I went to a local Community College

Community College - you can apply for financial assistance or sm [2008-09-26]
pay by the semester. If you already have secretarial experience you may want to look into being a virtual assistant for someone. Also these sites have a lot of jobs for moms at home: WAHM.com and workplacelikehome.com. Best wishes

I went to a local Community College [2008-02-11]
And yes, I've been working for four years as an MT. It took me a while to find my first job, though. Good luck to you.

I went to a business college sm [2008-02-11]
that had just added transcribing to their cirriculum. I was 1 of 4 first students. They really had no idea what they were doing. I got my first job doing dialysis patient's cause a friend was giving up the job and knew I was looking. The doc was desperate and didn't even test me. There is no way I would have gotten the job if I had to test. the job I have now if for an ENT and once again didn't test, one of the docs is my step-uncle. When I look at just the questions on the word help board I know there is sooooo much I still don't know. I am looking into taking some classes online. Good Luck to you!

Local offices [2008-01-16]
I am very new at this game. I have been trying to get a WAHM type job so that I can raise my sons. I hope to have some in house daycare for them in the afternoons to help me out with time. Will most offices just take your resume and toss it to the side? That is what I am worried about them doing. I live in Michigan and have noticed more docs using the voice rec software. My husband is starting to think he spent money on nothing. I am out to prove him wrong. Thanks

On the subject of a more flexible schedule, are their any local MTSOs, sometimes they are more [2007-02-02]
flexible, or maybe you could pick up a small account of your own. Good luck!

Does your local station have a website? In my state we can look up our local news that way [2006-08-22]
x

Financial Assistance??? [2008-09-15]
I am currently a full-time-college-student-but-otherwise-SAHM. Pretty soon we'll be needing more money, but I have neither time nor resources (day care around here is INSANELY expensive) to work outside the home. I've been doing the reasearch and have come to the conclusion that MT is a good job option for me. The problem is the training is sooo expensive! I mean,if we didn't need the money I wouldn't be looking for the training to begin with--so obviously I don't have $1600-4000 up front for the training. And most of the payment plans I see aren't looking much better--like $1000 up front, $350 every month after that. Right now that's just not feasable. Are there any MT schools that offer reasonable financial assistance? Or, I'd even be cool with a payment deferment plan or something! Anybody know of a school that's willing to help the financially strapped?

Truthful advice [2008-07-23]
I just recently got married and I am working in-house at our local hospital. I LOVE getting out of the house and going to work every day. I love what I do and want to stick with it. We will probably not be having children for at least a couple of years as my husband has a year left in college to get his business degree. I want to be able to stay home and raise my children, but I have seen what it has done to my mom. She sits at home all day in her PJs and type, type, types. I am just wonderng if any of you have any regrets about deciding to do transcription full time from home in order to be there for your children? This may sound a little selfish, but I donsometime to think about it, but it has been a topic that I have really been thinking about lately.What I would really like to do is stay at home with them until they are all in school and then try to get a job out of the house while they are at school. Have any of you made this transition? Any advice would be appreciated. I would just like a heads up before making any decisions. Thanks!

Since you are a military wife SM [2008-07-06]
contact AHDI to see if they can assist you. I know of no online externships available, but they might. If you didn Your school should be helping you with this, though. Usually an externship can be done at a local service or hospital affiliated with your school. I doubt it can be done online.

I am in shock. Are you living in 2008 or [2008-06-25]
1958. Is this real? Every able body in the household should contribute. You do work. You just do it at home. You need to take some time out for yourself and decide if the verbal abuse is worth the trouble. You must remember your children will see and hear how he treats you and this is abuse to them also. Don't you think you are worth so much more? You must think of your children and your mental well being. I refused to live this way years ago and my two daughters and I did just fine and with no child support. I raised two wonderful women, now 24 and 30, and both college graduates.

Here is what I would do... [2008-04-09]
Since you don I went to my local library and got the list of girls who had taken the babysitter course, which included CPR. They are mostly in 7th -9th grades. It is the perfect job for them, and you are home and available if there is an emergency. I have used my list several times, and have had much luck with it. It is an easy solutionversus hiring a nanny, who youin the fall, etc. Good luck!!

don't lose your sense of self... [2008-03-30]
Wow, I totally feel for you! Have you thought about writing him a letter - maybe something like what you just wrote to all of us.. maybe on paper he will see it a little clearer... and if not, honey I would STOP doing ALL of it! Marriage is a PARTNERSHIP remember and by the way, it's not 1950 anymore. It takes two to keep things going and him providing the source of income, although huge and I'm sure you are greatful - is not the only thing that defines a man as a husband or a dad for that matter. My husband and I both work, we both contribute financially, and actually, I made more then him last year - that said, us women/moms will always do more then them, my husband does help and he does share in most of the duties... he has too. In our early years together I once had to tell him that I wasn't his maid, cook or sex slave and that that if I was going to feel alone in our relationship, well, then ALONE is what I would be and his ass would be gone. Needless to say, he heard me loud and clear and while we work very hard everyday to keep our marriage strong, it is work on both of our parts. Your husband has to help more... he has to realize that the longer this goes on, the more you end up resenting him! and truly is this they way you want your children to see you for the next 20 years? Get out of the house, role pennies to get the $20 bucks to get into the local moms club... do it for yourself, it sounds like you need it! Keep you chin up and fight your hardest to get through to him!

we lived with his parents one summer [2008-03-29]
and he did exactly nothing to help around her house. i remember when we were dating, his mom used to bark at him and his brother to do the chores but he would always wait until the last minute to do them. we had an apartment when i was pregnant the first time and he was the same way then -- but i was also a very nagging girlfriend and super depressed back then. we separated because we felt living together was hurting us. now i feel i've improved, i don't complain about anything ever and i'm very forgiving, but he seems to have gotten worse and almost expects me to do everything like it's common sense or something. his mom is very critical too however, the way he speaks to me, she speaks to her husband... i wish he'd paid attention to his stepdad growing up because that man is suzy homemaker, lemme tell ya. on top of working overtime, he still finds the energy to help keep the house clean, care for the dog, do all the lawncare and volunteer his time. my hubs just sits around it seems... and then calls me lazy. i found a local moms club but i'm afraid to ask him for the 20 bucks it costs to be a member because any money i ever want to spend, he thinks is a worthless purchase. needless to say, i've armed myself with the advice of suze orman and as soon as i start working, i'm opening my own bank account. right now everything is in his name and i have no access to any of it. granted i was a bad spender in the past but i'm much better at that now. i don't buy a single thing without asking him first. his mom also did everything for his 21-y/o brother who just moved out... to his dad's. ha. i guess the most extreme measure i could take would be to stop doing everything for him -- stop cooking for him, stop doing his laundry, and stop washing the dishes he uses. think that would make him realize he was taking me for granted? i don't mind doing all these things, i just don't want him on my back if i miss something every now and then. the chores i can handle, the criticism i can't.

Thanks for the replies! more... [2008-02-11]
I was enrolled at my local CC and they dropped the MT program. Wasn't a great one anyway. I feel really good about CS through Everett Community College! At least I'll have real instructors instead of going straight through CS! I also get to use my pell grants! I also posted this question on the main forum. Wonder why no one is replying there. I know not many like CS, but I would think they wouldn't mind sharing where they trained and if they are working. Thanks a bunch for replying! Christy

I've been at this for 10+ years, but...sm [2008-01-25]
have no MT credentials, only OTJ training. Like you, I have a bachelor's degree. Now I make 10.125 cents a line in my speciality, but in other fields I'll work for as low as 7 b/c I don't know it as well. I think the real key here is getting more lines for yourself, not particularly more cpl pay. I, too, work for an acquaintenace, but make no bones about it when work is slow with her, that I take on other assignments on my own. I think that keeps her on her toes as well, to keep me around. Likewise, with the other jobs I take, I make sure they know I'm committed first and foremost to this other account. Never had any problems so far! I look for overflow work, even in nonmedical fields, and I give calls to other local transcriptionists who will use me from time to time. I've had years go by without hearing from some of them, and then in a pinch they'll give me a call. At this point for me, being a local Transcriptionist and networking with other locals, has been the way to go. Good luck!

Some ideas [2008-01-23]
These might work for you. I went to college and had three children and a full-time job (transcription). My employer let me work at home too and on a flex schedule, just had to get the work done and I aimed for weekends, but you may want to work pm - that works too. I had to be at the hospital at set times too, 6:00 - 3:30 three days a week for clinical and then two days a week at school all day long from 7:00 to about 4:00. I had my mom (thank God for moms) pick up my kids from school (they were a little older than yours). I picked them up from her house after I got out of school, about 4:30. I went home and then fed everyone, then baths were early and some homework and everyone had to go to bed early. Like at 7:00. They could leave the lights on and play with a toy or talk for a half-hour and then they had a half-hour of reading time - quietly after that and they mostly always fell asleep that way. I then had a few hours to do my homework (nursing school has lots of it) and clean up the kitchen, maybe type for an hour or two. I went to bed early as possible and listened to recorded lectures until I fell asleep. I got up every morning at 4:00 a.m. for four years. Even on the weekends. I listened to recorded lectures at those times and cleaned the house, made lunches, and did the laundry. It is peaceful at 4:00 a.m. and things you study are best remembered if you study for some reason. On weekends, I made up enough dinners for the rest of the week and froze them, typed reports for work (cramming 40 hours worth in is not easy. I did it with a little bit done during the week on lighter days, but for three hours without fail on Saturdays I went to the library to work on school stuff alone - my mom again! It helps to listen to lectures (recorded) while you drive and while you get ready in the mornings. I had a study group too (three of us) and that helped a lot. We divided up all the material we had learned before exam days and exchanged our notes and study materials in that way. I was married, but my husband was gone on business five days a week, so he was no help. Just get a pattern going and stick with it no matter what (except illness). It is easier to clean in the morning when kids are asleep. Get rid of all the extra toys and knick-knacks - you won't have to dust them or put them away if they aren't there. Make sure you have a freezer and a dishwasher because they are your best friends. If you can't fix dinner, eat out or get takeout, but be sure it does not become your only source of food. Plan ahead and you won't have to do that often. Sometimes I cheated and took all the clothes to the laundromat because you can do it all at once (like in two hours) in case that has fallen behind. Sometimes I thought I would lose it, but I didn't. I survived and graduated, did not get fired from my job and my kids are all okay. Take vitamins. Learn to like coffee! I never drank it until then. Good luck. You can do it!

These freeze! [2008-01-23]
Enchiladas, Shepard Pie, Spaghetti sauce, Meatballs, and meaty mix which is just ground sirloin cooked, salt, pepper, and onions and put into little baggies and defrosted to make lots of stuff (chili, tacos, spaghetti sauce, etc). Soups freeze too (except cream soups) and chili is a frozen wonder. Just make a salad and heat up bread and there you are. Lasagne freezes well. Chicken and polenta stew freezes too. Stuffed peppers, homemade burritos, and now I am too hungry to go on. I am sorry you are so tired. Are you taking medications? There are a few antidepressants that give energy back and I hope you are on one. Maybe you could go to community college and meet people, get out of the house and take more than one class at a time so it goes faster. It is probably cheaper too! But no matter what, just do it. Sometimes it is so hard to keep going forward, but then imagine how good it will feel when you are finished! When I finished I was over the moon for three days, then reality hit and I was bored out of my mind for about a month or two. I was so used to structure. There is too the imposter feeling that comes on - it is so strange to think that you are done and you have a degree. That lasted about four months. Then, it is supposed to all level out for the most part. It is hard to do all these things you do, raise kids, school, work, so make sure you have a support network. People who know all the bad things about you, but love you anyway! They help to keep you on track. Just do everything you can do ditch the depression and go forward, just try to organize and plan ahead, making time for you too!

WOW - Kudos to you!! sm [2008-01-23]
I thought it was rough working a full time job, MT part time nights, kids and practices but to throw school in on top (although I look at the local college classes all the time and think I really should go back). YOU have given me inspiration and encouragement. Ideas you have posted will go into effect in my household immediately. You are so blessed - thank you!

Do you have children? [2008-01-10]
Since you are on the WAHM board, I guess you have kids. That makes it even more difficult. I am sorry your husband is not more supportive, some of us have been there or know someone who has. If you are going back to your job and have kids, time will be tight. I hope you find someone who would give you a few hours once in awhile. Keep all your stuff and don't give up on it. Come on this board, check all the new terms, etc., stay in touch and some day perhaps you will fool your husband and shine as an MT. Good luck to you. I hope you keep up your skills in MT, don't be discouraged, you can do it. If you have the courses behind you, perhaps some local doc may love to have you transcribe a few hours per diem

Chin up SM [2008-01-10]
Keep trying for a learning position with your local hospital or doctor's office. Perhaps even a physical therapy department. Once you have some experience, you can choose your company!

I'm getting another job too, but... [2008-01-03]
I still plan to do transcription part-time. I figure if I can find a part-time night job I can avoid paying for daycare, which would be over $700 per month for both of my kids. Considering I don I don I also agree with what some others said about looking for another transcription job. You could also type up a quick letter and send it to local doctors You might just find a great job! Hope it all works out for you.

Just left the MT WAHM profession and now wonder if I made a mistake.... [2008-01-01]
I did MT for two years, working in my home. I worked for a local clinic and had a lousy, mean boss.They were transitioning to EMR and there was major pressure on us to produce like crazy, or lose your job. I had enough and quit my job, as I couldn I made 20,000 a year BEFORE taxes, with no chance to make hardly anymore. Well, I quit and took a job with city government to work for the police dept as a 9-1-1, fire and police communications operator. The job posted that it would be nights, but in the interview, I was told it would be 2p-10pm. I have a 3-year-old son. I have started looking for childcare and I got that sick feeling in my stomach about finding AFFORDABLE and good quality childcare. I feel lost, and don The daycare I like costs 130/week and right now it will be a struggle to afford until we can make more money. I feel lost---I I don

There is NOTHING wrong with sm [2007-12-21]
Having daily quiet time in the crib with some toys, whether a child sleeps or not. There is nothing wrong with setting a daily bedtime that is written in stone no matter whether or what time naps took place. It is setting limits, something you are going to be doing until your children are raised. Limits are seldom popular with kids, but they still need them. Whether you are working at home or not, you, as their mom, are entitled to a quiet time of your own each and every day. If you doncharge may come with listening to an adult tell you about what strangers are complaining about today, but it is still a break from your kids and something that feeds you as a person. I can only tell you that mine are grown now. I had rules like 8:30 bedtime until they were 12, and they got to 10:30 by the time they were in high school. It was 10:30 LIGHTS OUT and quiet. They could read or have headphones and music, that was fine, but it was about being quiet so I could sleep as I worked the end of the third shift. After a lifetime of firm rules (although very few rules) and consistent reinforcement of said rules, I got what I asked by the time they were 12 or 13 with little or no grief ever. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. My daughter is studying premed on a 3/4 scholarship, my younger son is in college for a degree in software engineering and my oldest is married. They all excel with keeping a job and are popular with their supervisors because they have a work ethic and oh my, they follow the rules and don't push the limits! Okay, so I am a proud mom.

I did very well my first year and beyond [2007-12-07]
Stay away from the companies! Try for local clinics and hospitals first. You get better feedback, more experience and better pay! I was able to work at home though I did start out doing some things in the office. It still takes time and ALOT of committment to learn, but it can be done.

I don't make much with my kids around... [2007-11-08]
Lately I I get paid 8 cents per line for clinic work (as an IC). For awhile I was making about $300 per week, but I was staying up until 4 a.m. and later a lot to do it! I only have 2 kids, one in school until 3 p.m. and one at home all day, but I just find it really hard to be productive with them around!!! I I do save money not having to pay daycare, buy work clothes, and use a ton of gas, but I really need to make some more money! I feel for you, and I know many women are able to make a good living in this profession. I I Good luck, and feel free to email me if you ever want to - even though I obviously don't have any great advice as I'm in the same boat as you!!

Classes [2007-10-15]
I guess it depends on where you are. I took a course at home through Williston College in North Dakota. I went to my local job services (unemployment office) and got the info there.Check the AAMT website for accredited courses! You donaccepted. There are a lot of fakes out there. For example, anyone that says you can take a 6-month course is full of it! Do your research, and Good Luck!

working at home. [2007-10-12]
I agree. I started working at home 24 years ago and wouldm't give it up for nothing. Now I am very blessed having 2 private accounts, one is very major. My daughter now works so I have to take her to work in the morning and my husband who is disabled picks her up in the afternoon. For a short time I worked at a local hospital for training, it was worth it. Now I sometimes lay down in the morning for a nap and then back to work. It helps. My husband is very helpful, does some of my printing.

I've been trying to figure that out too... [2007-10-11]
I guess this is a kind of an old post, but hopefully you I work as an IC for a smallMTSO making 8 cents per 65-character line, and I really like the company, but I really need to make more money. I am doing some work for a local counselor and am charging her 10 cents per 65-character line. I would really like to make 12 cents per line as well, but 10 cents for psych reports is actually paying pretty well. I got a call from a local nurse practitioner Her office manager said she paid the last lady 8 cents per line, but I From my own rough estimate, 8 cents per gross line is equal to about 12 to 13 cents per 65-character line for the clinic reports that I I think they are calling me next week, so I will let you know what happens. I guess they are very unhappy with their current Transcriptionist - she is backed up to June, and she has a 7-day turnaround time that she can I could definitely make their lives waaaay easier if they are willing to pay me a fair amount. Iknow I'm worth it! Anyway, I think you need to take a lot of things into account, i.e., do you have to use your own paper and ink, do you have to drive far to pick up tapes every day or every other day, what kind of turnaround time do they want? I would be willing to charge a little less if I didn I would say just make sure you have a great resume that emphasizes professionalism and skill, and prove to them you are definitelyworth a decent wage! The docs also need to realize thatif you are an IC they do not have to pay taxes on you, so that also saves them money. Imake sure to give them a copy of my IndependentContractorI am legal.I hope some other people reply because I would really like to see what people with a lot of experience have to say about this. Sorry for the extremely long reply btw!

What should I be charging? [2007-09-21]
I have my own transcription business (which only consists of me)and I My current job pays me $5.00/page. I would like to charge cpl because that is usually how it is done. I sent out a few resumes and said I was charging $.12 per line. I am going to be sending out a lot more and would like some advice if I I live in a community where the average house costs about $300,000. Does anybody have any advice? Should I keep it at $.12 per line or go a little lower? I have been working for 3-1/2 years and I have not attended any formal training. I If I pick up another job, I Right now, since I have to stay home with my kids, this is what I opted to do. I was fortunate enough to have my chiropractor hire me with no experience. She has been very happy with my work and I Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

Depending on what state you live in [2007-09-10]
you can check to see if your state offers subsidized child care. For instance, I live in the IL and there is a subsidy that you can apply for. I would start with your local county web site and look under family or child welfare. If you can find anything there call the county courthouse to be directed to the proper agency. Go to www.ywca.org to see if they can hook you up with a list of child care providers. They offer that here in the Chicago area. It is a list of child care resources where the providers have beenscreened for having alicensewhich includes a background check, etc. The list will also tell you which ones accept the IL state subsidy for child care. Iweb site but there iswww.singlemom.com which may offer some other insight. If your interested in attending a college, community or otherwise, that may offer a connection for you with other student moms where you take turns watching each others kids while one person goes to work or class or studies, gets out for a while, etc. There are grants and loans to be had a college that will help short term. When you find work and file taxes, don This was a big help to me because I put it aside to be used for the next year You can also file the cost of your child care on taxes. Lastly,the law is on your side for supportmoney. Check with your local bar association to see if they can recommend a pro bono lawyer or legal clinic that might help suck somemoney out of the good for nothing...well you get the picture. Good luck, been there done that...

Get ready [2007-09-09]
My daughter just turned 16 and got her actual license. It has been just her and myself since she was born and it has been very hard. She took driver's education, which was a joke here, I think she got a total of about 3 hours driving time and had to do all the work on the computer. Ended up taking her to the DL examiner to pass her test because I made her spend the rest of the summer driving me everywhere I went. The hardest part was when she went back to school (junior this year) and is driving herself - turning her loose, without me in the front seat beside her has to be the hardest thing I have had to do so far, but she has proven to be very good at it and is managing fine. Next it will be college and I really do not know what I will do, working at home do not have many friends and she has pretty much been my life. Anyway, I put her in God's hand when I sent her out the door the first day by herself and he is doing an awesom job of watching over her.