Which school should I choose? Is this right for me?
Posted By: Margaret on 2007-05-29
In Reply to:
Hi all! I've been researching this profession and would really appreciate some input from 'those in the know'!
I need to be at home with my family (long story), but my children (all 3 of 'em) are getting older and I'm in need of some 'mental stimulation'! I would like to find something that will hold my interest, keep my thinking, and requires constant learning (I like that!). I saw an article in our local paper a few months back about med trans, and it really sparked my interest! I had no idea about this profession before, but it seems like it could be my cup-o-tea.
I'm an accounting clerk by profession (if that makes any difference), so that would probably come in handy if I become an IC. Also, I've had a great deal of training with voice recognition (Dragon Speak), which I think could be of an advantage to me as I have an idea of how these program behave (and misbehave!). Also, since I was a child, my preferred reading has been medical books (....weird kid!).
I'd probably prefer something part time, and I'm not in it for 'the big bucks'! My husband has a great job and that has allowed me to stay home, but I would find it fulfilling to make some kind of financial contribution to my family.
To make a long story long.....I'm looking at a Canadian online school called CanScribe (I'm Canadian, by the way!). They seem to be very legit, with a good reputation and are recognized by the AAMT. They are kind of expensive, but it seems to me that the good ones are! I'll be receiving a 'settlement' soon, and I think investing in my education is always a good bet! However, I don't want to be foolish with my investment, and would like some input, like I said, from 'those in the know'!
Good day to you all, and thanks so much!! Margaret 
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Trying to choose a school
Hi,
I have been trying to decide on an MT school, and I am so unsure as to what I should do. What things should I be looking for in a school? Has anyone ever heard about the online programs at Brighton College, or Blackstone College? Are they any good? I want a school that will provide lots of practice dictations, what is a reasonable number of practice hours to expect? Any other input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
~Bea
Choose the best school... sm
You have experience in general transcription, but that's not the same as experience in MEDICAL transcription... Unless, of course, you typed a lot of brain surgeries and cardiac caths for the police department. *winks*
Right now for a newbie, competition is absolutely fierce for landing that first job. Don't cut corners on your education. Your 'experience' in general transcription will NOT open any doors for you, but completing an MT course from Andrews or MTEC will.
Choose a good school!
M-TEC or Andrews. Then follow their program to the letter!!! Best of luck!
If you choose your school solely because it is cheap
you will get a cheap education and pay for it over and over and over again in lost income. Many people who have chosen the crappy schools end up having to be retrained by one of the good schools before anyone will hire them. Just something to think about. It has ever been true that you get what you pay for. And don't let anyone snow you with that old lie "You get out of it what you put into it. Just work really hard and you'll get a good education." Not true with education. You can only get out of your training what is there to be gotten. If it is deficient, it doesn't matter how hard you work, your training will still be deficient. Get a part-time job to save money for one of the good schools, hold a yard sale, wait a few months while you save money, whatever, just don't waste your money and time on an inferior education.
newbie trying to choose a reputable school
Hello all,
I am trying to decide between the MT schools approved by AHDI. Does anyone have any experience with M-Tec, ExactMed, and Andrews? Any suggestions..thanks for the advice!
Why did you choose that course?
Did you do any research on transcription schools? I took on a graduate of AHP, and she didn't know 1/3 of what she needed to know just to do radiology, which is an easy specialty.
why did i choose this course
This is a complete career change for me. I was a mortgage broker for ten years, had three years of typesetting experience for a newspaper when I was young and decided it would be a good idea. Why this course - just because you had one bad experience doesn't mean the course isn't a decent course. Maybe the person was one that skimmed by on the seat of thier pants? Who knows? I've found a couple of people already that took the same course and have jobs. So I believe a lot of it has to do with your resume, wherr you post it, and what you did before school. I managed a mortgage brokerage firm and worked my way from the bottom to the top. I think I am capable of doing this. - if i can't find a job I'll just kill myself - NOT. But I can tell you this I have more constructive things to do with my life then to go around bashing other people and their choices.
i would choose another fied.
you won't have a career in this one. it is phasing out fast.
i seriously doubt in 5 years you will have much of a job, let alone a career.
go to school for something else.
many schools to choose from
from reading other messages.. PCDI is a 'no' Penn Foster.. is inexpensive.. but.. is it good???
I can't afford to go, nor is my credit score high enough for SLM.
rochelle
She is right - choose another profession
I too have been an MT for almost 20 years. These MTs schools will train you to become an excellent MT and they will be glad to take your money too. Then you are a highly trained and skilled MT. If there are no jobs, what do you do with it? It's useless.
Because of EMR and all the outsourcing that has increased since January 1 - you have old MTs with 10, 15, 20 years of experience out job searching again because they have so many years in and they do not want to change professions before retirement. It is so competitive that MTs with 2, 3, 5 years experience will not be able to move in their jobs. A brand new MT is not going to stand a chance. Don't waste your time and money.
Choose either CareerStep, M-TEC, or Andrews...all 3
I know. I accept grads from Career Step!
Why did you choose this post to voice your opinion?
It appears as if the OP was so happy about passing the test and receiving that phone call that she rushed to the computer to share her good news with the world. Would it have been so awful to just wish her luck and share her joy? I have been an MT for a year, and I still feel proud and happy each time I pass a test. It is hard for a newbie or someone with less than 2-3 years of experience to get a company to even let you test. When you then pass the test and get a phone call, that is veryexciting and makes you feel good. You could have wished her luck publicly and then sent her an email making her aware of her mistakes along with some tips. This New MTs forum is the last place on this board to post a message like yours.
Why can't some people just let others feel good about themselves?
If you choose Andrews or M-TEC, you won't need a fast track or extra training.
You also will receive, with your course, many of the books that CS students purchase on their own - the Book of Style, the Language of Medicine, better grammar books.
I graduated from CS also. And if I had it to do again, I'd choose Andrews or M-TEC.
Whichever you choose, you might find one on www.half.com. Great spot for books! nm
s
This all sounds nice, but newbies have to choose MTSOs wisely and this one is not a wise choice.
me, I will explain.
Agree with an outside school, but I went to a business & tech school. Great experience, better
s
You CAN get a job at home, right out of school, but it has to be a GOOD school.
You should enroll in Andrews School or M-TEC. I know you don't want to spend more money, but at least you WILL be able to get a job. If you thought At Home Professions was a good course, you will be totally amazed at what you DIDN'T learn in that course that you WILL learn at the two good schools. There is no "required" curriculum for MT, anybody can open up a school, charge what they want, and teach what they want. Companies will waive the 2-years' experience requirement for graduates of Andrews School and M-TEC, but NOT for the other schools.
School?
Has anyone graduated from Thomson Education Direct and got hired anywhere?
Just wondering about choosing the right school for medical transcription course.
MT school
I attend the Andrews School. It has a very good reputation among national services--some will even waive the minimum 2-year experience requirement and allow you to test for them if you are an Andrews graduate. I have heard good things about M-Tec as well. I would suggest that you contact hospitals, nationals, etc. that you might want to work for and ask them which schools they suggest as far as turning out job-ready graduates. Good luck!
$ for MT school
No, I don't. We have debt out of our ears but you can make payments or charge it or whatever it takes. I've always had to spend money to make money. I just want to make sure I can make it back fairly soon. When I do the math it seems like you have to be pretty darn fast at transcription to earn a living. I admire the people out there doing it!
School and $$$
Hey, sorry about your ankle. Sounds like this could be a perfect time to study for MT. I'm sure I saw scholarship information that was based on financial need on one of the "3" schools...Andrews, MTEC or Career Step. Go to their websites and see! All the best to you! 
What to look for in a school
There are three things to look at in choosing a school and neither of them is money.
The first is whether national services already hire their grads and keep them longer than 6 months.
The second is what percentage of the grads score adequately on the employer's test.
The third is how many students complete the course with a grade of 95% or better on the first try.
Even if an employer is willing to hire from a school, if few grads pass his test and qualify to be hired, then the school isn't so hot. If the employer hires, but the grads can't keep the job for even 6 months, then the school isn't so hot. If the school has a high drop-out rate and many students (sometimes "most") don't make it to graduation, then the school isn't so hot. If it takes students several tries to pass, then the school isn't so hot.
You can see that just examining whether an employer will hire a grad isn't such a good measure. You also have to look at how many students get to graduation, how they got there, how many of them passed the test, and how many of those didn't get fired or quit in frustration.
You want a school whose grads are almost uniformly hired by nationals and which graduates nearly all students (all have drops, but you want a low level of those) on the first try.
Considering all that, you have two options: M-Tec and Andrews. And Andrews has a pre-admission test you'll need to pass to get in.
In your case, you should not go for a school which will allow you to skip any courses. You don't know anatomy and terminology like you'll need it for MT--what you know is what you need for billing, and that is different. Unless you hold a PhD in anatomy, you need to refresh your memory. Any school that lets you get away with not doing that does not have your best interests in mind.
School
I recently graduated from Thomson Education Direct. Recently changed to Penn Foster.... I made 49.00 month payments with no interest. Is a good school!
yes, I'm still in school ..... nm
zz
Still in school????
I assumed from your post you were a recent graduate.
school
I agree.....Accept a challenge to succeed.
School
Education Direct,,,now called Penn Foster.
Great School!
School
HHHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMM! I just graduated and landed a job within one week.!!!!
School
Are you stocking me? Your a stress ball!
Is school a must?
I have been an administrative assistant for 8 + years and I will be graduating from my Medical Office Specialist/Billing and Coding class in May. Do I absolutely have to go to school to become an MT or can I just test to get a job? Any responses will be greatly appreciated.
Shona`
re: Is school a must?
Yes! Have you mastered anatomy and physiology? Do you know pharmacology? Can you know medical abbreviations? Can you decipher various dialects of providers well enough to produce a medicolegal document? How about the body systems, brain functioning, neurology, endocrinology, cardiology, orthopedics, pulmonology, etc., operative techniques? Medical terminology of all the above specialities, plus more, then if your answer is yes, then test away. Transcription is a labor intensive occupation that requires medical knowledge, dedication, and accuracy.
Is school a must?
If you are really good at learning from a book and feel like you lack experience in just a few areas, then study that way. I got a little training but mostly I was self taught. I knew what I wanted and studied from books and listened to any dictations I could find. The hardest part is getting your foot in the door. I put applications in everywhere and was lucky to have a small MTSO let me show them what I was capable of though. If you have the extra money for the schooling, then go for it. I dont believe that it's a must though.
Good luck!
What school did you go to?
They should be able to help you, if the school was any good. If not, then you need more education from a better school.
school
I graduated from Career Step recently and I felt they thoroughly educated me on just about everything i needed to know. I took the online course and it took me about 9 months to finish.
School
NC Newbie -- what school did you attend? I assume you're from North Carolina, and so am I. Since I have done acute medical transcription years ago, I am in the process of trying to find a school for refresher courses. A lot of medical stays the same, but there are a lot of new procedures, drugs, etc.
Perhaps your school? (sm)
I would first check with your school for assistance. Many schools will offer some type of program to help get you pointed in the right direction.
If you went to one of the top three I know for sure that they offer assistance in this area.
Get your school to help you.
Your school knows which ones of the employers really like graduates of the school you attended. They know where they have been successful. If they have no employers clamoring to hire their graduates, you've got a problem. That means the employers have seen what their graduates can do and they don't like it.
Then you may have to work in a doctor's office. The pay isn't good, there are rarely opportunities for pay increases, but at least it's something.
I hope the first scenario describes you. Good luck with your new career!
The School you went to?
Career Step. I've heard of this school before, but like you I am still in the researching process for the best place to take the on-line course. How expensive was this course? Can you email me your answer. Thanks
My email address is: louisem@cinci.rr.com
Thanks again. Awaiting your response.
Where did you go to school?
Many comapnies will waive that 2-year requirement if you attended a school with a solid reputation of producing work-ready grads. Again, you get what you pay for.
school
I wouldn't go by one person's opinion. I am going through that program and I think it is good. It is very detailed and they teach about everything. They didn't even say what they sent the 14yr old there for anyway, maybe that particular course was bad.
The best school for you
In the MT world you will hear people talk about the Top Three. That would be Andrews, MTec, and Career Step. These are all good. The best school is the one that is going to be the most comfortable fit for you, and you will find that out by visiting their websites and forums. Like everything else in life, cost may be the determining factor. All three of these "top three" schools are good and their courses are very comprehensive, so you will have tons of work to do whichever one you choose. Be sure to choose a program which will help you find a job. It is surprising how many people enroll in courses which do not offer them any assistance at all. Courses also vary in length and instructional methods, so you'll have to decide how much time you can spend studying each day. Good luck!
Best school
A good school to look at is Janet Stiles electronically taught transcription. You can get more info at www.settinc.com
Best school
I took Career Step and it was great. I graduated within 7 months with high honors and I got a job in less than a week. If you go directly through careerstep.com you will only pay about $1350. Yeah, it sounds like a lot of money, but it's not when you actually see how much experience you get from just taking the course. I got a job that was looking for 2 years of experience.
Anyone know anything about CAI School?...sm
I have a friend who is finishing up the course and wondering if anyone here has graduated from this school. I don't really see anything here about them.
TIA!
school
I graduated from the Virtual Learning Center.
just got into school!
OK, I've been lurking around this board since 2004 can you believe it and just now started a program! I was registered in '04 but dropped it due to financial and health issues, I start EvCC's program in Spring (community college program that is linked with Career Step). Thank you everyone for all your info that has helped me make an informed choice.
school
Just wondering if anyone can give me advice on going to school for mt. Do you think an at home program is okay?
School
I went through Career Step. I loved it. I graduated with Honors in Feb. 2007 and have a job already. I would recommend it to anyone. At least have her contact the school with questions. Good Luck.
Which school
Thanks folks! Hope to hear from more of you! Just read that CanScribe is the Canadian extension of Career Step. Margaret
And you went to school where? (nm)
.
School
I did a transcription course at home. (At-Home Professions.
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