Getting Certified

Check local and online colleges, as well as, business schools to find a program to get certified.

Length

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, you can either obtain an associate's degree to get certified, which would take approximately two years, or obtain a certificate, which takes one year.

Reasoning

Certification helps set you apart from other job seekers. Health care employers may require you to have first-rate knowledge of medical terminology, diagnostic studies, anatomy and laboratory test. A misspelled word, or an incorrect abbreviation, as it pertains to a patient can result in illness or even death.

Other certifications

Yes, according to the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI), the following other certifications are offered: If you have two years or more working experience in acute care, you can take an exam to obtain a certified medical transcriptionist (CMT) certificate. If you have less than two years' working experience in acute care, you can obtain a registered medical transcriptionist (RMT) certificate.

Eligibility

The medical transcriptionist certificate is obtainable for anyone who is interested in this field of study and fulfills all of the necessary requirements.

Source:

Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Transcriptionists

More Information:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics