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Yes, you need a GOOD school ...

Posted By: Deb on 2006-10-18
In Reply to: Newbie failing test HELP!! - Barbara Tucker

the one you went to is considered a "matchbook" school. Many companies will not even let you take their test if they know you went to that school, because you were not taught the stuff you need in order to pass tests.

I recommend Andrews or M-TEC.

Good luck.


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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.
Good school
A really good course that is taught online is Janet Stiles electronically taught transcription. You can get more info at www.settinc.com
Any good school?
I was wondering whether you could recommend any good schools for coding. At this point I am looking into changing careers after being an MT for 22 years.

The handwriting is on the wall and it is time to get out of this business.

I appreciate any info.
Looking for a good school?
I just send info to your email.
Good school
I studied with the US Career
Istitute. It is a good program, kind of expensive, but they let you sign up for just $5 and pay some each month instead of all up front. The staff is teriffic about helping students.
How to identify a good MT school?

I am considering taking a course through a 4 year college near me.  It is done online using Gatlin Education Services.   Does anyone have experience with this?  Is there a way to determine if a school is a good one or not?


TIA!


Is future MT a good school?
I have put out my resume out to a couple of places but because I don't have any training I have been recommended to this school.

Thanks for your input. I love my job but would like to spend time with my baby at home and my husband works shiftwork so I would also like to spend time with him.
Your school can really help you if they have a good reputation.
If they don't have a good reputation, you've got a problem. Graduates of some of the schools are just not having the problems that some of the others are. Where you get your training matters because some schools don't know anything about medical transcription.
Not a good school. They don't teach
you enough, and most companies know it and will not let you take their employment test, because they know you probably can't pass it. Definitely a waste of money.

Check out Andrews School or M-Tec. You will definitely be glad you did.
If you school was any good, they should help you find a job. nm
x
Canscribe is a good school - associated with
x
Try a good online school -
I graduated from M-Tec in 2001, had numerous offers to test before my actual graduation, passed all the tests I took (I believe it was 4),and had a job before I even had my diploma in my hand. I have been happily employed at home doing acute care ever since! Check them out! :-)
Choose a good school!
M-TEC or Andrews. Then follow their program to the letter!!! Best of luck!
Unfortunately, it's not just a matter of whether a school is good or not.
If you want to work online, from home, most places will only waive the 2-year experience requirement for grads of Andrews, M-Tec, and Career Step. Even a wonderful, fantastic community college course, if not recognized by national employers, won't get you a job. All you will keep hearing is that they "don't hire newbies" and "require 2 years' experience" which is actually not true because they DO test AND hire grads straight from the above three schools without experience.
They are not a good school; try Andrews or M-TEC
x
I Agree About a GOOD Online School
Unfortunately, a lot of companies look at where you went to school and not what you know.  Andrews and M-Tec are great schools and are popular, and a lot of companies want graduates from those 2 schools.  I went with EvCC and received a great education but no one wanted to give me a chance because the school's not well known.  Finally, 2 places did and they realized that I know my stuff and am a hard worker.  If you're going to spend the extra money, Andrews and M-Tec are both promising. 
Is Penn Foster a good school?
I completed MT course at Penn Foster Career School and I'm having trouble finding my first job. Has anyone had experience with this school?
Career Step is also a very good school. I took their course years ago
and have been an MT for 6 years now.
A really good school won't need to have "specials" to reel in students.
Sometimes they even have a waiting list, despite being more expensive. It's because they are so much better. You get what you pay for. Check out all the desperate posts on this and other MT boards of people who saved money by choosing cheaper courses and now can't get a job.
Penn Foster isn't a good school/program. I would
suggest finding a mentoring program of find an in-house position. 
Allied is no better than At Home Professions or Penn Foster. Not a good school. NM
x
Agree with an outside school, but I went to a business & tech school. Great experience, better
s
Good. The lab book was a good choice.
Be sure you look through each book when you get it. Put tabs on sections you will want to refer to quickly. I know my lab book (not Stedman's) has all kinds of extra sections. I think my next purchase would be the cardiac book. Then neuro or OB-GYN after that, depending on which you are getting more of in your work.
that's good to know
At least there's a little hope for me
Good for you!! - nm
.
Good for you!
.
I know a good MT when I see one - regardless of
credentials, school or references. One run through the grammar screening knocks most of 'em right out of the ballpark...
good for you, 10/cpl is good
/
That is good
That is great to hear that someone else was exactly where I am now. Where did you land your first job, not the MTSO, the other one?
I do not think I am TOO GOOD.
companies that pay these low wages are taking advantage of new MTs that don't know their value yet. The MTs that received this offer had all spent thousands of dollars and a lot of time learning to become an MT. I just don't know why anyone would sell themselves short for 5 cpl ($10 an hour is generous by the way as most new MTs won't get to 200 lph). As I said, there are companies out there that pay better. If you are trying to help, steer the newbies to these companies, not the companies that have a reputation for not respecting their MTs. If you take the time, do your research, and graduate from a good school, you should have no problem finding a good job. I had 4 offers before I even got my final score. My first company paid 7 cpl and after 6 months, I took on my own client making just about double that.
good to know!! Thank you!
good to know!! Thank you!
Good For You!

My late Mother did the same thing.  We didn't do homeschooling, but she did it all and did it exceptionally well.  She was brilliant but never acted like it.  She was a taxi to more than the 6 kids in our family.  She taught piano, voice, directed the church choir, wrote plays (we were in them), was busy in RNC fund-raising, and on and on. 


We just called her "Mother."


So good luck to you.  It really warms my heart to hear stories like yours.  As for the MT thing, it sounds like you could teach yourself.  That's what I did.


Good luck!

Appy anywhere and everywhere.  There are a lot of companies who say they require at least 2 years experience, but you would be surprised at how many will give someone who has just graduated a chance.  If you pass their test they will hire you, 2 years or not.  I know from experience.  I graduated last year and I applied to every ad that had a 2 year minimum, before I graduated. I got hired 1 week before I graduated, and I have been working ever since.  Good Luck!     


Nothing is good for a newbie.
Ya, I think I won't take the job because it may be a little difficult. That's real smart.
I have not heard anything good about it.
If you are looking for a quality MT education, the gold standard training comes from Andrews and M-Tec. Some graduates of Career Step have had good luck in finding and keeping employment also. The top schools turn out job-ready MTs. Employers are eager to hire them. The cheaper schools do not turn out graduates that employers are eager to hire.
What do you consider a good living?

I'm thinking of work from my house instead of the office, changing careers.


a good living
Sounds like you are quite successful. Please share with me what is involved in actually earning this level of income. Have you been at it for a long time? How many hours/week do you work? Thanks. I'm strongly considering MT but I hear such variables on the pay.
good point

Knowing that pay=production can be a great motivator, especially if you are working for a company that provides consistent work flow and good HR relations.


Thanks for your input.


Good point!
Peggy, what excellent advice! I had not heard it put that way, and after thinking about it, I know you're right! thanks for opening my eyes to think "bigger".... better to be excellent, and more "employable", than to be somewhat limiting. I do plan to study in such a way as to be excellent! That's just the way I'm "built"! :) thanks again for your post.... -Anne (amh) :)
This is a good start for you (sm)
In light of the fact that you are new, this is an excellent rate of pay with a reasonable (generous, really) production requirement, even though you may not be able to meet it at first.

Add 20-25% to it for the benefits and you'll be making more on the lines of $13.08. As an on-site employee you will not have to pay self-employment tax or overhead.

When people scoff at this rate of pay, remember that everyone starting out in a new career field starts at the bottom. You have to work your way up. As an MT, your value lies in your ability to produce quantity work while maintaining high quality. Newbies aren't able to produce much while maintaining quality.

The incentive pay makes this better, and if it has good benefits, then you're doing well.

The most important thing about this job is that it will give you experience. You NEED that experience. If you can get it while being paid hourly, so much the better.

Unless someone scoffing at this can produce a job for you which pays better, do not listen to them.

If you do not have a job and you need a job, you are in no position to be turning one down because it doesn't pay top dollar. Take this job and do your best with it.




Yes, this is still a good field!

Hey Porr - Welcome!  First of all, you have come one of the most negative MT sites on the internet.  If you are easily discouraged or depressed, I would advise you NOT to come to this site.  I have been an MT for over 30 years and every time I come to this board, I leave so dejected, I wonder if I have wasted my life doing MT.  I have finally realized that this board drags me down, so I don't come here very often.  The people who do come on here legitimately, come to relieve their frustrations, get advice, vent about work situations, etc.... we are not all this stressed out all the time   But there are a lot of really good people on here, too, and you can get a lot of valuable knowledge, you just have to learn who the "trolls" are and ignore them (easier said than done at times!)  The MT world is undergoing a lot of changes these days.  A lot of work is being sent offshore and now they have the voice recognition platform that they are working on.  The nationals make you feel very unappreciated, but I have worked for doctors, hospitals, clinics and had my own service for a while, and there are a lot of people out there who will appreciate your skills, just not the large nationals.  Stay away from them until you are more seasoned, then, if you feel like tackling one of them, I say go for it.  They have their negatives, but you will gain valuable knowledge and you will be able to get a job just about anywhere with one of the nationals on your resume. 


This is a great field, just keep your nose to the grindstone and stay away from negative websites ().  Do not let the comments you read here sway you one way or the other.  I find this to be a personally rewarding field to work in.  I hope that you do, too!  Hang in there and don't give up! 


Good luck!

You can't give up hope if this is the field you want to work in.  I had been doing my job for 17 years and needed something new.  I did a lot of research and liked the opportunites that being an MT provided.  I'm sure it would not be for everybody, but I love what I do and have great docs to transcribe for.  Plus, perhaps more important, it is an ongoing learning process.  I like to stay challenged and this job certainly does that.  Good luck to you!! 


Good point..lol
nm
another good response!!!
nm
Good schools??

How do you determine what is a good reputable school and which one is a waste of money & time?


Thank you!


The Good Schools
Andrews and M-Tec. Career Step is also considered to be a good school. Andrews and M-Tec are the gold standard, the Harvard and Yale, of MT training. Their graduates have no difficulty finding work because employers know those schools turn out job-ready MTs.
It has good advice.
Good luck!
Is this a good field to go into?

Does this line of work have a future?  Is it a good field to go into?  I welcome your opinions.


Good News
Finally, some good news for a change!!
That is pretty good.
That is a lot better than what I am making. I am making only 3.0 cents per line independent contractor status, which is ridiculous. This should be a crime to pay an MT this low of a rate. I am currently in the process of looking for a new job.
Is this a good start
I've heard Sten-Tel is a good starting company, is that true? I need to gain experience. I recently finished up an internship, but need 1-2 yr experience to be able to work in clinics or hospitals in my area. So I thought if I could work online at home PT or FT(I need to make around $400/mo to pay all my bills) for a year, then I could start applying again at the hospitals... anyone have any good leads?