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

Anybody taking CMT test? Is it worth it? - tired tirade

Posted: Oct 11, 2010

I am considering it only because I keep taking a pay cut and can't afford it. I haven't taken it before because it irritates me that it costs almost $200, plus my job can simply be sent to India overnight. I wonder if it is worth the money and the headache. MQ supposedly will give you a (probably teeny?) raise. I am an MME and have been stuck doing too much 100% QA, then for regular transcription usually the worst junk jobs from every hospital on the list, usually not even the same hospital twice in a row. I know, prob just like everyone else lol but my check has been $200 lower and that is ridiculous. I am down to what I was making newbie TRAINING 6+ years ago. What I really want is out of the biz but there don't seem to be many options around here, plus husband getting his hours cut too. I want to be positive. I want to improve and advance blah blah. I am proud of my work quality and deserve more than this. I have jumped through every damn hoop MQ has ever asked and can't help feeling cynical.

No, CMT not worth it. Won't get you anywhere. - AHDI + CMT = CON GAME

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X

Agree -- can't see that it is worth it or I would take also. - anon

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nm

I could have written this exact post........ - Kiki1

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I go back and forth between thinking it's a good idea, thinking that I would take the test, get their little pittance of a "raise"...I think it's something like 0.005 per line (correct me if I'm wrong someone) but that prob amounts to what, 20 bux a month?
Anyway....I fear I would pay all the money, take the time to go take the test, only to have my job off-shored. ?? So I haven't done it and probably won't. Pretty sad, really.

You could make more than $20 a month - recycling aluminum cans. nm

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Not Worth It In My Opinion - MT

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I was going to go for it years ago, but I decided it's just a joke and doesn't mean anything. Most places take you for your experience and quality, not the CMT. I am so glad I didn't spend the money.

Not worth it at all. I was a CMT for 15 years and - dd

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it never did me any good. Never any better pay for a CMT despite that being proof of what I can do and proof that I keep my education up. I dropped it a long time ago. I can keep myself up to date without having to pay ADHI. What it is good for the company getting accounts. They get to parade your credentials out for their benefit and never pay you an extra dime for it. I don't know of any other profession wherein extra certifications does not get you more money than those without it.

They do actually pay you a dime more for it........ - Kiki1

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There is a shift diff for CMT status that probably literally is a DIME a day.....so they CAN say they do pay extra, it's just still not worth it.

I think I would do it even if I didn't get extra pay, IF things were different, if I thought our jobs weren't eventually all going to be off-shored, just to show I was serious about my career, but this no longer seems like a career to me......

I'm taking it next month - and should be an extra 2K a year.

[ In Reply To ..]
I went back through my stats for every month of this year to date, and calculating in the raise I will get with the CMT credential it added up to an average of $189 more per month. Call me silly, but I could definitely use an extra $2268 a year! The prep course and test cost $320, but I will recoup that in less than 2 months so my answer is, yes, it is definitely worth it. Good luck to you whatever you decide.

next month - freddy

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dont know who is telling you it will be worth it or how you did your math, but what i can tell you is if your working for med.q, nothing you do will help you

Better recalculate that... - sm

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The premium for CMT is 0.005 (1/2 cent) per SRAIGHT transcription lph. The premium does NOT include SR lines. 2268/yr (189/month) means you average 37,800 straight transcription lines per month. Hmmm.

I think she is right - correct me if I am wrong

[ In Reply To ..]
2268/0.005 = 453600
435600/52 (wks/yr) = 8723 lines/week
8723/40 (hrs/wk)= 218 lph

Personally, I take my straight typing lines and add it to 0.6 x ASR lines and can easily get 218 lph. I'm lucky to be on a fairly solid account, though, and poster may be the same.

That said, I still wouldn't get CMT cert, just because I don't feel it is worth it with the way transcription is going...and I'm lazy.

Question - rechecking

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The email I received a couple of months ago just said a .005 cpl pay increase. It did not say it was only for straight typing. If so, then it def would not be worth it $ wise. Could you tell me where the policy is that says it is only for straight typing and not for ASR so I can check it out before I actually pay for the test? Thanks!

the cpl increase covers both typed and edited lines - still extra money, but

[ In Reply To ..]
for me, it is about 120 a month or 1440 a year.

If I got my CMT and then lost my job to offshoring, I would be so mad! My blood pressure raises up just thinking about it, so I will not do it.

Sorry - to hear that

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So with MQ, the raise covered both? I guess that's good to know. It is definitely a fear for me to pay this initial money and then be out of a job, but I am desperate to do something to bring in extra right now & I figured if I could recoup it in a couple of months, maybe, just maybe I would come out a little bit ahead. I guess time will tell. Hope you were able to find another job. Did you stay with MQ or go outside? I lost my primary last year (I think to outsourcing) and was put on another, but its not as good as my former.

You lost me - still extra money, but

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I did not lose my job yet. I said if I went ahead and got CMT and then lost my job to offshoring, I would be so mad.

If you want extra money, try switching to night shift. I think they pay an extra 0.01 cpl, which is double the price of having CMT. I guess they night night shift workers more than certified workers.

Also, if you switched to nights and picked up a few extra hours a week, it would add up fast. Or, find an IC position part time in addition to MQ... that is what I did and it helps. I am able to add 250 to 300 per week from my second job.

Thanks! - I have thought about nights before

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I just don't think I could do nights. But I do have 2 docs I do IC for and you are right, it adds up big time. If I could find one more, I could go PT with MQ and keep them just for the 401K. I work on the IC stuff about 10 hours a week (mostly on the weekends) and make what I used to make long ago with MQ before ASR. Its just a shame that we have to resort to working a job and half to make up for what we used to get,ya know?

It does include ASR lines - Just Sayin

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You would get 0.005 more for straight typing and 60% of 0.005 more for ASR lines.

Like the other poster said, you might want to recalculate that... - Kiki1

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as it's NOT the same for ASR lines. So maybe you could make a bit more than 20 bux per month (but I'm betting not the 189 you think).....but don't forget that the shelling out of money is not over once you get your cert. You have to get so many CECs every year to maintain that cert, and a lot of these cost time and money. Just something to be aware of.

is it worth it - freddy

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if you have a colleage degree in your field it is not worth it. medquest used to be a top company to work for, NOT ANYMORE. i dont want to scare you but i would run from them as soon as i could. the pay scale is no longer there and every damed hospital is going v. recognition.

They should pay for it - Just Sayin

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If they want us to be CMTs to benefit the company and their marketing strategies, they should pay for the CMT certification as we are EMPLOYEES. I know, I know, I'm just dreaming. But that is what a GOOD company would do.

no kidding - sm

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I know a few people who work in the medical field who get tuition reimbursement to further their education and careers.

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