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

Career Step or TRS Institute? - Shelby

Posted: Oct 15, 2010

I am trying to decide which school to go with. I have read good and bad about both Career Step and TRS - does anyone have any additional considerations for me before I make my decision?

Thanks!

School - eamb

[ In Reply To ..]
I would think long and hard before going into transcription. The pay, they will lead you to believe you can make, is no longer a reality. If you enjoy typing/editing like I do, go for it! It is extremely hard to make ends meet though. From what I hear and have read, I would choose Career Step. Wish you the best!

I honestly don't want to scare you about this career, but it's definitely not what it used to be. Want you to be aware of some of the facts to consider before making your decision, but then there are pros and cons with any and every profession.

MT programs - shelby

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for your advice! But I am NOT planning to make a career out of MT. I am well aware of the low pay and pros/cons. I am actually changing careers from teaching to nursing. I want to take an MT course for 1.) an introduction to medical terminology and anatomy and physiology to prepare for taking my nursing prereqs starting next quarter and 2.) have a skill that I could POSSIBLY work from home while finishing school, although I am not dependent on it - I really just want the knowledge - and if I am able to get some work out it, that would be a bonus.

I am just trying to decide which program to go with. These two have the best price and payment options of the AHDi approved programs. I know Andrews and M-Tec are the tops but they are out of my price range for my purposes.

Why not focus your goal instead - Kathleen

[ In Reply To ..]
If what you want to get involved with is nursing and want to take intro to med terminology and anatomy and physiology, you'd be better off focusing your efforts towards the nursing goal.

With any nursing program, you'd have to take the terminology and anatomy/physiology courses again despite what you may do with MT. I would think that investigating further into the nursing programs and investing your time and money there is the best way to go.

With MT, the anatomy/physiology and medical terminology course is usually rolled up into 1 course and may or may not be accompanied by dictation related to that course.

If what you want to study is medical terminology and the anatomy/physiology in order to prepare for your nursing training, then I'd recommend getting a used copy of Chabners, "The Language of Medicine" from ebay. You could probably pick this up for less than $25--far less than any "iffy" MT course you might sign up for.

You really have to decide which is most important for yourself. Nursing or MT. To get a decent education and a pretty good >>chance<< at getting a job with MT, you'd best be served with either Andrews or M-Tec. Of course, with MT work, you have to be prepared for an extremely long and arduous job hunt (read: no money coming in while you do this). Also keep in mind that MT training--decent MT training, that is--will take about 18 months to 2 years to complete, and it is not something that you can do part time with just an hour or two here and there. Decent MT training will have you studying/practicing circa 8 hours a day every day for all of those months.

Now, considering all of this, you would be best served by taking some time to seriously think what it is that you truly want.

Also keep in mind that after you complete DECENT MT training, the pay you'll receive is based on production. My first day's production was 79 lines for 14 hours' work. I've been at this for 2 years now and am finally hitting the $10 an hour mark consistently now. I also graduated from Andrews and still had a difficult time snagging that first job.

Seriously think about what you really want to do. MT is not something that pays extraordinarily well for the first few years.

No matter what you decide, I wish you good success in your pursuit.

Kathleen

Shelby - Suggestions - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Why settle for second tier? Look at Andrews or M-TEC before making your decision. Good luck!

MT for almost 10 years....unemployed due to work being (sm) - Yochana

[ In Reply To ..]
sent to India. If you plan to support a family better find another career. You'll do okay if you just want spending money.

Schools - Shelby

[ In Reply To ..]
Andrews or M-Tec would be my first choice IF I was planning to make a career of MT, but I am not (see previous post)and they are just too expensive for my purposes.

career step - justme

[ In Reply To ..]
Career step is the best. If you look on transcription websites, you will see that there is career step on their website.

Career Step - Shelby

[ In Reply To ..]
I am leaning toward Career Step for that very reason but my only hesitation is that from what I have heard, there are no real instructors persay - you are on your own to learn it all. Not that that really worries me but I am just wondering if I would be better off with a school that has instructors who are CMTs. And the paid internship (which is new) at then end of TRSi's program sounds good AND they have a payment option where you can make payments until you complete the program. So if you are able to complete the program relatively quickly, you can save alot of money. I am currently unemployed and have nothing but time so that interests me. It's just a tough decision. They are both AHDI approved (and I would not go with anyone that was not) so I don't know. Honestly, I've heard the best things about Career Step but I've also read some complaints (and I know someone will always complain)but I haven't read any complaints about TRSi other than a payment/refund issue but I haven't heard anyone with a really good experience either.

Shelby - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
IMHO, you need a program with real instructors. Career Step is second-rate rate, per se, for that reason. As far as AHDI and CMT--a waste of time and money.

So you'd like to hear a complaint about TRSi... - snowbell

[ In Reply To ..]
The bottom line: TRSi's training program wasn't good enough to qualify their (Barbados) students to work for TRS the MTSO.

What a rip for the government of Barbados! (Never mind the obvious: That TRSi was actively working to train off-shore workers.)

A quote from the below-provided link:

"THE MAJORITY of Barbadian workers who underwent one year of Government-sponsored training in the medical transcription field, were put on the breadline because they were performing below the required standard of work.

So said Robert Harvey, director of the United States based company TRSi, which trained the workers and set up a local company here.

A year after the company set up business here, 60 of the less than 100 workers have either left the company, or were dismissed."

Barbados workers - Nick

[ In Reply To ..]
Again I say, AMERICAN JOBS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS!!

Career Step Grad - deteach

[ In Reply To ..]
I have previously posted this, but thought it would apply to your post. When I decided to look into MT as a profession, I had previously been an educational coordinator at a community college. We had/have a great MT program with a very dedicated teacher. First, I was amazed how much the cost of tuition had risen. Second, tuition did not include books, pedal, headset, etc. Third, there was either a 1-year or 2-year option. Finally, I talked with the MT teacher about Career Step versus the CC program. The biggest thing she stressed was getting experience with authentic physician-dictated reports.

I considered the cost for Career Step with extras included, their use of physician-dictated reports, and the time flexibility of online learning. Personally, I decided to invest in Career Step and have no regrets. Online learning is not for everyone, but they provided a wonderful chat/forum facility to get some personal context.

I started in August and was working as an online MT the following May. In conclusion, my experience with Career Step was very positive and gave me entrance into this fascinating profession!

Career Step - Also a great decision for me - Working MT (and making money)

[ In Reply To ..]
I have read many, many negative posts about Career Step around the forums, but my experience was extremely positive. It took me over a year to complete the course, but I managed to, and within an extremely short time (if I recall, 3 or 4 days - no exaggeration) was working. I am assigned, believe it or not, to an account with no VR, all straight typing, and am earning part-time what some earn full-time, from what I read around the forums. I have no regrets, and no complaints. You have to work hard and do really well on the final exam, not to mention the pre-employment testing, but if you can do that, I say go for it. Good luck!

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