best on-line courses?

Hi all,

I'd like to take an on-line MT course; can anyone recommend one over any others? I plan on doing an internship for experience when I'm done for a while so I can get an actual paid position. How hard will it be to start working from home as I have a 20 month old that I want to stay at home with.

Thanks!

• best on-line courses? - Kirsten
  • Career Step is the most widely endorsed! - I have found in going
    • Tiers? - Kirsten
  • Realistically - Misha
    • thanks for suggestions - KirstenKirsten
      • Schools - noname
        • schools - Wondering
          • Definitely, go for CS. Don't waste your - happycamper

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community college courses/programs are created equally. 

I respectfully disagree with you about community college graduates receiving a sub-par education.  Some maybe, but definitely not all.

I attended an EXCELLENT program at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon.  The program director is a CMT.  We had 2 semesters of medical terminology, 2 semesters of anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, a medical calculations class, a medical ethics class, 3 semesters of medical coding, 5 semesters of medical transcription (we transcribed the beginning and advanced SUM tapes two times each), business communication (intense grammar course), a 360-hour externship at a local hospital or MT service, along with all of the general education courses needed to receive an associate's degree.

So, while some CC programs may not put out qualified transcriptionists, others do an excellent job of preparing their students to succeed.  I tested with and was hired by Medquist the month before I graduated, and I started the Monday after graduation.  Granted I was a newbie and was slow and made some silly mistakes (as all newbies do), but I had a solid education, which made a huge difference.

So if you are trying to decide which program to attend, make sure you do your homework (whether you are choosing a home correspondence course or choosing to attend a community college program).  Find out what classes are taught, which transcription tapes they use, whether or not they help with job placement, who is running their program, etc.  Knowledge is power! :)  Good luck to all of you who are struggling with this important decision.

Warmly,

Chickadee

Some, not all, seasoned MTs are not very helpful.  They can be very discouraging and try to convince new MTs that unless they get their training from some expensive school like M-Tec or the Andrews School that they won't find a job; I wanted to train with one of the aforementioned schools but just could not afford it.  Most of my MT training was on the job.  In later years, I took a Medical Terminology course.  Currently, I am enrolled in a formal training program, because I would like to become an RMT and eventually a CMT.  This is how I found a recent MT job:  1) posted my resume on MT daily; 2) posted my resume on Transcription Matters; 3) company contacted me and made me an offer without my even testing with them; all this occurred within little over a week's time.   I only have 4 solid years of MT experience (specializing in Urology, Rehabilitative Medicine, and Psychiatry).  Hallejulah!

Hi everyone,

I really need some advice. I've looked into all sorts of different MT training courses - all I want (and need in the amazing job market in which I live) is a basic course to learn Medical Terminology and basic MT skills.

With this in mind - would taking a course like Stratford Career Institute's course, or ICS Canada's course help me get an entry level MT job? From there, would I be able to train on the job and take additional courses to gain more skills?

I am fortunate to live in a market where there are too many of these jobs and not enough workers. I even heard from one person that with just Medical Terminology you can sometimes get an MT job.

But, I thought at least one of these courses would teach me the very basics. Opinions?

Thanks,

Christina

8th grade education, which should tell you they aren't that great right there.  My teen son took one of their courses (not MT).  It was very poorly written, if you flunk a test you can take it again and they will pass you, even if you flunk it again.  There were lots of errors in it too. 

I would look into a different program to take or try to find a menitoring program.  It is difficult for people who have gone to some of the better schools to get jobs.  Penn Foster does not have a good reputation so it will be much more difficult for you to get a job.  I would try to find something local where you could work in-house for at least 2 years to get some experience.   

are usually able to get jobs without 2 years of experience that is normally required.  Is if worth it?  Do you have small children, a husband, do you want a social life - then no it isn't worth it.  If you just want to do this PT, in addition to a FT job, it might be okay for a short time, but it gets harder and harder to make a living as an MT.  A lot of companies use offshore MTs, they get the good work and the crap gets left for us, or it all goes and we get stuck editing it for pennies and you end up working for minimum wage.  You'll also burn out in a short time trying to do both. 

if there is just you and you don't care to have a life then it would be okay and if you have a knack for it you can make some decent money.  If you are a respiratory tech in a hospital talk to people in your department.  Maybe you can start out doing work-related transcription without having to go to school and you can get a small taste of what it is like to see if you really want to pursue it. 

The VLC has had numerous complaints against them and people demanding refunds.  I was in a position to KNOW that people that couldn't get jobs because they couldn't pass MT employment tests after the VLC course.  How is that being immature?  Evidently, you're one of the VLC reps lurking on the boards so you can jump in and refer your school.  Otherwise, you wouldn't be taking it so personally.

Can someone please help me with the whole line count, WPM, total dollars concept. I'm trying to figure out my potential income doing MT. I know there are a range of answers but there must be some averages. I would be brand new at MT. What's your best guess of amount of work in say a 6 hour/day schedule? After 6 months experience? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi! I got offer of 7.5 cents per gross line. No idea is it better than 7.5 cents per line including spaces? Please advise!

Yes, at 6 or 7 cents a line, that is strictly training wages.  Don't settle for anything like that, especially if you have experience and you know you are good at what you do.  These companies make anywhere from 14.5 cents on up for the work they receive throughout outsourcing so, in essence, whatever you make, they make, except you are the one doing all of the work, paying for your phone line/internet, etc.

If they only want to pay 6 or 7 cents a line, let them get new grads or someone with no experience, that way they will get what they pay for.

Where I work the line count is 6000 lines a week, 40 hours.  I do not think it matters how much experience you have as to what your line count is.  Company's have a set amount no matter what your experience.

Where I work the line count is 6000 lines a week, 40 hours.  I do not think it matters how much experience you have as to what your line count is.  Company's have a set amount no matter what your experience.

I am in need of a new line count program.  My (old) original is on a floppy disk and I no longer have floppy access.  What is a good/reliable program to use?

Has anyone heard about Med-Line school? Has anyone heard good/bad things about? Anyone go there? What were your experiences like? They are AHDI approved and provide a paid internship, and so far there program appeals to me - but I'm just wondering whether employers will hire folks who studied there - and equally important - whether Med-Line adequately prepares students for MT.

I realize that Andrews and MTech are the two top schools - but I'd like to keep my options open before committing.

Thank you!

Dorland's has a wonderful on-line dictionary for those who cannot afford their own. I use it all the time, even tho I have my own; it's just easier to click to a website!

Here is the link.  Either click or copy and paste in your web browser:

http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands.jspzQzpgzEzzSzppdocszSzuszSzcommonzSzdorlandszSzdorlandzSzdmd_a-b_00zPzhtm