The medical transcription profession doesn’t want you to flaunt educational or professional qualifications; it doesn’t ask for any experience. And yet, it is a specialized profession. If you have been following this blog closely, you know that the profession requires niche knowledge and expert transcription skills. A medical transcription aspirant gains these from the training he/she undergoes before starting work. However, there are certain skills that should be inherent in a medical transcription aspirant even before the training.

Here are what you should possess before you step into the field of medical transcription.

• Analytical skill: If yours is an analytical brain that looks into things with a logical perspective, you will do well analyzing information in medical transcription.
• Self-motivation: You won’t have your employer/client motivating you on the job. You have to keep yourself motivated through all times.
• Discipline: In a job like medical transcription, you cannot survive if you are not disciplined enough. Lack of supervision and the nature of the job make discipline critical for your work.
• Self-dependence: In medical transcription, you have got to handle everything on your own, even the crisis situations. Now, this is not everyone’s cup of tea.
• Learning: The ability to learn is a skill. And when it comes to the medical transcription profession, you have to be willing to put in the time and effort in learning on a regular basis.

If you think you have all these skills, look into the pros and cons of the profession, and then, if you think you can handle the job, start looking for a good medical transcription course.

So, you want to be a medical transcriptionist? You must have looked into the profession and figured out that you can handle the job. So, what is it that you have that makes you feel that you can be a good medical transcriptionist? Good hearing skills? Congratulations! That’s a great start. Now, let’s look into some of the other skills and attributes that can make you a good medical transcriptionist.

Do you have an above average typing speed? No, you need not be a typing expert, just a decent speed is good enough. A good typing speed is not critical but important in order to maintain a high level of productivity.

Now, let’s talk about your command over the English language. A medical transcriptionist should be able to put sense in the medical records he/she creates. If your English grammar is poor, you may end up changing the meaning of some information. Thus, it is important that you possess an above-average command over the English language.

How comfortable are you handling a computer? You have to be extremely comfortable working with a word processor. If you are not so comfortable yet, start using it extensively before you get into medical transcription.

As a medical transcriptionist, you should be able to work on your own, without supervision. This requires extreme maturity and discipline. Can you do that? You are also required to keep updating your medical knowledge almost on a daily basis. Are you willing to make that effort and take out time for this? You will also be required to refer to external materials and research independently while creating medical records. Enter the medical transcription profession only if you are willing to do all this.

Actually, the medical transcription profession does not ask for anything. Yeah, it does expect an aptitude, but there are no prerequisites anywhere. And yet, we write so many posts on possessing that magical aptitude for the profession. Why? If the profession does not ask for qualifications or experience, why should we? Well, we don’t ask for these things. We just want you to find out for yourself if you have what it takes to be a medical transcriptionist. We want you to find out if you have the interest and the skill to handle the work and the profession’s challenges. Read on to understand what we are implying.

The profession does not mention anything about your expertise in English, but we insist that you possess an above-average command over the English language. Why? Because the medical transcriptionist is required to make sense of all the medical information and create meaningful records. Poor English grammar can risk changing the meaning of information, thereby risking the occurrence of critical and major errors.

We also insist that you possess analytical skills. This is because you are required to analyze information logically to render meaning to medical records. Imagine all the trouble you will have in work every day if you don’t like to analyze information.

Self motivation is part of the aptitude we expect in a medical transcription aspirant. That’s because of the nature of the medical transcription work; the work may tend to become monotonous in the long run.

We insist you should be comfortable working on your own. The medical transcription profession does not provide you with regular guidance and constant supervision. You have to be able to handle everyday tasks on your own, but also to deal with crisis situations independently.

We also expect a medical transcription aspirant to be willing to learn and research. Now, obsolete medical knowledge will not keep you in the medical transcription industry for too long. Thus, you have got to be willing to make an effort and spend time in learning.

It is for your own good that you should look at the pros and cons of the profession and how you fit into the medical transcription field.

It has such an easy entry. The pay seems good. And I can choose my work timings and hours. I can even work from home. Wow, the medical transcription profession seems to be the right profession for me.

Is that how you look at medical transcription? Wait, before you undertake medical transcription training, ask “are you sure you are ready for the profession”? Yes, even if the profession doesn’t ask for qualifications and experience, you may not be the right candidate for the job. Do you have what it takes to be a medical transcriptionist? What do you need? You need an aptitude and the willingness to handle the challenges the profession throws at you. Make sure you are really ready before you get into the field.

Here are some of the medical transcription facts you should know before making up your mind on the profession.

• Medical transcription deadlines are known to be extremely stringent and sacred. You cannot take your own time in delivering medical records. As a medical transcriptionist, you have to deal with deadlines everyday. And then there are those tasks that have a turnaround of just a few hours.
• Meeting deadlines won’t help if the quality of your work is bad. And in medical transcription, quality goals are sacrosanct. Missing out on the goals in medical transcription can impact the safety of a patient. While the overall quality goal in the job is 98%, the goal with respect to critical errors is 100%!
• The profession requires you to be self-dependent. While not having a boss sounds good, not everyone can handle the work without any supervision or guidance.
• The profession requires you to keep updating your knowledge regularly. Thus, you have to continue learning as long as you are a medical transcriptionist.

Become a medical transcriptionist only if you think you can handle the job even in the long run.

The medical transcription profession needs certain skills and an attitude. Together, they form what we have been referring to as the aptitude to become a medical transcriptionist. So, can you figure out if you have the aptitude? Let’s call it the medical transcription quotient. Do you have it? Wondering how to figure that out? Answer the questions below.

• Do I have an above-average command over the English language?
• Do I have good hearing skills?
• Can I handle a computer comfortably?
• Am I comfortable handling work on my own?
• Will I be comfortable working without any supervision or guidance?
• Can I work with stringent deadlines on a daily basis?
• Can I keep myself motivated in the long run?
• Can I keep my focus for long hours?
• Am I willing to invest time and make an effort in learning regularly?
• Am I interested in spending time and making an effort in doing extensive research for my work on a regular basis?

Be honest when you answer these questions. If the answer to any of your questions is ‘maybe’ then you are not ready yet and there is a chance you will not be ready for medical transcription. Don’t feel bad if you don’t have the medical transcription quotient; you are likely to have the aptitude for another field that will keep you happier. Joining medical transcription just because others are is not a good way to start a career. If you can’t, you just can’t. Don’t feel bad about it. In fact, be glad that you made the right decision or you would have cribbed throughout your career.

Weren’t you told that medical transcription has no prerequisites? Then how can there be any eligibility conditions? Well, there are no eligibility conditions levied by the profession, but if you want to make the profession your career, you should know if you fit the bill. We have come up with a list of skills you should possess in order to make it as a medical transcriptionist.

• Proficiency in handling a word processor: You have to be extremely comfortable working with a word processor.
• Above-average command over the English language: A transcriptionist should be able to put sense into a medical record. If your English grammar is poor, you may end up changing the meaning of some information.
• Above-average typing-speed: This is not critical but important in order to maintain high level of productivity.
• Ability to work independently: A medical transcriptionist should be able to work on his/her own, without supervision. This requires extreme maturity and discipline.
• Willingness to learn: As a medical transcriptionist, you have to keep updating your medical knowledge almost on a daily basis.
• Willingness to research independently: You have to refer to external materials and research in case of a difficult medical record.
• Analytical skills: In the medical transcription profession, you are required to analyze information logically to render meaning to medical records.

These skills form the aptitude the profession expects of you. If you don’t have the aptitude for the profession, you will start cribbing about work soon. Make sure you are absolutely ready for the work before you commit to it.

After you finish your medical transcription training, you are given a certificate. But this certificate does nothing but indicates that you have completed a training in medical transcription; it doesn’t tell the world how good a medical transcriptionist you are. In order to tell employers and clients about your work, you can make use of a credential issued by the Association of Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). The credential is called Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT).

Now, one is eligible to become a CMT if one has two years of medical transcription experience in acute care for taking the CMT test. Wondering what acute care is? Here’s how AHDI defines it:

(Source)…incorporating medical center dictation to include many dictators including multiple ESL dictators, many formats and report types, and all the major specialties, including and especially surgery dictation of all types, and some minor specialties.

Does this mean that one cannot get a credential in the first two years? AHDI has a credential called Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) for transcriptionists with less experience.

In order to become a CMT, you have to take a test conducted by AHDI. You are required to pay a fee of 275 USD. However, if you are a member of AHDI, you need to pay only 195 USD.

The test lasts for five hours. You will know the results as soon as you complete the test. The test report will give you value-added feedback to help you understand your strengths and the areas of improvement. If you do not pass in your first attempt, you can always try again after a gap of six months.

The CMT credential is valid for three years. You are required to take another test for re-certification after three years.

With either of these two credentials from AHDI, you should have no problem getting and keeping a job in medical transcription.

Medical transcription training will prepare you for the job ahead. Does that mean anyone can become a medical transcriptionist after the training? No. An aspiring medical transcriptionist needs a certain aptitude. Let’s have a look at what this aptitude consists of.

• Above-average command over the English language: A good medical transcriptionist should be able to put sense into a medical record. If your English grammar is poor, you may end up changing the meaning of some information.
• Proficiency in handling a word processor: You have to be extremely comfortable working with a word processor.
• Above-average typing speed: This is not critical but important in order to maintain high level of productivity.
• Ability to work independently: A medical transcriptionist should be able to work on his/her own, without supervision. This requires extreme maturity and discipline.
• Willingness to learn: As a medical transcriptionist, you have to keep updating your medical knowledge almost on a daily basis.
• Willingness to research independently: You have to refer to external materials and research in case of a difficult medical record.
• Analytical skills: In the medical transcription profession, you are required to analyze information logically to render meaning to medical records.

It is important to find out if you have the aptitude for medical transcription even if the profession does not specifically ask you for it. Once you have made sure you are fit for the profession, look at the challenges you will face in it. Only after you have looked at every aspect of the profession should you start looking for the medical transcription course.

The easy entry into the medical transcription field makes many people feel that they are ready for the job. However, you have got to find out if you have the aptitude and if you are really ready for the job before you get into it. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before committing to the profession.

Are my English grammar skills and computer skills above average? If you are not confident about your grammar, brush up your knowledge and then seek a career in medical transcription. Also, you need to be proficient in handling the computer. You may need to handle different software while working.

Am I confident in handling the deadlines? The medical transcription profession is a fast-paced one. You cannot schedule your work over a number of days. Most medical transcription tasks have a turnaround time of 24 hours. Some tasks have a turnaround time of four hours. As a medical transcriptionist, you have to stick to all deadlines.

Can I handle it on my own? Medical transcription requires you to work completely on your own. If you are not disciplined enough to handle your work on a daily basis, you cannot make it as a medical transcriptionist.

Will I be able to take out time to learn? The medical transcription profession requires you to keep adding to your medical vocabulary. The learning never stops in this profession. You should be willing to enhance your knowledge on a regular basis.

Will I be able to handle the accompanying stress? Incomprehensible recordings, stringent deadlines, high quality goals, and difficult reviewers can cause stress in your job. You should be able to take it all in your stride.

It is important you find out if you are fit for the job rather than others telling you.

Do you want to become a medical transcriptionist but don’t know if you qualify? Well, the good news is that the medical transcription profession will not ask for your qualifications, experience, age, or even location. But you need to make sure you can handle the work. Answer the following questions to find out if you are ready.

• Are you comfortable working with a word processor? You should be able to work with a computer comfortably well in order to create medical records.
• Can you recognize words and sentences clearly from a verbal speech or conversation? You should possess good hearing skills.
• Do you have an excellent command over the English language? You will need to make sentences clear, crisp, and concise. Every word in your transcript should sound right and make sense.
• Do you have an above-average typing speed? A medical transcriptionist’s job is not about typing out words. However, a reasonably good typing speed will help you meet deadlines.
• Are you comfortable working on your own? Being your own boss is one of the advantages of home-based medical transcription job. However, you should be disciplined enough to handle work on your own.
• Can you work for long hours? You may have to spend long hours listening to audios and typing out text. You should be able to handle big chunks of work.
• Are you comfortable working with deadlines? You should be prepared to work under pressure.
• Are you willing to learn even while working? A medical transcriptionist has to keep updating his/her medical knowledge.

If your answer to each of the above-listed questions is ‘yes’, start looking for a good medical transcription course.