CMT and RMT are credentials given to medical transcriptionists to honor their expertise in medical transcription. The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) hands over these credentials.

CMT is an acronym for Certified Medical Transcriptionist while RMT stands for Registered Medical Transcriptionist. Both these credentials require you to take a voluntary exam. A medical transcriptionist with more than two years of experience in acute care can apply to take the exam that qualifies him/her as a CMT. A transcriptionist with less experience can take another exam to become an RMT. Passing the Level 1 examination will make you an RMT while clearing the Level 2 examination will make you a CMT.

Once you are sure about the examination you are eligible to take, you need to apply and pay an examination fee of 10 dollars. The same fee applies to both examinations.

Both the CMT and RMT credentials are valid for three years. On completion of three years, you are required to undergo a course and take another exam to renew your credentials.

Not everyone passes the exam in the first attempt. You are allowed to take the exam again after six months. In fact, you are given a detailed score report to help you analyze your performance so that you are prepared better the next time.

Some people confuse these credentials with the certificate given by a medical transcription training institute on completion of the course. This certificate is not the same as AHDI’s certified transcriptionist credentials. You may take the CMT exam to establish your expertise in the field.

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.