take Career Step thru San Juan Comm. College

If you have federal funding such as Veteran's, Pell grant, worker retraining, disability retraining, FAFSA, displaced homemaker, etc. - this is the way to go. Get by far the most for your $. Much better price than Everett Community College for the same program.

SJCC is self paced, just have semester deadlines, whereas EvCC has deadlines for every assignment (too demanding for my busy schedule - but some people like those deadlines because they need the push).

San Juan Comm. College in NM has the Career Step program. It's just a direct login link to the Career Step program thru the school, the school has no addditional classes required, etc. Costs about the same as Career Step gold so it might even be cheaper if you get all the features of platinum, etc., I don't know. Runs on semesters, only starts in January and August. Takes 2 semesters about 9 mos. You graduate Career Step and also get a certificate in HIT (health information technology) from SJCC. They said if you finish early you can get your Career Step graduation and then later your HIT certificate from SJCC. There is no limit of # of students who can register per each semester.

I have been researching schools a LOT for awhile and just found this one. It is not well advertised but it sounds like an awesome deal. This is the one I am going to use, it will stretch my monthly veteran's educational benefit cheque a lot further.

passed on for your benefit . . .

• take Career Step thru San Juan Comm. College - Marla Joness

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I appreciate the honesty from each of you.

My Career Step training will be done via San Juan College, in Farmington, New Mexico, and I will have live chat and e-mail support, so I am praying this will be adequate.  Also, I have some experience in the MT field; I was trained on the job some years ago.  However, I want to formalize my training, because I realize how much I don't know.

Thank you to everyone who replied.

Career Step via San Juan College is not triple the cost.  It is slightly more than enrolling directly through Career Step; you might want to check it out.

Hello,

I am interested in taking the Career Step program, but trying to decide whether to go through San Juan Comm College.  I would like to know if anyone has taken the CS course through the college and if they felt prepared.

Thanks!

Hi Allie,

I wouldn't attend that Community College from what you have said.  The CC I went to had two wonderful teachers who were semi-retired MTs.  I vaguely remember that the clerks I enrolled with knew very little.  I grew to be very impressed with the teachers over time.  A great teacher is such a blessing.

Med Workshops' staffing school did a good job for us almost 2 years ago.  I've spoken with the owner Karen over the phone.  She is bright and honest.  We moved to another school because they offered us a better deal financially.  We will probably use Med Workshops again in the future sometime.  Remember that they are like a wholesale alternative.  They probably don't have a sales staff for the "retail student". 

But, a wholesale approach doesn't mean you don't get assistance.  It means they make most of their money training students for individual employers.  Companies like this don't advertise to the public.  They contact the larger transcription companies and are looking at a different model.  They are dealing in groups to be able to cut overhead, etc. etc.  Companies like who I work for find this very appealing because a basic education is usually very similar everywhere because the same 2-3 teaching aids (books, CDs, online) are used by almost all schools. 

We are looking at teacher/mentor support for the students and also the cost of education.  We won't be able to find enough students at one time if we have to rely on a very expensive retail school- they aren't set up to satisfy our needs, but their program might be great.  Retail at $3800 or wholesale at about $2000?  For employers like mine the answer is simple.

I'm getting caught in a "25 words or less" dilemma in trying to explain this.  I feel some here will jump all over me if I don't say just the right thing.

I've been saying that, I see this wholesale or staffing school approach as the new wave in education because it solves problems for the students and the employers.  It's a win win.

I hope everyone keeps an open mind and just considers these ideas.  I'm not saying this is the only solution for everyone.  Don't hit me, I'm just a messenger.

you go back to school for your next job you will be ahead of the game. The gals with M-Tec, Andrews, etc. will have to start at the beginning, English 101 and Speech. And Jennifer, as far as the opinion that "those with 'local community college' education are sorely lacking in even the basics to be a success" - I just hired a newbie with community college training and she is outstanding! So my experience has been it doesn't matter where you went to school - if you're good, you're good and it will show on your testing

. Good luck on your job search. Search this board's archives. The question gets asked here ALL the time. It's not unusual for a newbie to have difficulty landing the first job.

i looked into Career Step and it is like $1500, does anyone really have that kind of cash to lay out in the beginning?

I too was trying to decide on which school to train with, when after careful research and hand wringing, decided on the Sallie Mae loan for Career Step. In my opinion, it offers more bang for your buck. From what I have gathered from the student forums and chats, there's lot's of support if you need it. The top two schools are excellent, but very, very pricey! I work full-time for the benefits and want to transcribe part-time, so I didn't want to go into heavy debt to learn MT.

Cherish

I am doing my research on MT schools.  It is between the big 3   MTEC, Andrews, and Career Step.  Does anyone know why Career Step is so much cheaper.  (1500.00 vs 3800.00)

Does that mean the other two are much better and have better chance of finding a job.

I am looking for all and any information on Career Steps.  Has anyone taken their course? Please advise me with the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Thanks a bunch!

Are there any Career Step Grads to give advice.  I am almost ready to sign on.  How long did it take you to get a job?

Thanks,

Bobbi

Is anybody satisfied with CareerStep training?  I hear alot of negative things about them....

Hi,

Does the companies that work with Career Step require you to make 98% on the employment test before they hire you?  Or do they hire right out of School.

I am trying to make up my mind if it is worth it to take another school as the one I took before was not on the list of schools with AAMT.

Thanks,

I was with them a long time ago but decided to leave. Now I attend a great school with real instructors who are CMTs and have over 20 years experience. I already have a great job lined up and they pay for my RMT and CMT exams.

Just my opinion!!

Hi,

The companies that hire Career Step grads, do you have a test to take with them that requires you to make 98% on the employment test before they hire you?

I am try to decide if it will be worth it to take another MT course, as the first one I took companies seem not to be interested in you unless you went to a aamt school that is on their list.

Thank for your input!

BMT

Thanks

How many of you got your MT training via Career Step?

After you completed your training with Career Step, did you feel adequately prepared for a work-at-home MT job?  I'd love to hear from "seasoned" transcriptionists who took Career Step training.

I've been in transcription 12 years, and my sister took this course 2 years ago.  I thought it was awesome!  They give you tons of great practice dictation to help prepare you.

M-TEC is another one that I hear is super.

Does anyone know how much the extensions are?  and how long are they?

Thanks!

My sister-in-law recently completed Career Step's course, and graduated with honors.  I've been transcribing for 20 years, just kind of fell into the business, and really have no formal training.  She took this course on my recommendation, since she was unhappy with her job.  Now, I'm kind of wishing I hadn't mentioned it to her, for these reasons:  First, they live way out in the country and the only internet service they could get was satellite.  After looking at different company's requirements, she is finding that a lot of companies will not hire a Transcriptionist who uses satellite service.  Secondly, a friend who completed the course last year told me that she tried for months to obtain employment, but couldn't until she agreed to a 3-month internship. 

So, for anyone who has completed Career Step's course, and is willing to share their experiences after graduation, I would really appreciate some input, thoughts, advice...anything that I can tell her that may help her out!  Thanks!