Associate degree in medical transcription and your career prospects

If you're looking for a fast paced job that requires attention to detail, consider enrolling in an online associate degree in medical transcription program. You could enjoy the the benefits of a traditional classroom at home and a satisfying career waiting after you graduate.

Your main responsibility as a medical transcriptionist would be to carefully listen to a recording of a doctor's dictated notes and type them out. You would listen with headphones and use a foot pedal that's tied to the audio device. Medical transcription is a unique medical occupation, as you won't likely see a patient or even talk much to the physician you are transcribing for.

Medical transcription is a constantly evolving career. Many transcriptionists work from home and receive and submit their work online. Some are even overseas. This is another positive reason to move your education online, as it would be an excellent leg-up on the competition.

Another good reason to consider an associate degree in medical transcription is that the medical field is one of the fastest growing in the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 10 of the 20 fastest growing occupations are in health care.

Transcriptionist career details

After graduating with your associate degree in medical transcription and becoming certified, you could work in a:

Small office
Hospital
Doctor's office
Or your own dining room

According to the BLS's 2008 to 2018 employment projections, the medical transcription workforce should grow by 11 percent, which is about average for all jobs. In May 2009, the median annual salary for medical transcriptionists was $32,600.

Your voluntary certification would come from the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs. The ACCP offers two different certifications: Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) and Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT). You would likely test for your RMT first, as it is for recent graduates with less than two years experience. CMT is for transcriptionists with two or more years of experience. Once you have your RMT, you can enroll in the Registered Apprenticeship Program sponsored by the Medical Transcription Industry Association. As an apprentice, you would be given plenty of on-the-job-training opportunities and further instruction on advanced medical technical instruction.

What does a medical transcription degree include?

Although not required, an associate degree in medical transcription is strongly preferred by most employers of medical transcriptionists. Most programs are housed in vocational schools or community colleges. However, if it's difficult for you to make it to campus, consider an online associate degree in medical transcription. With an online college, you would still have all of the necessary rigors of a regular program, but you would be able to set your own schedule and attend class without leaving home.

The curriculum of a two-year medical transcription degree could include:

Anatomy
Medical terminology
Health care documentation and related legal issues
English

If you're enrolled in an accredited program, you should be able to receive financial aid and scholarships just like any other college program. Add that to the convenience of an online program, and there's no reason why you can't be well on your way to an associate degree in medical transcription.