What says that you are a good medical transcriptionist? Your work. Yes, it is you who can establish that goodwill for you. But wouldn’t it be nice if someone concurred that you are good. The Association of Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) helps you establish your expertise by issuing certain credentials to you. Now, of course, you have to earn these credentials.

The Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) is a popular credential offered by the AHDI. You need to pass a test to become a CMT. You need to possess 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:

…hospital-based dictation comprised of a variety of dictators (including ESL), and multiple report types and specialties, primarily operative reports, consultations, discharge summaries, and history and physicals.

The CMT 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 the improvement. You have to pay a fee 275 USD to take the test. However, if you are a member of AHDI, you need to pay only 195 USD.

In case you don’t pass the test in the first attempt, you can take it again after six months. The credential is valid for three years. You are required to take another test for re-certification after three years.

If you don’t have relevant experience, you can take the Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) test.