Complete Course Details

Table of Contents

  1. What does it cost?
  2. Who is this for?
  3. Why purchase this program?
  4. What is in the course?
  5. How will I find work?
  6. What are the system requirements?
  7. How much can I make?
  8. Why medical transcription?
  9. What about certification?
  10. Is there a less expensive option?

What does it cost?

  • $450 for the program purchased from me by cash (money order or cashier's check) or PayPal (additional $15 PayPal fee).

The following tools need to be purchased after you start the course. They are not purchased through me, but in the course you will learn exactly what you need and why and how/where to get them.

  • $65-$100 for a foot pedal. (A foot pedal is for hands-free voice file manipulation.)
  • $25-100 for AAMT Book of Style. I have actually seen the CD on Ebay for only $5 if you don’t mind not having it in print. (This is your "rule book" for medical transcription.)
  • $35-$200 for an expander. The one I use was $100, but since I have purchased it, I found one that would probably be just as nice for only $40. (This is a valuable type of software that allows you to type in shortcuts)
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Who is this training program for?

Just about anyone who has the required equipment and the desire/ability to learn the materials.

  • Moms/Dads wanting to add a bit to the family pot.
  • Single moms needing to stay home with their kids but still have a full or part time job that earns a decent wage.
  • Both parents wanting to stay home and work a job together to maximize earnings - or possibly start their own company.
  • Older teens wanting to start a career to see them through college.
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Why purchase this program?

The course I have developed probably looks similar to other online courses offered by other schools out there. There are two big differences I have seen when scouting the competition.

1) Many online courses charge $700 to $1500 for their course. Many of them list all the "books" you get with the program - all of which are available
online, free (and SEARCHABLE) and constantly updated. i.e. those books are generally worthless by the time you get them.
2) These courses say they have over 100 authentic dictations/real medical reports for you to practice on. As a medical transcriptionist, I transcribe over 100 reports in about 3-4 days. That just doesn’t seem enough to qualify as "training". The hands-on portion of my course contains over 1000 dictations (voice files and transcribed files**), hand-picked by me from reports spanning the past four years and covering over 15 medical specialties. Please feel free to check out other courses. I would really prefer that you did. I'm confident that, while I might not be as flashy as some of the other companies out there, my quality and quantity are thus far unmatched.

Also, I will offer an optional "test" when you have completed your course. This will be modeled after the tests transcription companies will ask you to take before interviewing with them, only it will be slightly more difficult. Upon satisfactory completion of this test, I will be happy to write you a letter of reference for prospective employers and will be available to them for further communication about the details of the course.

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What is in the course?

In this training course you will learn:

  • What medical transcription is, a bit of history and how it works now.
  • What tools are used in medical transcription and how to use them.
  • Medical Terminology.
  • How to use shortcuts/make templates and other time-saving, production-boosting techniques.
  • How to do research as it pertains to medical transcription.

    And most importantly, you will do...
    Hands-on actual typing, modeled just like you were working for a transcription company with four different accounts to type on. These voice files progress from easy, clear dictation to hard to hear/hard to understand dictation, giving you a sample of the "real world".
     
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How will I find work?

The course does NOT end with a final test and a wave good-bye.  I will show you the best websites I have found where companies list their job openings.  New ones show up almost every day - certainly several every week.  The program has tips on how to build the best resume.  And, upon satisfactory completion of the final exam, I will act as a reference for you, speaking personally to prospective employers you have applied to, explaining the course you have gone through and what you have accomplished.  I am confident that many employers will be thrilled to hear that you have done 1000 dictations rather the usual 100-200.

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What are the system requirements?

256Mb of RAM (512Mb of RAM or more recommended)

Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP 

Sound Card 

Internet connection and account (broadband recommended and required for most

transcription jobs)

Microsoft Word 2000 or later

Adobe Acrobat Reader (available here -

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html)

 

Optional but recommended

Microsoft Excel or equivalent program for log sheets

 

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How much can I make?

Average pay in the industry right now is 8 cents per line (65-character with spaces line). Average lines are 200-250 per hour. So, average pay is $16-$20 an hour. This is achievable within 6 months. I trained my husband to do this while he was out of work. He was working on a completely different (new) account than mine and was up to $18/hour before he found an outside job in his preferred field of IT management. I have made as much as 34,000/year for a couple of years, working full time, without the expenses of working outside the home. Obviously, part-time would be less than that per year - but the hourly rate stays about the same.

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Why medical transcription?

Medical transcription is a steady industry that can offer a good income for a stay-at-home parent. It is *not* an easy income or one that can be learned or done with little to no effort. It can be learned by most anyone who is willing to apply themselves and it can provide a flexible schedule for a busy parent. So, if you are looking for a get-rich-quick solution, this is the wrong sort of job for you.

Learning how to be a medical transcriptionist is not difficult but it does take some discipline and lots and lots of practice! I have created this training program pouring my 8 years experience as a medical transcriptionist into it. I then tailored it to be modifiable by a busy home parent with an unpredictable schedule. On a part-time basis, the course should take about 6 months to complete. Obviously, if you can put more time into it, you can be done faster.

 

There are currently many many companies looking to hire Medical Transcriptionists.  There are many websites on the internet that show just how great the demand for MTs is. 

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What about certification?

Currently, the AAMT only has testing for a CMT (certified medical transcriptionist).  You are able to sit for this exam after you have been working in this industry for 2 years.  However, they are in the beta phase of testing for something new - the RMT (registered medical transcriptionist).  They intended to have this ready by "late summer 2006", but have started another set of beta testing.  So, we are unsure yet when it will be available.  I am putting together an additional part of the training that will be optional to students who are working on the course or who have finished the course.  There will not be an additional charge for this portion, but it will be separate as it is not necessary to be an RMT to work in this industry.  My thought is that students may want to finish the original part of the course first, work on getting a job and while doing that and/or actually working as an MT, finishing the RMT prep portion.  Since the AAMT has not completely finished putting the test itself and the grading together, this is a work in progress for me as well, not to be finalized until they are. 

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Is there a less expensive option?

Yes!

Plan B:  $350 ($9 additional fee if PayPal is used)

You will receive the manual electronically.  You will then choose whether or not to print it or just read it on your computer.  You will have access to the Student Forum for asking questions related to the program itself.   You will still receive basic resume help and the websites for looking for work, but not the personal assistance that comes with the full package. 

Plan C:  $250 ($9 additional fee if PayPal is used)

You will receive the manual electronically.  You will then choose whether or not to print it or just read it on your computer.  You will also receive 400 dictations.  You will have access to the Student Forum for asking questions related to the program itself.  You will still receive basic resume help and the websites for looking for work, but not the personal assistance that comes with the full package. 

Option to the Options:

You are welcome, at any time, to upgrade to the full package.  Upgrading from Plan B, you would pay an additional $100 ($5 additional fee if PayPal is used) and be able to take the final exam and receive my full assistance in putting your resume together and having me be an active reference in your job search.  Upgrading from Plan C, you would pay an additional $225 ($9 additional fee if PayPal is used) and receive the remaining 600+ dictations as well as the resume and job search help upon successful completion of the final exam.

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Copyright © 2006  MT Home Training. All rights reserved.
Revised: 10/18/06.

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