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Anyone know about Career Step? - looking for schools

Posted: May 12, 2010

wonder if anyone here, or if anyone knows of anyone who utilized Career Step for either their MT program or their coding program

considered a good school around these parts - BoBo

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I went to a different school that was right for me. as I read here,Career Step is usually rated the third best behind Andrews being first.

Career Step - Anonymous

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I'm in the early stages of the Career Step coding program. I like it and am having no problem with the electronic learning. It seems to be well respected, one of the community colleges in my state teaches the same program. Some people on the coding board would not agree, but I think it is definintely worth considering. Their MT program also has a good reputation. Andrews and one called M-Tech are also considered to be very good.

Career Step - Lindy

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I looked into them, but financing was hard to arrange so I went with At-Home Professions (westondistancelearning.com) EASY financing and very high quality training! I am doing it and recommend it highly :)

At-Home Professions not AHDI approved - Typin_away

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Which is what employers look for along with the SUM program.

http://www.ahdionline.org/EducationTraining/Training/ApprovedMedicalTranscriptionEducationPrograms/tabid/251/Default.aspx

Just curious how anyone...sm - tired

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ever got a job before AHDI and SUM. Seriously. I can't think that a lot of employers (especially the ones that post on here that can't even spell for crying out loud) have ever heard of SUM. And I'd be willing to bet a lot of them have no idea what AHDI is either. I know I wish I didn't.

I think employers do know what SUM and AHDI-Approved means - Experienced MT

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Employers certainly know that if they hire new MTs from XYZ school that uses the SUM program, has excellent instructors, and is AHDI-Approved, they get better results than if they hire new MTs from ZZZ school that uses something else for transcription practice, never heard of AHDI Approval, and doesn't have good instruction. They know the difference because it costs them money when they make mistakes and hire people who got an inferior education. They obviously prefer an MT with good skills and a lot of experience, but when they can't find that experienced MT who tests well with them, they are going to find new MTs with the best skills possible for a new MT, and that means the best education.

Which schools provide that 'best' education? The employers decide that from their experience over the years. I don't know what they'll say. You'll have to ask them. Common sense tells us that they know. Whether they'll say or not is anybody's guess.

Most companies DO know about AHDI and - ORMT

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the SUM program. As another poster said, they know from experience. When I had my own accounts (not a big company) and hired newbies, even I knew about these things and learned from experience who to hire from to get the best trained people so that it did not cost me money in teaching things they should have already known.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the bottom line is $$ and companies do not want to waste training time and that is why they prefer to hire newbies from the best schools based on their experience from the graduates. It's a no-brainer.

Good for you Lindy - BoBo

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This will be a minority opinion I have, but I don't think ONE school is better for everyone. Different people have different needs and compatabilities. I went to a school that is not one of the "Big three" yet it was perfect for what my needs were, I think it is a good school, and I availed myself of what they offered. I worked hard and continue to work hard after graduation. I have a job. If you like your school and enjoy it with a good can-do attitude, you will do well, if you remember: don't ever stop learning from this point on.

At-Home Pro - TXGal

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Lindy,
is At-Home Professions (westondistancelearning.com) accredited?

At-Home Professions - Old MTSO

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Many people have had the experience of doing the At-Home Professions training and finding it inadequate. There is an old saying in MT that you can't know what you do not know. I would not recommend it highly, nor would I would recommend it at all. Most employers look for someone who has trained with a SUM-based program.

interesting observation from a current job-seeker - dt

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I recently finished the MT program from one of the top 3 schools, and while I don't doubt my education & I know I will find a job soon, as a current job seeker, I find it interesting that many of the MT company websites I've been reading for the past couple weeks have listed partnerships with CareerStep...I have yet to find a school that highlights a recommendation to another school. Now back when I was researching schools, I did however find a lot of bad publicity for CS which is why I went with the school I did.

I think if you attend an AHDI-approved school, you won't go wrong with your choice. Just apply yourself and take full advantage of every available resource your school offers and I'm sure you will do fine. good luck OP!

I am sure your school has a list or a message board - Typin_away

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of companies to apply to. That was one thing that turned me off of Career Step. They sale and promote their product everywhere. Students can get referral bonuses, kick-backs from other businesses, a testing website. I had to wonder if they were spending more time advertising or teaching. It rubbed me the wrong way that the students needed a jump-start or other type of internship (work for free for a company) after graduation from there.

That was just my impression and the students do seem to get jobs after graduation for the most part. Everyone's needs vary so they need to find the best fit for them.

I totally agree with your post. Too much advertising - sm

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raises red flags.

CareerStep is everywhere. It seems that they have the monopoly on the testing sites. Does CS sell their testing sites to MTSOs, or do they cash a fee for the companies to use their testing site?

there are MTSOs that get paid by MT schools - reason

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for advertising their school and making interested, prospective MTs sign up for their programs.

found very similar things myself - sm - sssdt

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I graduated from M-TEC and found one company that mentioned they liked M-TEC students (and of course I have no memory of WHICH company that was.) Must have seen at least 10 who listed Career Step, and none that listed Andrews. However, so many of these web pages were years out of date, and I didn't take much of what I read seriously.

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