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

How to get started as a MT? - anothergirl216

Posted: Mar 30, 2011

Hello everyone! I just found this forum. I currently work part-time as a legal virtual assistant. My background is in personal injury law and would like to get my feet wet and start medical and legal transcribing.

Would anyone be so kind as to advise how I start. I already hold a B.A. in political science and do not think I need to go through a AA program.

Bottom line, I am confused and don't know where to begin. Please help!

Thank you!

How to get started - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Well, I'm sure you'll get a lot of replies. :) I would say check out the MT schools, I believe Andrews school has a pretest for enrollment and that would give you an idea on if you have what it takes to be an MT. A certificate showing you graduated from a respected MT school is necessary. In my opinion, as an MTSO and MT, Andrews, M-Tec and Career Step are the 3 top schools. Best of luck to you!

You still need the training - mtmtmtmt

[ In Reply To ..]
The BA in political science likely did not include anatomy and physiology classes, etc did it?

You still need the education. Your post is sort of like me saying, I hold a Master's degree in psychology, so I should be allowed to be a neurosurgeon.

I agree with the schools recommended. Do you currently transcribe voice files?

It's really difficult to get your foot in the door of MT right now, so you need to stack the deck as much as you can in your favor.

Good luck!!

Agreed, but MT is a lot more than just terminology and A&P - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

anatomy - anothergirl216

[ In Reply To ..]
In fact when my major was liberal arts, I took anatomy and physiology. I have worked in personal injury law, have experience with terminology and experience in dictation.

My question was pretty much what is the best option for training? Vocational? Online?

Thanks.

Another girl - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
You cannot go wrong with Andrews.

I have recommended M-TEC to 3 who all did excellent! - Oldie But A Goodie

[ In Reply To ..]
They are the first MT education program to get AHDI approval. They have a very specifically structured program. You have a private instructor to call, email, get advice from as well as very detailed feedback on every assignment and 24-hour TAT for all contact and 3-day TAT for all grades.

They also have several financing options. You can email me if you want more info on them. They also have their own student forum that you can read and ask questions on even if you are not enrolled. You can just go to their website (Google it for M-TEC, Inc.). On their home page, there is an "MTEC FORUM" button at the top right bar. Click it. Ask their students and instructors questions. Get information right from them.

Andrews is also an excellent school but it is owned by one person (a very nice and experienced woman) but the formal structure and benchmarking is not there.

I think you would receive a great education through both of those.

I would NOT recommend Career Step as it is an online, do-it-yourself program and is too short and shallow for what you are going to need to be prepared for baseline when you are finished.

Remember that an MT education gets you prepared for ENTRY into the MT field. Still much learning to do for the first 2 years of full-time work.

Good luck.

Oldie But A Goodie - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm an oldie, too (167 days to retirement--YAY) and I agree with everything you say. I, too, have recommended M-TEC to many people, and I think it is a fine program. Like you, I do not recommend Career Step for the same reasons you do not. (And no, this is not "bashing"--it is an opinion formed after many years in the business.) I have had many MTs tell me that they wished they had taken another route because they felt they were not adequately prepared by the program. I have never had anybody from Andrews or M-TEC tell me that they are sorry they went where they did. Yes, of course, there are successful MTs who are Career Step grads (and my hat is off to them), and I think that Career Step may be adequate for some people who are highly motivated and self-directed. But I like MTs who want more than being "adequate," who really want to get in there and learn. This field has become so cut-throat and competitive; my feeling is why not give yourself the very best advantage you can get? As to the matchbooks and quasi-matchbooks (the "institutes" etc. that advertise in the women's magazines--I say DO NOT DO IT under any circumstances). People frequently ask me about this or that "institute" or this or that training program and I tell them that if they are just throwing money away, they should give it to charity instead--that way it will do some good! But back to M-TEC--it is an excellent choice! Good luck to the OP!

Formal Structure - All Ears - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
Andrews has a fairly formal structure. Each section of the course has it's own instructor. There is a web forum where it is possible to ask questions, as well as tons of information that is very helpful. Linda Andrews,the student coordinator, as well as all the instructors are very helpful and respond to emails in a timely way. You receive very detailed feedback on all tests and instruction on how to analyze your errors so that you can improve.

If you don't do well on one section, they have supplemental work you can do to improve. Most students end up taking advantage of the supplemental work at one time and there is an instructor totally assigned to helping students with supplemental work.

I have found my Andrews education was extremely helpful in preparing me to work.

All Ears - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I would never hesitate to hire an Andrews grad. Can't say the same for some of the other programs.

Structure - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I really can't comment on whether one school is better than another, they all have graduates who have found jobs and have become successful. However, in regard to structure - if you are already working full-time at another job, you will appreciate a program that lets you work at your own pace. Career Step does that. I did their coding program, and I can say that in addition to working a 40-hour week, I did not need the added pressure of submitting assignments within a certain time frame. I had a schedule, but it was my own. Contrary to what others believe, they do not leave students to fend for themselves. They have instructors students can e-mail, a toll-free number, a student forum and conference calls on a routine basis. When you get that first job and work at home, you'll be on your own and left to fend for yourself, perhaps doing independent study is not such a bad thing. Don't overlook your local college either, you may find a program there that teaches transcription and other health information management classes. The state of the being profession what it is, I would not reommned putting all your eggs in one basket with MT.

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