Medical Transcription Courses:
The First Step in Your Medical Transcription Career

How fast can you type "anterior cruciate ligament"? That's how fast it'll take you to decide to take a medical transcription course and switch to a career in the health care industry.

Imagine a new career where you are constantly learning about health issues, new medical procedures and new biotech equipment. As a transcriptionist, you will be working in the dynamic and growing field of health care. Medical transcription careers are expected to grow faster than most occupations for the next five to ten years, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

"A" is for Accuracy

Medical transcriptionists listen to and transcribe recordings made by doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. Transcriptionists need to have knowledge of anatomy, medical language and treatment assessments. They generally always have a stack of medical reference books handy to look up words that might not be clear.

Accuracy is everything in this profession because the transcribed reports eventually go into patients' files and become part of their medical history. Medical transcription is definitely a career for the detail-oriented.

Medical Transcription Courses

Many medical transcription courses can be completed in as little as six months. Depending on the program you choose, you will graduate with a diploma or an associate's degree.

Some programs, such as Kaplan's online medical transcription degree, also include an externship where you get real on-the-job training at a transcription company, physician's office, clinic or hospital, making you that much more qualified when entering the workforce.

Typical courses in a medical transcription program include the following:

• English grammar and composition
• Computer applications
• Medical terminology
• Pathology
• Anatomy and physiology

Medical Transcription Courses Can Lead to Work at Home (or in an Office)

Another perk to a medical transcription career is that you can work from the comfort of your own home. This is an excellent way to make money while setting your own hours. If you're looking for something part-time, many medical transcriptionists work on a per-hour basis as contractors. Or, if you want to be a full-timer with benefits, the options are still good. Medical transcriptionists usually work in comfortable settings, such as hospitals, clinics, labs or administrative offices.

So, if your fingertips can handle words like "biopsy" and "orthopedic surgery," there may be money and a career in this for you. Find medical transcription schools near you. It's a comfortable, stable job, and America's increasing health care needs means even more career opportunities for you.

Related Articles:

• Medical transcription training and job description
• Becoming a medical transcriptionist
• Interview with a medical transcriptionist