Best Medical Transcription Program?

[Satori1977]

I would like some opinions from people who are either currently completing med transcription through Career Step or Andrews, or have already finished the course and are working. I have been looking into this field for years and been trying to save up the money to enrol at M-Tec. It fit my needs and I felt it was the best program. But they were sold recently, they have a new president, and have made some major changes. The price has gone up $1500 (now is almost $5000 total), and I cannot justify it. Plus, time for completion is now set at 9 months, half of what it was. After speaking with people who did that program, I don't see how it is possible to work, raise kids, and do that. So I am now trying to find another equally good program, and was told that Andrews and CS were the best. I would like to know how they compare with M-Tec. Were you adequately prepared to enter the field and work from home? Many companies have a 2 year experience required, but I knew with testing they would waive that most of the time for M-Tec students....is it the same for those two schools? Do they not only teach you med term and transcription, but also technology to help you work faster and more efficiently? (Like word expander?)

Anything else anyone can tell me (good or bad) about these schools would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Nicole

[krrbrr]

Check out the information posted in another thread here http://www.wahm.com/forum/transcript...e-classes.html ftcc is literally the same classes as Career Step for only a fraction of the cost!! I'm enrolled and will begin classes in October hope you will join me!

[MTHome]

Andrews is the best course, IMO, having done QA on new MTs from both schools.

[DixieChickn]

Hi, I just graduated with Honors from Career Step. I thought it was a great program, and feel very prepared for working at home! I have been offered a job already (I graduated less than 2 months ago) but have not been able to start yet due to operating system incompatibility and am waiting to get a computer from my stepmom. Yes, companies will waive the experience requirements for Career Step graduates if you do well on their company tests. It helps if you receive honors or high honors on your final exam at Career Step (90% or above) but you get 3 chances to take your final exam to try for higher scores if you do not get honors. And you CAN still find a job without receiving honors, because I know people who have, but it does help to get it.

CS teaches you computer technology (briefly), keyboarding (you can test out of this if you type more than 80wpm), grammar, medical terminology, anatomy and disease, pharmacology, medical specialties, productivity (word expanders and how to track your productivity), and has 800 reports to transcribe in multi-specialty clinics and acute care, dictated by real doctors, which is why CS is looked so highly on. My stepgrandma was working for a very large MT company when I first looked at CS, and she said they, and many other large companies, recommend CS over any other school, and will hire new graduates from CS. That is why I chose CS.

Their tuition has gone up since I first looked at them a few years ago, but it wasn't unreasonable. You can also apply for a scholarship. All I had to do was write an essay on why I want to be an MT and I got a 20% scholarship. You can pay for platinum enrollment and receive help finding a job after graduation, but I didn't, and personally I feel I have gotten adequate help without platinum enrollment in finding a job, and don't really recommend paying the extra couple hundred for it. After you graduate, they have a program called Placement Direct, which gives you a very long list of companies to apply at, and a place to keep a list of companies you have applied at and add updates to it as you hear from each company. Also, on the forums there is a graduates section, and everyone is so helpful to each other in finding jobs and letting each other know which companies are hiring.

I would highly recommend CS to anyone wanting to be an MT. One word of warning, they just changed a rule about taking your final exam. Now, in order to take your final exam you have to have completed every report with a passing grade (85% or higher) to be allowed to take your final exam. I did not complete all the reports, but took my exam before they changed this rule. They say that people will not pass if they do not complete the course, although I have talked to others who skipped a lot too. But I wouldn't recommend skipping stuff anyway, it was just that I was running out of time, it took longer than I expected because of things that have happened over the past year (you are allowed a year to complete the program) and I didn't want to ask my dad to pay for an extension for me. I was doing well enough that I felt I could pass the exam, and I did on my second try with honors, and took it a 3rd time just to see if I could get a higher score (will have my results tomorrow).

I hope this has helped some! Good luck on your path to being an MT!

[Satori1977]

Thanks, that has been a big help.

[kyliebug]

All I can tell you is that I enrolled at M-Tec and then life got in the way. They gave me 18 months to complete the course, and I did finish in time. I was going to get an extension, but they said I did not qualify, so they offered me re-enrollment. The re-enrollment cost was the same as what I paid when I started! Now they have jacked the price up to almost $5,000 which is rididculous. If I could go back and change it, I would go with Career Step now. I wish I hadn't thought it was just a better program because it was the most expensive!

[kygranny]

I agree that Andrews is considered the best MT program, but the cost kept me from taking it. I found the thread here about Fayetteville Technical Community College offering Career Step for a considerable discount. I was skeptical at first. But, I enrolled and I am so glad I did. It's a great program. Be sure to check out the FTCC thread before you decide.

[luvzminis]

One thing to consider is that you have to be a very independent worker and plan on quite an extensive course. Ideally, you are fresh out of school, have no kids, and have a lot of time to complete the work. Of course, you can always buy extensions, but they do cost money. Be aware there are forum posts in which people regret starting the program because it is not what they thought it would be. It will likely take a lot more work than one thinks, It's a plus if you are flexible, and also if you have some indepth knowledge of computer software and programs. Too many people think it's like sitting down at a typewriter, typing, and you're done. Much more to it than that! Brush up on your study skills, and plan on it taking longer than you thought. I thought I would be done in 9 months max, and it has taken me nearly 2 years and 2 extensions.

[JulieW8]

As noted by someone else, Career Step sells rights to others to use their curriculum and some of those are less expensive than Career Step. Check the AHDI web site and find out what other schools are approved.

Only time will tell if the new owners of M-TEC will see positive or negative effects from the changes they've made.

If you can't afford Andrews or M-TEC, Career Step is a good choice.

[peter velle]

Hi,

All I know that the course which provide job immediately with a good payment is good. I found a lot of institute providing transcription course to make them more efficient and they feel different all together as compare to the others.
Also, now-a-days company generally looking for certified transcriptionists.

So, just search an institute providing certified course, get enroll with and come up with a bright future in transcription field.

Thanks