Medical Transcription Training is the First Step Toward Your New Career

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. 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.

Many medical transcription training 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 also include an externship where you get 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 medical transcription training includes the following courses:

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

One 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 and set 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—you can work in comfortable settings, such as hospitals, clinics, labs or administrative offices.