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Preparing to take CMT exam - Jeannie

Posted: Dec 11, 2011

Any information or direction to take/prepare for the CMT exam would be greatly appreciated. I am a senior citizen and just completed in October my Medical Transcription/Terminology course at Kansas City Kansas Community College, received my certificate of completion, my grade is 96.7 overall. I just do not know where to start the process for materials to study and where to take CMT online. What study aids or guides are best and where to purchase?? All are very expensive. I am not sure my current computer system is adequate to transcribe online, is a 2004 Dell with M/S word, it is old and not very reliable. Goal is to transcribe from my home base and need to know what I have to have to accomplish this? Any information or direction would be greatly appreciated...any pros and cons would be helpful. Thank you very much. Jeannie

Jeannie - Anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I would avoid the CMT entirely. It is not worth the money and really, if you are a good MT, many if not most MTSOs will not care about the CMT. If I were going to hire you, I would be more concerned with whether your training program used the SUM program than whether you had your CMT. Yes, things related to the CMT tend to be very expensive, and in my view, the whole schtick is not worth it. You might want to do some research into the historical background of AHDI in its previous incarnation as the AAMT and how they have been so pro-offshoring. Only you can decide if you can support something like that. I cannot. Offshoring has taken to many American jobs. As to the computer, you will need a new, more up to date computer. Good luck to you.

Dont think she can even take CMT yet - But can take RMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I thought you needed more experience to become certified, but she could become registered.

????

Amendment to anon's reply - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Well, I meant TOO many, not to many. (Guess I was too busy with household concerns.) Anyway, sorry for the error.

Jeanie-Anon - gayle

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree.The test is a waste of time and money. I took it over 20 years ago when it was around $100 or so to take. I passed and had just a few fees for our local chapter and the national. The local chapter disbanded and we had nowhere to go to get our hours. Then the AAMT kept upping our fees and adding more. I did not get a raise from my employer like I was told if I passed. All I got out of it was three initials to put behind my name. Big Deal! I will never do it again.

gayle - disillusioned

[ In Reply To ..]
I became completely disillusioned with the AAMT back before he became the ADHD or the AHDI or whatever they are calling themselves these days. I have made a very nice living without them and have never had trouble finding a job. In my view, the AHDI is a legend in its own mind.

Amentment to disillusioned - gayle

[ In Reply To ..]
I guess that should be before THEY, not HE, but it's all the same to me. Not worth the dough, not worth the time.

I won't do it again either, and besides, ADHI formerly AAMT stabbed us all in the back. sm - MT2

[ In Reply To ..]
Why in the world would I pay almost $400 to take that test again? They supported offshoring and they want me to pay them money? I have only had 2 places ever ask if I had a CMT and neither of them gave me more money because I had one. The closest chapter to me is in the next state! Ugh!

I would just start taking tests at all of the companies - that you come across

[ In Reply To ..]
Some provide computers and that would solve your problem with the computer. I do think you are going to have a hard time, just because there are very few jobs, and people with a lot of experience are having a hard time, so be prepared for that. Also, you might want to look locally for more training. The schooling you received is not enough to be able to work from home. Most companies want 2 years experience before they let you go home.

Jeannie - CMT

[ In Reply To ..]
You can go to the AHDI web site and click on Certification. They have all of the information you are asking about. You now have to pass the RMT before you can take the CMT. You have to go to a testing site to take these tests, locations also found at AHDI web site.

Regarding study materials, I used the CMT Review Guide and Book of Style and studied a lot! Absolutely no reference materials are allowed when taking the tests. I think they give you a pencil and some scratch paper, if I remember correctly. No food or drink allowed either.

Regarding your computer, in my opinion you will definitely need to upgrade. Good luck to you!

Jeannie - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
A couple of pieces of well-intentioned advice:
1. Your computer is ancient by today's standards. It MUST be reliable.
2. Our company would not interview anyone without a minimum of five years of recent acute care experience.

Might there be something you can do to beef up your training?

Good luck to you!

Preparing to take CMT exam - eagles_fan

[ In Reply To ..]
CMT is more advanced than RMT. I just took (and passed) the RMT exam last week. You will need to study medical terminology and the BOS. You can take the exam online or go to a testing location. For information about the RMT and CMT exams, go to www.ahdionline.org and click on "Certification."

My CMT just expired in September and, of course, now - FBL

[ In Reply To ..]
every app I fill out asks if I have it! Murphy's law.

To answer your question, it is my understanding you have to have 2 or 3 years of experience before you are allowed to take the CMT exam, but I could be wrong about that. You can go to the AHDI website for the actual requirements. I would also suggest you try to find an in-house position to start out if you can, as even with the classes there is a serious learning curve in this profession...it would just be a lot easier in the long run to have someone handy to ask for assistance. I never worked in house, started with Medquist straight out of school, so am proof it can be done but I do not recommended it. Finally, regarding your computer, I suggest you wait until you have a job lined up and find out what the employer wants you to have. You may luck out and get with a company that provides at least some of the equipment. I bought a new one when looking for my last job, and did not need it in the end. Just use it for research.

Good luck!

Terminology vs hands-on - Well...

[ In Reply To ..]
You didn't mention if you've had any hands-on transcription experience. Knowing the terminology is only a piece of the whole deal.

If you've only had terminology, you will not pass the CMT transcription portion or an employee transcription test. Either way, I would get a job before worrying about the credentials, and after a couple of years of acute care experience (not just clinic) you can go for it if you want, but I agree with the posters here about the organization.

Also, if your school was worth its salt, it would be helping you with this situation and job hunting.

Not a CMT - Anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I have 40+ years experience, am not a CMT, have never been without a job, and have even been hired by employers who advertised for a CMT. Also, personally, I would never associate myself with THAT organization. All they are interested in is self-promotion and collecting fees for nothing in return. It is sad that so many MTSOs have been sucked in by their hype and require a CMT.

I'm truthfully not trying to discourage you in any way, but a good dose of reality is what is needed here. In your post you didn't say how long your course was. If it was less than a typical school year (9 months), you are in for a true culture shock; the difference between classroom transcription and workplace transcription is like night and day. Also, you say you are a "senior citizen" which would probably put you and me in the same age bracket, but I have 40 years experience in this profession and for someone to be starting out at our age, well it's hard for me to wrap my brain around that. Although age discrimination is against the law, employers have ways of finding out how old someone is just by them filling out the application form. They ask when you graduated from high school, where and when you went to college, etc. All the questions like these will date you, and coupled with the fact that you are a "newbie", will work against you. If you read any of the forums, you should know that "newbies" have a hard time just getting their foot in the door.

I would suggest that you try to find an in-house transcription job where you will have a mentor to help you with the learning curve you will surely go through transitioning from the classroom to a real job. You might even consider taking a alternative job in a hospital or clinic and then have a conversation with the Transcription Manager and tell them that you've graduated from a transcription course and if an opening comes up would they consider you for it; that is to say if they even have a transcription department, as most do not, but it's a place to start; and if they don't have a transcription department, maybe you can get the name of the service they use and contact the service directly.

Here's the deal, your priority should be to get some experience in the workplace. Produce a very polished resume and cover letter (go online for samples) and blanket your town with them, hitting every doctor's office, hospital and clinic. Start there. Forget about the certification for now, experience is what you need, not a CMT.

Not a CMT - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
You are right on the mark. You obviously know the MT world for what it is. Like you, I do not support the AHDI. The only other thing I would add for the OP is that if she has not used the SUM program, she needs to augment her training with the SUM program.

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