How to Learn Medical Transcription

If you're interested in working in a doctor's office or hospital, medical transcription may be a job you will enjoy. Medical transcription requires good listening skills as well as a keen knowledge of English grammar and medical terminology.

Things You'll Need

• High school diploma or GED

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Work in a doctor's office for a while if you're not yet sure you want to pursue a career in medical transcription. As you work, you will become familiar with the medical terminology used in a health care environment. Medical terminology is something you will be required to know when you work as a medical transcriptionist. Once you are familiar with medical language, you will feel more confident in your decision to work as a medical transcriptionist.

• 2

  Find a vocational school or college that offers courses in medical transcription. If you'd rather take an on-line course, enroll in one of the many distance-learning programs available. Get recommendations from current transcriptionists before you decide on a school.

• 3

  Complete a one-year certification program or two-year associate's degree program. If you decide to take the one-year certification program, know that you may be required to complete a voluntary accreditation program approved by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs. To be recognized as a certified medical transcriptionist (CMT), you must pass the certification exam and have a minimum of two years experience working with different types of dictation, documents, and surgical specialties in an acute care setting. As a medical transcriptionist who has recently completed a medical transcription program or has less than two years of experience in acute care, you may become a registered medical transcriptionist (RMT). You must earn credits in continuing education every three years to maintain your status as a registered medical transcriptionist or certified medical transcriptionist.

• 4

  Visit various Free Medical Transcription Practice websites. These sites have tapes you can transcribe, enabling you to practice your budding medical transcription skills at no cost to you.

• 5

  In between honing your medical transcription skills, brush up on your English grammar and punctuation skills. You will be more valuable to your employer if you can turn in work that has little or no grammar or punctuation errors.