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

training recommendations - kellirae

Posted: Apr 11, 2011

I went to a seminar for At-Home Professions. The training course is about 5 months. I am trying to decide if I finish the courses, will there be employment opportunities?

kellirae - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I doubt that At Home Professions will prepare you to compete and succeed in today's market. Don't buy into their sales hype. If you really want to become an MT, you might try either M-TEC or Andrews. Or, if you want to do some research on your own, call any MTSO you would like to work for, be it MedQuist or someone smaller, and ask them if they routinely hire AHP grads and if these grads are able to succeed. That would be a very valuable way to gain info.

kellirae - jj

[ In Reply To ..]
I would not go through At-Home professions. I completed their program last September and have only worked for a small company which has since closed. I don't feel that I was at all prepared to look for work in this field after completing their program, your money would be more wisely spent somewhere else, but do your research, there are a lot of "schools" that are the same as AHP and will not give you the education that you need.
Good Luck in whatever you decide to do!!

Did you talk to any of their other graduates to see how they did? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Did you check to see where their other graduates were going to work, or if they are? Is there a way to do that?

kellirae - Nick

[ In Reply To ..]
The most important thing to look for is to be certain that the school you choose uses the SUM program. It's the gold standard.

kellirae - Former MTSO

[ In Reply To ..]
One thing you need to consider is that there are some schools that MTSOs will not hire from. Every MTSO has a list (mental or otherwise) of preferred schools and schools that do not produce quality grads. The MTSOs have learned this from sad and sorry experience. In today's economy especially, we need people who can hit the ground running and do not need handholding or extra training. Just remember, in selecting a school as in everything else in life, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Cheapie schools are not likely to produce results. Like someone else said, you need a school that uses SUM. I also think you need a school that has real, live instructors (Andrews or M-TEC). Think of your decision as an INVESTMENT, just as much as buying a house would be. Good luck. I hope you find a school that meets your needs.

Training recommendations - happyahpgrad

[ In Reply To ..]
I graduated from At-Home Professions (AHP) in 1995 and had a very positive experience with them. I landed my own account within 2 weeks of graduating and worked that business for 2-1/2 years, at which time I went to work for a transcription service nearby, which was subsequently bought by MedQuist. I have worked for Medquist ever since. I feel the education I received through AHP was very thorough. The instructors were always there when I had questions or needed them, and the feedback on my work was very helpful. They will tell you how to start your own transcription business, and if you follow that step-by-step, which I did, it will work for you. You have to be persistent in getting your foot in the door in this business, just like any new career, but it will pay off for you with a career that you can do anywhere from the comfort of your home. I would highly recommend At-Home Professions to anyone looking for a school to get training to be a medical transcriptionist!

happyahp grad - Been around the block

[ In Reply To ..]
While I am happy for you, I do think that you are the exception to the rule.

Sorry, but 1995 was a totally different era in medical transcription; Nothing like it is today; - Really no way to compare 1995 to 2011

[ In Reply To ..]

Happy for you that you did well, but has nothing to do with today's job situation. I have been doing this for 40 years and have seen all the changes.

Really no way to compare - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I so totally agree with you. It is a different world now. Unfortunately, AHP just is not up to many (most?) MTSOs' standards. The few people who manage to succeed on an AHP education are the exception that make the rule, as we used to say in Latin. Glad for them, surely, but they seem to be in the minority. If someone is going to brave the odds and become an MT, why not give oneself the best education possible? It only makes sense.

training recommendations - Carly

[ In Reply To ..]
That course sounds way too short. I really don't think you could possibly learn everything in 5 months. My course was (TRSi) 12 months and there is still much for me to learn.

Hey Kellirae! - trh_mt

[ In Reply To ..]
I know that there is a lot of conflicting information on here regarding your question. I cannot speak for others, but I CAN speak for myself and tell you what my experience has been.

I too went through the training course with At-Home-Profession and the whole time (like you) I worried if I was wasting my time and money in doing so. I COMPELTELY understand your worries!

When I first finished my training course and I was looking for a job, It didn't take me long to get discouraged, but I kept on looking and applying with companies, (even ones that said that I had to have a minimum of 2 years experience, even though I was a new graduate) and within about month or two, I had a job.

The company didn't have all the benefits of paid vacation, sick leave, retirement and insurance, BUT it was a great job. Within a month, I received 3 raises bringing my pay rate up to 0.075 cents per line, which is a fairly competitive rate in the MT world for someone who had just finished training only 2 to 3 months prior.

That was two and a half years ago and now I am currently working for a company that is Nation-Wide, making more than I was before, AND I have all the perks as well, i.e. paid vacation, paid sick leave, retirement plan, eye, medical and dental insurance for me and my family and other incentives as well. I have a 9 to 5, five day-a-week schedule and still have the luxury of working in my pajamas from the comfort of my home. I do NOT have the expense of gas to get to and from work, no expense for special clothing, no expense for meals, no expense for daycare or babysitter and so on. During my break, I can put laundry on, start a meal cooking, whatever I need to do, which frees up more time for me when I get off of work in the afternoon to spend with my family.

I have never been more satisfied or happy with any decision I have ever made. I have nothing but HIGH PRAISE for AHP! They NEVER failed in helping me to accomplish my goals in my training, prepare me for a job in this field, always encouraged me and where a great help and encouragement while looking for a job in the medical field!

It may sound crazy to some, but the fact is, the training I received through AHP has changed my life FOR THE BETTER!! I AM SO VERY GLAD I DID IT!! And you will be too. Just keep your eye on your goal of becoming a Medical Transcriptionist.

All it takes is a little faith, determination and you can do this!!!

My best wishes and encouragement to you in your aim for a better future!

God Bless,

Trh-mt

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