This is the big question that everyone wants answered when they are considering the career of medical transcription. Medical transcription is a unique career because it is not necessary to get a special certificate or degree in order to get a job. However, a good education is still necessary to succeed in the business. Most local colleges will offer a medical transcription course and there are also many, many online medical transcription courses. So how do you wade through all these different options and decide what kind of education is best for you?
Well, firstly, the impression that I am getting is that that it is probably not best to do the "teach it yourself" route—meaning, just getting some books and struggling to learn it on your own. Oh, perhaps you could learn all that you needed to know, but the "certificate" you get from a genuine transcription course may very well open doors to employment that would otherwise be closed to you.
Many community and local colleges offer medical transcription programs, but their quality may vary. A good college will offer a well-rounded education (more than just the memorizing of medical terms) and will expose the student to the latest technology being used in medical transcription. The college should have a way to help the graduates get a job (or at least an "internship") after completing the program. Not all colleges offer a quality MT program, so be very careful and do a lot of research before enrolling at a local college. Don't assume that just because the course is being held in a brick-and-mortar college nearby that it is automatically superior to an "long-distance" (or online) MT course. Some long-distance courses are quite good.
When it came to online MT courses, my personal research kept on pointing to two schools that seemed to have great reputations for excellence: M-TEC and Andrews School. Another online school that is sometimes reported to be good is Career Step, but M-TEC and Andrews consistently are cited as top-notch. This may change in the future, but as of this writing (early 2005), these two schools both seem to be excellent bets for a good MT education. Another selling point for long-distance courses is that they are self-paced, and can often be completed in less time than the courses offered at a local college.
I have read many unhappy posts on MT message boards from graduates of some of the "other" online schools—they paid good money for the course, but were unable to find work after graduating. Unfortunately, there appears to be a "Catch 22" in this particular business. Most employers want to hire transcriptionists with some years of experience. But how can a newbie get experience if no one will give them a job? Well, if a student goes to the right school, there's a way to get around this "Catch-22." Schools like M-TEC and Andrews have made arrangements with certain employers who are willing waive their usual "two years experience" requirement and give these grads a chance at their first job. (But be aware, even though a very high percentage of grads from these schools will get jobs, the schools cannot offer any absolute guarantee of employment.)
The tuition for both these schools may be somewhat higher than other "lesser known" courses, but it appears that when it comes to MT schools, "you get what you pay for." What's the use of saving money on a lesser-known school if they won't or can't help you get a job after you finish the course? When choosing an MT school, be sure to find out what specifically they do to help their grads get a job. Don't settle for a school who gives you a diploma and then boots you out the door. Also, you might want to ask any prospective employers of MTs if they can recommend any specific MT schools. Some national employers (like Medquist) have a list of "accepted" MT schools. (Not surprisingly, both M-TEC and Andrews are on their list!)
Even though I believe that either M-TEC or Andrews would be an extremely safe bet for MT training, I still urge anyone who is interested in MT to do their own independent research before choosing any school. The decision about what program to enroll in is a significant one and should not be made hastily.
http://www.delicateflower.org/MT/index.html
