Important Facts About This Occupation
| Prerequisites | CPR certification required for most programs, high school diploma or GED |
| Key Skills | Organization, detail oriented, communication skills, computer skills |
| Possible Careers | Medical transcriptionist, ambulance dispatch services, medical/hospital billing |
| Degree Fields | Medical language specialist, medical transcription |
| Median Salary (2021) | $34,220 |
| Job Growth (2021-2031) | 7% decline |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
GateWay offers an Associate in Applied Science in Medical Transcription as an online program. Students use industry-current equipment and learn to transcribe various medical reports. Graduates may take the exam administered by AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity) to become Certified Medical Transcriptionists. Courses for this online program include applications of medical transcription, medical transcription technology, advanced medical terminology, and non-native speakers' dictation. Transcription for doctors' offices and in areas of surgical and diagnostic therapy procedures will also be addressed.
Metropolitan Community College, in Omaha, NE, offers a Medical Language Specialist II option in its Associate in Applied Science in Health Information Management Systems. This program is offered both on campus and online. Medical transcription courses are designed to help students develop proofreading and editing skills and an understanding of speech recognition technology. Studies in these courses require students to prepare medical documents by transcribing actual doctor dictations. Other courses taken in this program include medical terminology, medical office applications, disease processes and medical office management.
