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

Is it worth the training to become an MT? - Michelle

Posted: Dec 08, 2013

I was a school teacher; now I am working as a security guard. I am 64 years old and making right at $30,000 a year and getting a full benefit package. Could I improve my situation by spending $4000 to do the Med-Line MT program, or should I leave well enough alone? I live in Oklahoma, and my house is paid for.

Leave well enough alone!! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Do you have a hobby, like some type of craft you like to make or an item you like to collect that you really know a lot about? You'd be better off using your extra time to grow income from that type of work versus trying to enter MT at this point.

Or, since you were a school teacher, have you considered tutoring part time? That could easily be done out of your home as well.

In this day and age, I dont think it is. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
When I did it 13 years ago I went to work in the hospital setting and remained at that same hospital until the department was outsourced to an MTSO. I made a good hourly wage before the outsource and earned over $40,000 a year.

I stayed with the MTSO for close to 2 years and struggled to make *maybe* $28,000 a year if that. I went from making $25 an hour (incentive included) to 6 cents a line editing voice recognition.

I have since moved on to a totally different line of work making more than what I was making for the outsourcing company, but still not as much as I use to make when I worked for the hospital.

I think it's a good supplemental income, but not one you can earn a living off of anymore and that's just my opinion, but I wouldn't advise anyone to spend money on training for a job they cant advance at and retire on.

Ok. I did'nt read the full post, just the subject line - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I only saw the part about is it worth it to train. I agree with the above poster, leave well enough alone. If you are 64 and have a good retirement package I would say you are in pretty good shape. If you want to work part-time or find something to do on the side do like the above poster said and try making extra money off any hobbies you might have or get a part-time secretary job.

You could even go work at a nursing home as an activity person planning activities for the elderly or something like that. I'm sure there are other jobs out there to supplement your income. But I would only recommend MT as a supplemental income if you have already been doing it. Definitely do not spend money to train for it.

No way would I spend $40,000 to train for a job I would be lucky to earn $20,000 at. Without experience as an MT you would likely struggle to make anything.

Is it worth it? - Sunnycat

[ In Reply To ..]
No, do not spend anything for MT training. You would do better working sub teaching. I am a 69 y-o MT & teacher. No future in MT, only SR editing at 4 cents or less a line.

RE: TRAIN FOR MT WORK - Jasmine

[ In Reply To ..]
Hi there,
I would stay where you are, I believe this business will be total outsourcing and/or ASR soon.

I am absolutely dumbfounded, why people even ask this - question, if they have read this board. SM

[ In Reply To ..]
Why?

Why in the world, would people ask such a thing anymore? They found this board but do they not read the comments at all, before asking if paying money for MT training is worth it????

It is completely beyond my comprehension why someone would even consider this dead line of work, let alone paying for training to learn it.

At age 64 - Anon2

[ In Reply To ..]
At age 64, I would suggest staying where you are; surely you are planning to retire within a year or two. After spending $4000 on training, you will still have to find a job. I hate to be harsh, but MT is not something to do on a whim. You won't make any money.

Michelle - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
In a word, "no." To use an expression I picked up from Nick, "that train has left the station." Up until two years ago, I was an active MT and had spent many years as an MTSO. As to the Med-Line program, I have never heard of it. If they do not use the SUM program, I would not recommend them. I do not recommend MT to anyone these days. However, if someone absoltely wants to do it, Andrews is the only school to consider. (I have never worked for them.) But truly, my answer is still "no." If you have extra money, give it to some organization that helps the poor and homeless. Don't waste your time on MT at this late date.

Absolutely not worth it - Rainwoman

[ In Reply To ..]
Even if you were lucky enough to find a job after paying for training, they would want you to work nights, weekends and holidays. Lousy production pay; it's not hourly. Benefits are tied to production and if there is not enough work, you lose them. No pay if they run out of work. At most companies you are often criticized, rarely appreciated. As an IC, you can be let go with no warning and frequently won't even be notified -- there just won't be any more work. Don't waste your money.

$30k a year? STAY WHERE YOU ARE! - BrokeMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Seriously, do not get into MT. I graduated from an MT program back in 2007 and my school does not even offer it anymore. That should tell ya something. I've only been an MT since 2008 and I've regretted it. Trying to get out ever since. I make less than $25k a year busting A@@ and my house is not paid for. Seriously, stick with what you got. Better yet, wanna trade?

It doesn't to ask, which you did, but seriously do not get into MT. Good luck.

It doesn't *hurt to ask...sorry, time's a factor here - BrokeMT

[ In Reply To ..]
When you are paid based on production, time is money, gotta produce more lines to make more money. How's that for a "raise"?

Sorry for the typo, was in a hurry.

training - kt16

[ In Reply To ..]
no! No! No! Study coding if you are going to do anything, but even then, talk to someone at a hiring place, i.e., hospital to see their recommendations. Some coding programs are expensive and not reputable

What led you to think this was a good field? - Curious

[ In Reply To ..]
I am just curious about what led you to consider MT at this time.

You have a 30K job already. What on earth did you see that made you think MT was going to be better than that?

Everyone is right that MT is not something you should consider.

Just Curious - Michelle

[ In Reply To ..]
A friend of mine recently lost her job and was casting about for a direction to take. She found out about Med-Line and was all excited about finding a means to financial security. She is of the same advanced age and condition as I am. So I looked them up and read their online literature (and now the daily emails they send). While researching them, I found this forum. What I read here about the MT profession differs greatly from what Med-Line advertises, so I thought I would just ask the people who are already in the business. I appreciate everyone's candor. Armed security certainly isn't a glamour job, but it pays in full and on time. I received three raises in the past year, get a Christmas bonus next Saturday, and get both vacation and sick leave. Thank you for showing me that the grass isn't greener on your side of the fence.

Any school still teaching MT at this point is flat out scamming folks - In-House Lead

[ In Reply To ..]
Preying upon the misinformed and/or desperate is about the only way left in this beat-a-dead-horse-deader field to actually make money these days. There is a reason why all not-for-profit community colleges in my state and the next one over have now discontinued their MT programs altogether.

We are telephone operators and it's 1982.

Any school - Anon2

[ In Reply To ..]
Any school still teaching MT at this point is flat out scamming folks...

Except for Andrews, of course.

Medline - Anon2

[ In Reply To ..]
Check it out, they have been in business since 2000 and don't look like a "matchbook" or scam. They also teach coding and pharmacy tech.

You're very welcome! - and wise too!

[ In Reply To ..]
many come on here and will not believe us. They want to believe what the school is telling them. You won't find a clearer snapshot of the true state of medical transcription anywhere other than here.

sure you can if that is what you are really wanting to do - mtr

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

sure she CAN - but should she?

[ In Reply To ..]
would you really advise that?

speaking as someone who is still making really good money - jj

[ In Reply To ..]
i say yes

okay we'll hold you responsible then - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Are you kidding? - Shirl

[ In Reply To ..]
Seriously, I cannot believe there are any schools or companies would think that this is a viable career option anymore. When I started 17 years ago, I too was making great money. For the last 6 years, I have only done it as a supplement income to my husband's. Basically for extras. Now our situation has changed and I actually need an income to help support our family and I have actually gotten a part-time job doing something else because I cannot get more than 2-3 hrs in a day at my MT job and that is on a good. If you can get in a office setting where they will not eventually go with a larger company, great for you. But even those jobs are not straight transcription anymore.

what a ridiculous comment -- - jj

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

no more ridiculous than advising someone - to go into MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm certainly not going to suggest that anyone do so. If she sees your post and thinks there! see! you can make money doing MT! I'm going to go for it! it will be your fault, not mine. I don't have a problem that you are making money at transcribing; I just think it's really foolish to encourage anyone to get started on it this late in the game.

there are many of us still making good money - jj

[ In Reply To ..]
i was just being honest with the
op
THE GAME IS CHANGING NOT STOPPING

go ahead, keep missing - the point

[ In Reply To ..]
No one said you weren't making good money. No one said you were not being honest. The point is, Michelle is fixing to spend 4 grand on MT training, and then will start out on the bottom rung. And you think that's a good idea. And that's why we are holding you responsible.

well that is your opinion AND MY OPINION - jj

[ In Reply To ..]
is that it is worth it
none of which makes either of us responsible for anything the op does
grow up

Misguided - MaraschinoRoach

[ In Reply To ..]
It would be misguided, unkind, unwise, and downright cruel for any of us to recommend that anyone else even consider training to become a medical transcriptionist. It would be like recommending someone take a 4-year shorthand course so they could take dictation.

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