Angeles
Ontario

Charter College

Campus

You can prepare for a new career with help from Charter College. Our accelerated Bachelors Degree, Associates Degree, and Certificate programs are designed to help you complete your education as quickly as possible. We offer year-round classes and flexible scheduling - study anytime from anywhere. We provide students not only with the technical skills necessary for success, but also job search and placement assistance so you can find new opportunities after graduation.

Programs:

• AS - Medical Office Administration: Concentration in Medical Assistant
• Diploma - Medical Office Administrative Assistant

Campus Locations:

Oxnard
Lancaster
Canyon Country

Heald College

Campus

Heald College offers 18-month associate degree programs that will prepare you for a career in Business, Technology, or Healthcare. Small class sizes, hands-on instruction.

Programs:

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding
• Medical Office Administration

Campus Locations:

Milpitas
Rancho Cordova
Fresno
Salinas
Hayward
San Francisco
Salida
Concord
Stockton
Roseville

Laurus College

Campus

Get started on your career with Laurus College. We offer programs for careers in the computer and information technology, web design, business, and medical billing fields.

Programs:

• Medical Billing Certificate Program

Campus Locations:

Atascadero
San Luis Obispo
Santa Maria
Oxnard

Carrington College California

Campus

Carrington College California offers the programs you need to begin a career in healthcare. Choose from Healthcare, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, or Veterinary Services.

Programs:

• AS in Medical Billing and Coding
• Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding

Campus Locations:

San Leandro
Sacramento
Antioch
Emeryville
San Jose
Citrus Heights

Career Colleges of America

Campus

Get your career started with Career Colleges of America. We have four campuses in the Los Angeles area offering a wide variety of allied health training programs.

Programs:

• Medical Biller

Campus Locations:

Gardena
Los Angeles
San Bernardino
South Gate

UEI College

Campus

UEI College can give you the real world medical, business, and technology skills you need to start a rewarding career. Let us know how we can assist you with your personal growth by helping you train for your perfect career.

Programs:

• Medical Billing and Insurance Coding

Campus Locations:

Fresno
Riverside
Gardena
Stockton
Bakersfield
Anaheim

Bryan College

Campus

Get your career started with training from Bryan College! We offer programs in Court Reporting, Advanced Health & Fitness Training, and Health Information Management & Coding at both our Sacramento and Los Angeles campuses.

Programs:

• Court Reporting
• Health Information Management and Coding

Campus Locations:

Los Angeles
Rancho Cordova

Institute of Technology

Campus

You can get started on a new career with Institute of Technology. We offer diploma and associate degree programs for careers in the culinary, technical, medical, business, and legal fields.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.it-colleges.edu/disclosure

Programs:

• Medical Office Administration

Campus Locations:

Clovis
Redding
Modesto

Summit College

Campus

Get your career started with an education from Summit College. We offer programs in legal office assisting, licensed vocational nursing, office administration, administrative and clinical medical assisting, medical billing and coding, dental assisting, and accounting assisting.

Programs:

• Medical Billing & Coding
• Electronic Health Records

Campus Locations:

Anaheim
Colton

Charter College Online

Online

You can advance your career with a degree from Charter College Online. We offer several Associates and Bachelors degrees in the business, health care, accounting and legal fields. Our accelerated programs are designed to help you complete your degree as quickly as possible. We offer year-round classes and flexible scheduling - study anytime from anywhere. We help students get not only with the technical skills necessary for success, but also job search and placement assistance so you can find new opportunities after graduation.

Programs:

• BS - Business Management Accounting: Concentration in Medical Coding and Billing
• Health Information Technology

Golden State College of Court Reporting & Captioning

Campus

Explore a new career with Golden State College of Court Reporting & Captioning. We offer a program in realtime reporting and captioning at our school in Dublin, California.

Programs:

• Realtime Reporting & Captioning

Campus Locations:

Dublin

Mayfield College

Campus

Give your career a boost with an education from Mayfield College. Our academic programs include medical front office, computer support technician, and general office management.

Programs:

• Medical Billing and Coding

Campus Locations:

Cathedral City

University of Phoenix

Campus

As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.

Programs:

• BS in Health Administration/Health Information Systems
• A.A. in Health Care Administration-Medical Records
• B.S. in Health Administration/Health Information Systems

Campus Locations:

San Jose
Ontario
Diamond Bar
Gardena
Lancaster
Costa Mesa
Pasadena
Sacramento
San Diego
Woodland Hills
Roseville
San Francisco
Online
Salida
Los Angeles
Elk Grove
Oakland
Rancho Cordova
Lathrop
Livermore
Fairfield
Murrieta
Culver City

Virginia College

Campus

Virginia College continues the tradition of giving lives new direction, fulfilling our mission statement to students wherever they live and offering the chance to pursue a degree while maintaining commitments to work and family.

Programs:

• AS - Healthcare Reimbursement
• AS - Medical Office Administration

Campus Locations:

Birmingham

Platt College

Campus

Turn your talents into a career. Nationally recognized and accredited Platt College offers degree programs in Graphic Design, Multimedia, IT Networking and Paralegal.

Programs:

• Medical Administrative Specialist

Campus Locations:

Riverside
Ontario
Alhambra

California College San Diego

Campus

California College San Diego (CCSD)offers degree programs in Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, and Computer Science. Online programs are offered by our affiliated college, Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (Online)
• Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management

Campus Locations:

National City
San Diego
San Marcos

Santa Barbara Business College

Campus

California is home to beautiful landscapes, a diverse population and countless things to do. Santa Barbara Business College is a California technical school that helps people just like you learn skills for their career. After all, without a good career, it can be difficult to enjoy all the wonderful things California has to offer.

SBBCollege is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. For information on graduation rates, median debt of graduates who completed these programs and other important information, visit http://www.sbbcollege.edu/consumerinformation/disclosures.php. SBBCollege offers financial aid to those who qualify.

Programs:

• Medical Office Administration

Campus Locations:

Santa Maria
Rancho Mirage
Ventura