Online Medical Transcription Courses and Schools

<h3 id="section---WhatYouNeedToKnow">What You Need to Know</h3> <p>Medical transcriptionists transcribe health care information from recordings. Transcription students learn about topics like medical terminology and specified courses relating to record-keeping in the medical industry. Students can earn certificates or diplomas, and there are options for online study. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degrees</b></td><td> Certificates and diplomas are available</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Online</b></td><td> Many medical transcription programs are offered completely online</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Classes</b></td><td> Physiology, anatomy, speech recognition, keyboarding, medical records</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---WhatMedicalTranscriptionTopicsWillIStudy">What Medical Transcription Topics Will I Study?</h3> <p>As a medical transcriptionist you'll convert dictated recordings made by healthcare professionals into written medical documents, such as discharge summaries, psychiatry consults or autopsy reports. Online medical transcription courses familiarize you with the terminology that medical professionals use daily. You'll also learn the rules of English grammar so that you can format, proofread and edit finished documents. Instruction in medical office technology, including speech recognition and transcription technologies, is also a common course topic. Typical medical transcriptionist courses include the following: </p> <ul><li>Medical terminology </li><li>Medical records </li><li>Pharmacology </li><li>Physiology and anatomy </li><li>Speech recognition </li><li>Medical law </li><li>Keyboarding </li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatOnlineProgramsAreAvailableToMe">What Online Programs Are Available to Me?</h3> <p>Most online medical transcription programs are offered as certificates or diplomas. Students can complete a typical program in as little as six weeks to one year. You'll spend the majority of your course time transcribing pre-recorded dictation. Both programs can prepare you for entry-level employment as a medical transcriptionist. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatPrerequisitesDoINeedToComplete">What Prerequisites Do I Need to Complete?</h3> <p>Most programs encourage you to have a solid understanding of Microsoft word processing applications. They also prefer that you can type at speeds of at least 45 words per minute. If you don't already have these abilities, most schools offer introductory word processing and keyboarding courses, which you may also be able to take online. </p> <h3 id="section---HowCanIPickASchool">How Can I Pick a School?</h3> <p>Many online medical transcription programs are available through community colleges, other 2-year schools, or private, for-profit providers. You may want to pick a school that provides extra job skills training. Some programs include online coursework that can show you how to write effective resumes and cover letters, establish compensation rates and manage a home business. You can complete most courses with a high-speed Internet connection and a current version of Microsoft Word. A PDF document reader or Flash Player may also be required. </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolsForOnlineMedicalTranscription">Schools for Online Medical Transcription</h3> <p>Here is a list of providers offering online programs in medical transcription: </p> <ul><li>Metropolitan Community College - Longview </li><li>Penn Foster Career School </li><li>Ashworth College </li><li>U.S. Career Institute </li><li>Blackstone Career Institute</li></ul>