MT program online - Want to hear from MT graduate

[jessie dsouza]

After thinking a lot about VA niches, I've decided to make Medical Transcription as my niche and would like to pursue in depth training in the field. Do you know any genuine training centers that provide MT course online? I'm also looking for the cost effective training courses. I know there are plenty of free courses, but would like to go for paid ones where there is more of practical things to learn which won't be available on the free courses. I know MT is not at all an easy skill to learn. It takes more patience and practice to learn. I'm ready put all my efforts to learn. I'm just 29 and I've plenty of time in my hand to learn MT. I've no experience or any idea of MT. But now, I'm taking some crash course in MT (free courses in MT) and I'm also practicing my typing speed. I'm tired of applying for jobs or looking for opportunities in general admin category (very competitive market) and I don't think I can make a living out of it. I want to have in depth training and then I would like to work as an independent contractor in MT field. Actually I want to be certified MT. As I'm based in India, initially would like to with small companies to get some experience. To get an MT job in companies here candidates must be MT graduates. So, I'm looking for in depth training in MT and then get a certification. Please let me know if you know any good training courses or any online schools that provide great courses.

I would also like to hear from someone who has taken the MT program online through a genuine and reputed school so as to choose a best school and get trained by professionals.

Thanks much!

[Business-Bytes]

Hi Jessie,

First and foremost, being an MT is a very specialized field. Accuracy when dealing with patient records can be a life and death situation if the wrong word is misspelled (or dictated by the doctor), or wrong dosage, etc., so a school of the highest quality should be the way to go. Freebie sites definitely aren't going to cut it.

Typing speed helps, but with a text expander, macros, etc. these help increase your speed. Good schools teach you how to use these.

I went to MTEC a couple years ago. Due to personal reasons I didn't finish, but they offer GREAT programs with your own personal instructor, a very helpful forum of students, and what I consider the best, in depth curriculum around. Before I made the decision to enroll with MTEC, I did an exhaustive search of schools. MTEC is at the higher end regarding cost, but you most definitely get your money's worth. The old saying, "You get what you pay for," is really true when it comes to MT schools. I so wish I could have finished with them. Unbelievable curriculum!! (I also noticed that since I left they now offer a speech recognition editing training course - when I left, speech recognition was starting to hit the MT world. Very cool that they've stayed ahead of the game.)

The Andrews School for MT was another one I looked at. From my searches and MT forums I joined in the MT world, MTEC and Andrews are/were the top two. Gotta say, Andrews website from a my [designers] perspective is a turn off. But last I knew they were top-notch. My decision to go with MTEC was a comparison between the two of these with regards to other than web design - MTEC won.

Another one is Career Step. I know a gal that went through CS, but her education wasn't near what mine would have been. Also, most national companies that hire MTs weren't too keen on grads from CS - they would take MTEC and Andrews grads first because they knew their education and readiness to jump right in was there.

Speaking of MT forums, MTChat was a good one. Will say that some can be a bit "snarky" there, so I mostly just browsed. Gained a lot of information there, and what to look out for in terms of scam MT sites and MT hiring sites. (Might also see which schools are considered the top ones - Career Step got a lot of 'bashing' there when I was a member.)

To help you on your search, go to AHDI and look at the schools listed there. You can also see what payment/loan options they have. An accredited school is important, but you still have to look at each school and their curriculum, whether you have an instructor dedicated to you, tech help available (MTEC has a great tech guy!), etc. Just because they are listed there doesn't make them good.

HTH a bit,

[jessie dsouza]

Hi Jules,

Thank you so much for your response with all the great info and recommendations. I'm really grateful for your efforts and time. I will surely go through the AHDI and compare the info with other schools and make a final decision to enroll myself into the course.

Thanks much!

[Business-Bytes]

You might consider joining the MTChat forum first off, then you can post questions about any schools you're thinking about on that forum.

You are very welcome! Best of luck to you, Jessie!