I came across a guy the other day who said he wanted to be a medical transcriptionist but didn’t know where to begin. I asked him if he knew the requirements of the job. He said, “I can type, if that’s what you are asking.” If you are someone like him, I suggest you understand the profession well before you get lured by all its benefits. Here’s a tip: Go through the past posts of this blog, and you will get an idea of what medical transcription is all about.

Now, the first step towards a career in medical transcription is finding out if you can be transcriptionist. Yes, you don’t need a degree or an experience, but your certainly need the right aptitude. Here’s what you need:

• Excellent command over the English language
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to meet deadlines everyday
• Willingness to learn everyday
• Willingness and ability to research extensively

Once you have made sure that you have what it takes for the profession, join a medical transcription course. But make sure you compare different courses before you choose one. Here’s what you need to check:

• That the course conforms to the competency profile for medical transcription (COMPRO)
• That the number of dictation hours is high and the dictations are authentic
• That there is some kind of job assistance after the training
• That the instructors have a significant experience in the medical transcription industry

On completion of your course, make a resume. Get it reviewed by your instructors and start looking for good medical transcription opportunities. You should check local hospitals and clinic, newspapers and yellow pages, apart from checking on the Internet.

We wish you all the luck with your career.