How to Make Sure That it Is Accredited When Selecting a Medical Transcription School

Selecting a quality medical transcription school helps ensure a successful future.

Interest in medical transcription careers is growing as more people search for flexible career options that enable them set to their own schedule. According to the Association of Healthcare Documentation Integrity, there is no formal accreditation process required for medical transcription schools; however, program approval or voluntary accreditation by the AHDI is seen as a benchmark of a school that produces top-quality medical transcriptionists.

Instructions

1. Learn about the medical transcription industry. Before searching for schools, you should have an understanding of the skills and abilities needed by a MT and an understanding of current state of the medical transcription industry and its future. Talk to working MTs and employers to gain insight that may help guide your own career path.

2. Review the AHDI's list of approved medical transcription schools. The website also lists funding options, whether the school provides online or classroom instruction or both, and whether the school accepts seasonal or open enrollment.

3. Make sure the medical transcription schools that you are considering provide courses in anatomy, medical terminology, legal issues, keyboarding, and English grammar and punctuation. Medical transcription courses are also offered through community colleges, vocational schools and distance-learning schools.

4. Compare lists of schools, taking into consideration the extent of the training, the cost, the school's reputation, placement assistance and how often the course material is updated. Although it is not essential to go to an AHDI-approved school, you need to make sure that the school you choose will provide you with the necessary employment skills and that it has a successful history of job placement.

Tips & Warnings

• Students considering a career in medical transcription often also consider a career in medical coding, which is the process of assigning code numbers to narrative descriptions of diseases, injuries and healthcare procedures. Medical coding schools are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Systems.

• The AHDI offers two voluntary certifications: the Registered Medical Transcriptionist, awarded after successful completion of the AHDI level 1 exam and the Certified Medical Transcriptionist, which requires passing an AHDI exam and completion of two years of acute care experience.

References

• AHDI: What is Medical Transcription Program Approval?
• Commission on Accreditation on Health Informatics and Information Management System
• AHIMA: Medical Coding
• AHDI: Approved Medical Transcription Education Programs
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Transcriptionists

Resources

• AHDI: Becoming an MT
• Health Information Careers: What You Should Know About Accreditation