The US Department of Labor, in its report on medical transcriptionists in the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009, mentions, “Employment of medical transcriptionists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for medical transcription services will be spurred by a growing and aging population. Older age groups receive proportionately greater numbers of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that require documentation… Growing numbers of medical transcriptionists will be needed to amend patients’ records, edit documents from speech recognition systems, and identify discrepancies in medical reports.”

The report suggests that there will be an increase in demand of medical transcriptionists in the near future. Now let us look at points that make medical transcription a lucrative profession?

It is a home-based job.
A medical transcriptionist can work from the comfort of his/her home, saving on time and money.

It requires no specific academic qualification.
The profession does not have any specific academic eligibility criteria. One can become a medical transcriptionist irrespective of what he/she studied.

It asks for no experience.
The profession does have a prerequisite in terms of experience. Anyone with the right aptitude can make a career as a medical transcriptionist.

It pays well.
The Occupational Employment Statistics estimate that in May 2008, the mean hourly wage of a medical transcriptionist was $15.84 and the mean annual wage was $32,960.00. Given that no experience or formal qualification is required for the job, the profession pays good rewards.

It offers choice.
The medical transcription job lets you choose your own work hours; it lets you choose the amount of time you want to work, depending on your needs.

Interested people can make a good career of the medical transcription profession.