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

If you are an RMT, is having a degree still important? - Nubie

Posted: May 16, 2011

Hi all. I plan on taking the RMT test soon and feel confident of passing. My question is, if I do get the title, will employers care that I don't have a formal education in MT?... Would passing the test serve as adequate indication that I know enough to qualify?

Thanks in advance.

Degree doesn't matter but where you got your MT education does - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If you put yourself in the place of the employer, they need someone who can do the work. Most degree programs teach more theory than practical skills, so graduates of those programs are often not able to pass transcription tests. They just don't have time to do enough transcription because they are doing so many other things, but taking lots of time to do them. In other words, you might spend a semester on terminology and maybe another semester on A&P, and another one with an introduction to transcribing, or maybe spend days or weeks memorizing different lists. You might have to write papers on (fill in the blank) or research (more fill in the blank). There just isn't time to teach transcription, which is what the job is all about.

If you were able to pass the RMT exam, that says you have learned something. The RMT exam is more theory than practical, so that still doesn't guarantee that you can pass a transcription test, but if you can, you are in good shape. If you can't pass the transcription test, the RMT won't matter and a degree won't help at all.

Where you get your education DOES matter - In the know MTSO

[ In Reply To ..]
People should be aware that some of the more inadequate schools are on more than one MTSOs "DO NOT HIRE FROM" list. This is necessary because these "schools" are a joke. Hapless MT wannabes go to them because they are very cheap, and, unfortunately, they get what they pay for. Please, please, please, don't buy into the ads in the women's ads or the traveling sales shows.

Schools for training - DA

[ In Reply To ..]
I went to a school called At Home Professions. I loved it and felt they trained me well. My only complaint is finding a job that says experience needed. How are we suppose to get experience if nobody gives us the opportunity? It makes me angry!! I have worked hard and did well in my course. The area in which I live, the majority of the healthcare has the "big" companies do the transcribing, so I am unable to go to a facility and get the necessary experience!! Any advice is greatly appreciated!

DA - Been there

[ In Reply To ..]
I think your choice of school will hurt you as much or more than your lack of experience.

Doesn't matter how much you 'love' a school if you can't get a job - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Not talking about any school in particular, but students have no way to evaluate whether a school is good or not other than if their graduates get jobs. It might be a fun school to go to, the people may be nice enough, and it might be real cheap, but the end results are the only thing that count. Do graduates of that school get jobs. Graduates of some schools do, and graduates of some schools don't.

"Real cheap" - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
"Real cheap" ought to be a giant red flag. You get what you pay for. If you cheap out and go to a matchbook, no one will hire you, simple as that. How is that a good investment of your money?

I took a look at some graded work from one of the schools - For Quality In Education

[ In Reply To ..]
A student sent me some of her work to look at. She was attending one of the schools that people insult and I just wanted to see why people don't like it. The student was making really good grades. She had a 4.0 GPA.

I looked at the graded assignments her teacher had sent back to her. Some of the questions weren't even relevant, but some of them were marked right when they were wrong. There was little or no explanation about the ones she missed other than one small note written, and the person who graded the work (I hesitate to call her an instructor) was wrong. I doubt that she had enough knowledge to be teaching an MT course. Of course the employers know which of the schools use inferior teaching methods, and they don't offer to hire graduates of those schools, waiving the required years of experience, as they do with schools that do a good job.

Nubie - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I would not dream if hiring someone without an education.

Correction from Old Pro - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Meant to say "dream OF"--need more coffee! Too early on the West Coast! :)

Even an RMT? (EM) - Nubie

[ In Reply To ..]
.....

Nubie - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, EVEN an RMT. We require an education.

Similar Messages:

Mar 08, 2010

After hearing all the hum drum about the future of new medical transcriptionists on this website, I'm starting to feel like a real numskull for even choosing my 2 year degree in medical transcription. It just seems like there's no hope for new medical transcriptionists these days. Should I just get any regular job and just go for my bachelors degree in something completely different? Since I've been posting on hear for the last week and so far the answers to my questions have bee ...

Feb 11, 2013

Can anyone tell me, and I mean if you are on the forum right now if 1st degree block AV block is now acceptable or even preferred over first degree AV block? Don't get me wrong guys, no matter when you answer it, it will help me. I would just have like an answer if possible tonight, but I realiize that is asking too much. Just answer whenever you get some time. I would appreciate it. Thanks guys!! Hope! ...

Apr 06, 2010

I've been all over the Internet and my texts and past assignments and I cannot find a definitive answer to this. I'm trying to decide whether it should be "third degree compression fracture" or "3rd degree compression fracture" as everything I've seen online says to spell it out as it pertains to burns. I'm assuming it would be the same for fractures, but I can't find anything that describes a compression fracture as a degree. Does anyone know this one ...

Apr 19, 2014

I'm going back to school. I know that I want a bachelor's degree. The trouble is, I don't know what I want to study. My personality is introverted and shy. I can deal with co-workers, but dealing with the general public and customers is not my strong point.So careers where I'd have to be out front or a "leader" wouldn't be a good option for me. I can't/don't want to be a nurse or teacher. I had thought about getting a degree in Computer Science, but I am not g ...

May 24, 2011

not sure which is correct ...

Feb 17, 2015

I see many job ads for coders that specify a college degree is required. I am in coding school currently but only have a GED. What do you think chances are I can get a job with no college degree? I currently work as a remote MT and have almost 20 years of continuous experience in that field and was hoping that would help me get a job. I am not at all, however, interested in getting a college degree. ...

Apr 12, 2010

My husband is close to finishing the MT program at Kaplan University. He will end up is AS Degree - is this a good program? Does he have any chance of getting a job? This degree cost 10 times as much at the course from CareerStep. I sure hope we didn't waste ALOT of money for nothing. ...

Jun 09, 2011

if I want to move to something other then transcription but stilll not waste the 12 years transcription experience I have? ...

Oct 07, 2011

So about 6 months ago I started the MT program at Kaplan University and have been really enjoying it so far. I was reading in this forum earlier, however, and read about a school called Andrews. I was just wondering what the difference was between the degrees that are offered at Kaplan and Andrews and if anyone on the forum has graduated from Kaplan or is in their program and what they thought of the program and if they were abled to get hired right away or not. ...

Jan 23, 2012

Does anyone else here find it "interesting" that a company would require an Associates' or higher degree for their medical transcriptionists? ...

Aug 23, 2012

I can't stand doing MT anymore. I applied and have received Pell grants, yay! Now, I need to decide on my major. I want to be in a career where I can help people. I'm thinking social work or psychology. But I keep seeing jobs where they say "BA in Human Services needed." Wouldn't this just be social work? ...

May 07, 2010

Im so confused, I keep reading on different forums on line how hard it can be to break into medical coding. Does having an AA degree help? Is that a plus? I see some on line colleges that are accredited offer AA degrees, AABS degrees, etc.....whats the difference? Is it better for a newbie to go straight to AHIMA and take their cluster of courses or take an on line billing class through one of the on-line universities, then go test at AHIMA and AAPC? ...

Oct 21, 2010

Can someone help me with the proper way to type third degree burns or 3rd degree burns. thanks so much. ...

Mar 12, 2012

Interesting post on the coding board about this, so I thought I would mention it here. If you have a bachelors degree in any subject, you can qualify to take the RHIA exam by completing a postbaccalaureate certificate program in health information administration that is accredited by AHIMA. That opens up a lot of job opportunities. You should have little trouble with a program like that because of your healthcare background. There are only a few of those programs and some are extre ...

Feb 13, 2013

In researching an HIT degree, I have mostly come across job descriptions that include coding. I am currently a medical transcriptionist and jobs are now being shipped off shore. Are coding jobs being shipped off shore as well? And, if so, what would the benefit be of a degree in Health Information Techology? What jobs are available other than coding and medical records? ...

Nov 28, 2014

or does it need to be a specific AA degree in HIM, as far as what employers are looking for from coders with the proper certifications. ...

May 25, 2012

When researching medical transcription programs, I hear conflicting information on whether it is more important to have the RMT credential or to take a program that includes internship for the experience requirements. Can you tell me which is more important in the real world of transcription? ...

May 09, 2010

so very confused now. wanted to sign up for AHIMA but now i read this on their site. Step One: Education Step one begins with a college education. You need to complete either an associate or bachelor's degree program in health information management offered at over 200 colleges and universities across the country. For a listing of accredited programs, click here. ...

Sep 08, 2012

If I went through all the work, time and expense to have a Bachelor's Degree, I'd be pretty ticked off if that's all I could get with it. Still, that janitor's job paid a lot better than MT - something like $18-20/hour. That's why I looked. ...

Dec 17, 2009

The HITECH Act: Will You Be Fine, or Fined? FRANKLY, OUR GOVERNMENT SUCKS BIG TIME! I AM STILL USING A WORK COMPUTER, IS THAT GOOD OR NOT??? Under the new Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) that takes effect this upcoming February, you as a transcriptionist could now be directly liable for any private health information (PHI) that is stolen or somehow reaches the public domain. That could include any transcriptions you produce that are emailed ...

Jan 28, 2010

if we are to be held responsible for any kind of so-called 'security breach' which can be so easily manipulated to either just get ridf US MTs or at least make life a iving ____ for those of us left in these jobs (for example, if your reports are not 100% perfect - because 98-100% would no longer make sense because an error is an error and all are a security risk and breach - (this is so ridiculous I almost cannot even write it)); however, an MT can and will be fired for such? Im ...

Mar 03, 2010

Just spoke to someone I know in TAA/Unemployement office. FIRST TIME RIGHT is a gray area. We can fight this because it is a gray area. It is not right that if a doctor dictates and we cannot understand what they are saying for sure and we can get docked in pay, literally take money from us. IT IS NOT LEGAL. That is probably why the big bosses are on this board to see what they can get away with. We have every right to fight them. It is just wrong! I WAS ...

Jul 02, 2010

Cancer of the breath. Documented Source of Information: ASR. (P.S. Catch her...) ...

Aug 18, 2011

I have been enrolled in college for the last year while still working. Found out today about a whole new carrer that has just come out and being created because of EHR/EMR and now being offered and will become even more popular. My teachers in college informed me of a meeting they had in the city where I live. This meeting was held with physicians, PA's, NP's, MT's, Medical Assistance, nurses, etc. Because of EHR/EMR, most doctor's (about 78%) do not like ...

Aug 22, 2012

I just saw this sentence in a job posting on another MT site: I am looking specifically for someone for weekends first not weekdays, please do not reply if you are willing to work weekends. ...

Oct 21, 2012

I am asking for opinions and suggestions only...no bashing, please. I "worked" for a client as an IC for a total of one week, two dictations, equalling about MAYBE $40 in pay. I have not actually counted lines, so I don't know. This "client" and I did not see eye to eye on MANY things and I decided it was not in my best interest to continue working for her, so I gave notice that I was "done." She continues to email me even though I have stated in no uncertain terms that I was done, a ...

Jan 13, 2015

but how do you do this? I tried to forward an email to another email address and it gets blocked (restricted - can't send). If you get laid off/fired you lose access to your email immediately. So I don't understand how someone here saves any on these emails. ...

Jan 13, 2015

I am desperate to find a new path after being laid off from mgmt when my job was outsourced to India. I can no longer support myself doing production and HAVE to find a new career. I'm leaning towards coding but am hoping for some answers before taking the plunge and spending money I basically don't have. Forgive me if these questions have been asked before, and thanks in advance for any help/advice you may have. If I successfully complete a reputable course and get ...

May 27, 2015

than any work you have to do?!? I have a 70-pound dog insisting on trying to climb in my lap or just plain knocking my hands off the keyboards today! He's keeping me entertained though. ...