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.

Before I tell you about the Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT), let me clarify a doubt that many aspiring and new transcriptionists have. The certificate awarded on completion of the medical transcription training does not make you a CMT. Now, let’s see who or what the CMT is.

CMT is a credential offered by the Association of Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). AHDI awards this credential recognizing your expertise in the field. You have to take a test to become a CMT. Anyone who has two years of medical transcription experience in acute care is eligible to take the test. If you are wondering what acute care is, here’s the definition from AHDI:

(Source) …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, and you get to know how you fared as soon as you complete the test. You are given a report containing detailed feedback on your performance, highlighting your strengths and weaknesses. If you don’t pass the test, you can take it again after six months.

Currently, you need to pay 275 dollars (USD) to take the test. If, however, you are an AHDI member, you have to pay only 195 dollars.

Once you are awarded the CMT credential, it stays with you for three years. You have to take another test to renew it after that.

You don’t have to be a CMT to prove your merit in the medical transcription industry, but the recognition from AHDI definitely helps.

Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) is a credential offered by the Association of Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). In today’s post, we’ll try answering a few of the frequently-asked questions on CMT.

Who is eligible for the CMT test?

One needs to possess two years of medical transcription experience in acute care for taking the CMT test. AHDI defines acute care as:

…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.

What is fee for the CMT test?

The fee for the CMT test is 275 USD. However, if you are a member of AHDI, you need to pay only 195 USD.

How long is the test?

The test lasts for five hours.

How soon can I know my results?

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.

If I don’t pass, can I take the test again?

Yes, you can take the test again. However, you can take the test only after six months of taking the first test.

How long is the CMT credential valid for?

The credential is valid for three years. On completion of three years, you are required to take another test for re-certification.

Click here to access the AHDI website for more information on the CMT exam. Come back tomorrow for more information about the medical transcription profession.