A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Need to know the reality about an MT career - filly

Posted: Oct 26, 2011

I am considering going through training to become an MT and have been reading the posts on this forum for several weeks now. Before I make a decision I would like some opinions from you all who know this industry. Specifically, I would be looking to do MT on a part time basis. I am a stay- at- home mom with two kids in elementary school. My questions: 1) How realistic is it to find a part time job in MT (after training) where I can work my own hours from home? It seems like a lot of the job openings call for shift work. I would be available from about 8:30am-2pm with some flexibility in the evenings to finish up work. Is it realistic to get a part time job where I could work within these hours? 2) I realize the pay is not great, but is this still a good field to get into for someone looking to make some extra money? (My husband is the primary bread earner, and we live off his income). It seems that so many posts on this site are negative about MT and to steer clear of this career. Could it still be a good opportunity for someone in my situation? Let me finish by stating that I am not about to enter into this â��lightlyâ��. I realize the training is expensive and the job is hard work. Thanks in advance for your input!

I'd encourage you to read the archives - Laurie G

[ In Reply To ..]
here as well as the current postings, especially with regard to the New MTs board. Lots of good info regarding schools, etc. on that board in particular. I personally retired from MT a couple years ago for several reasons, but I still frequent the boards and try to help occasionally. Best wishes to you.

Interesting - sm

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I left my house yesterday and a commercial came on about a career fair for jobs in the medical transcription field. Went to the store and came out and the same commercial was on the radio again. What was interesting was that they were saying that if you can type, you can be a transcriptionist. Now this struck me funny as I just had a discussion with my boss who was telling me I need to learn VR because that is where it is all going. Now, how can these schools be indicating to people that they will be typing? I really felt like going home and printing a flier about the real facts about the transcription field and pass them out to people going in there. It is just disgusting how these schools are scamming people. As far as should you do it, that is really up to you. Just beware that it is trending to VR and you will be doing more editing than typing and your pay will be less than typing. There are a few who say they love it and they are making the same, but that is really not the normal, I don't care how many classes you take and how many awkward 3 or 4 finger keystrokes you use. JMHO

Interesting - Nick

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Well, I was a quarterback in high school, so I am sure that qualifies me for the NFL----NOT.

You really need to take heed of all the posts - sm

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on this board. I have been at this 16+ years and about to be homeless. I am very surprised at your question. Do you not believe the hundreds of MTs you see post here???

Run, do not walk, to some other career - anon

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I don't mean to be negative but you need to look for some other way to make money. MT used to be a great career but things have changed and it is no longer the case. It's still very hard to break into this field with no experience and even if you can get a job working from home with no experience, they usually want you to work evenings/nights/weekends, at least at first. The pay has really gone downhill and it just is not worth it anymore. Good luck.

Heed this advice. - Ditto

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There is nothing negative about just explaining the truth.

Transcription Career - LB

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Why train for a position that is dying? Yes there will always be transcription but why pay and train for something that pays you pennies to produce and hours and hours of time learning and doing it. Put your money and time into something you can growth with and advance with. This is not it.

MT Career - MT

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Unfortunately, the reality is:

1)The pay is dropping.

2)It's very rare that you can choose your own schedule and even rarer to have nights/weekends/holidays off. I really would say impossible for a newbie to get their pick of a daytime schedule.

3) New graduates are finding it hard to get a job at all because with work running dry at so many companies (between offshoring, point and click EMR, etc.), you'll be competing with very experienced MTs. I've seen newbies post here who were so desperate to get a job that MTSOs are taking advantage of them and paying them 5-6 cents a line because they don't know better.

Just some things to think about.

MT Career - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Just a nugget for thought: I discouraged my own niece from becoming an MT. This after I had many, many years of making 80-90K per year. That doesn't happen anymore. I told her that while she was obviously free to choose and pursue any career of her own choosing, I would not help her financially or any other way with getting into MT. I did not want to see her get hurt. She is a mother with two young children and another on the way. They need every penny they can get. I was not about to see her exploited in today's MT market. Most newbies have a rough time of it. There are much better ways to invest your money. And being honest, I myself (if I were still an MTSO) would not hire a newbie part-time when there are so many experienced MTs who are willing to give me a full 8 hours a day. I do wish you well and hope you can find something that will meet your needs. I think I would be remiss if I encouraged you to go for an MT career at this point in time, given your circumstances. Just my two cents' worth, others may feel differently and that is okay.

filly - Nick

[ In Reply To ..]
As they say in New York, fuggidaboudit. A newbiew who wants set hours? No way. Sorry, do not mean to be discouraging, but that is just the way it is. You have MTs with 20 years experience who will take ANY shift, ANY time, who cannot find jobs. Go to law school. Go to med school. Become a neurosurgeon. Work in Walmart. Be an at-home booking agent for the airlines (yes, they have them). Do ANYTHING but MT. Just some brotherly advice. :)

Thank you - filly

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thank you for the honest responses. The message is clear and I won't waste any more time on this. GL to you all.

I have discouraged quite a few people away from - sm

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MT. I would not want to see anyone try and start out in this job. Please filly run and find something else for more income. This is NOT a job you want to be working in. Sorry so negative but this is the Honest Truth!

Re-consider. - onewhoknows

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are able to live off your husband's income and you want a MT job for extra expenses, then I say go for it. BUT read the board. This field has gone downhill over the years. I used to make over $40,000/year. Then my company came up with their own platform, lost accounts so we had the sucky accounts left, etc. My income dropped significantly. I've been a MT for 30 years. Make sure you also pick a MT school that is legit. There is a company out there, can't remember the name, that promises you a job afterwards but does not come through. Good luck to you.

MT Career - Anonymous

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It looks as if I will be the one to offer a different point of view. First of all, following the advice of total strangers on a message board may not be the wisest thing. Since you are not the primary bread winner in your home, MT may be a good fit for you. Part-time jobs are available, but you probably could not set your own hours and days. However, very few occupations let a person do that. You could become an independent contractor and obtain your own accounts. The job market is horrible, and you are going to have trouble finding work regardless of what you pursue. Someone suggested becoming an attorney - not possible to work from home doing that, and it takes years and years of schooling. If you think you would like being an MT, then by all means try for it. You have to do what is right for you, not what is right for others. Good luck with your decision.

maybe try going to school for medical coding..sm - minimumwageworker

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I have been looking for a job at hospitals and it seems there are many coder positions available. although, I'm sure those will fade out as technology advances but you'll be better off going with that as that is how doctor's get paid and they respect that more than they respect having to document information. Don't do MT and certainly don't pay for a course in a dying profession. JMO but if I could do it over again that's what I'd do.

MT Career - xmt

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DON'T DO IT! You need to choose another career path, and not coding. In June when I lost my MT/voice editor job, I was told the same thing would happen with coding, just not yet. Dragon technology is taking over.

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