Medical Transcription

Becoming a Medical transcriptionist can be a flexible job that offers the possibility of working in a structured office environment or from home. A Medical Transcriptionist translates recorded dictation from physicians into written reports.

There are no formal requirements for this job other than a high school diploma. However, certification training can make you a more competitive candidate.

The majority of your time is spent listening to doctors’ dictation and transcribing that information into written form. 45 words per minute allows you to transcribe quickly and accurately. You can practice and test your typing speed on typing websites.

Earn a Certificate in medical transcription. Anything more than a high school diploma is not required to become a medical transcriptionist, however, further education in medical transcription will help you learn the medical terminology that is part of the job, and give you a competitive edge in the job market.

There are two certifications available to medical transcriptionists: Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) and Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS). Both exams are offered online.

One of the benefits of becoming a medical transcriptionist is that many physicians and hospitals will allow you to work from home. This option will give you the most flexibility. You’ll need a good computer, internet, transcription software and a foot pedal to start and stop the recordings you are transcribing without having to lift your hands off the keyboard.