CAI School - Any Current Students/Recent Graduates?
Posted By: Erica on 2008-07-30
In Reply to:
Hi Everyone: Have any of you ever heard of the CAI School of Medical Transcription? Any current students or graduates out there? I've been checking out their website and they seem to have a terrific program. I've searched the archives and the last posting on this school was from 2006. It got rave reviews then, just checking on the school now. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! FYI, the website address is http://www.caihometype.com
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Need advice from current or former Andrews School students
Hello,
My daughter wants to go to school to become an MT and wants me to recommend the best school. I've been an MT for 10 years and went to a community college, but she needs an online school. I have heard on this board that Andrews is one of the best schools.
Could anyone who has experience with this school tell me about their experience, whether the school is work-at-your-own pace, and just their general likes/dislikes about the school, and most of all--do you feel it prepared you well to begin your career (for those who have graduated and started working). I would appreciate any info so much!
Thanks so much!!! 
Current and former students from all schools and programs -
I would prefer to discuss via email as I don't want input from those who have not attended any of the MT educational programs and I don't want to incite arguments, etc.
I just need some answers and insight on your experience, etc. I have some questions I can send to you and would truly appreciate your input.
Thx
Support for AHP students and graduates
I would like to get any support or encouragement from other people who have either completed the AHP course or are currently taking it. I have read so many negative comments in here about the program. I am about 3/4 through the MT course and am now getting a little worried. Please share your stories and job searches to give the rest of us some hope. If all you have is negative comments, please keep them to yourself. This is meant to be a support group. Thanks!
If she is a recent graduate she has NO experience, just school practice.
Why would she need a mentoring program if she went to a good school?
A really good school won't need to have "specials" to reel in students.
Sometimes they even have a waiting list, despite being more expensive. It's because they are so much better. You get what you pay for. Check out all the desperate posts on this and other MT boards of people who saved money by choosing cheaper courses and now can't get a job.
There is current, you just need to know how
to search. Haven't heard anything good about them.
current company
So, if you were offered a job and not going to take it, mind sharing what company it is? I'm looking for work. I'll take what I can get!
I'm a current student
And now I'm worried after reading some of these responses. I only chose this program because it had a better price then some other ones out there (about $400 for a certificate program versus $2300 for another one that came with a "free" laptop). Unfortunately, money is tight for me so I had to factor that into my decision. Now I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to find work with my "education" from them...
Are you at the current doc's office all day long? sm
I was thinking that if he wants you to transcribe from his office, could you get that done in a couple of hours, and then go home to work from there? I started my "home work" with one doc. She raved about me so much that all her doc friends called me to get me to work for them. Sit down with your doc and feel him out. He could be a real help to you! Good luck!
It would be nice if there were current info
in the archives. I just joined them. I've asked on this forum myself about SGS and got no better answer. For the most part thus far, they seem basically okay, though not so quick to respond to questions/concerns.
Current MTEC Student
Robyn,
I'm a current MTEC student hopefully getting ready to graduate in 2 months and I would 100% recommend the school. You made a great choice. It is intense, but by the end you will be a wonderful transcriptionist. They do train well. Good luck in your studies. 
Re: Recent Grads
Hi Amy,
I am the one who made the original post. I'm not so "upset and disgusted" anymore. :-) I thought I might give you a little advice on finding a job.
I think I said this in my post, but the way that I went about it was sending my resume to every company I could send it to. Even if the company stated they wanted two years of experience. My resume outlines my specific skills as an MT, i.e. computer, terminology, etc...and also outlines lists the specific courses I took in my college program.
There are literally hundereds of companies out there. I don't know if you are wanting to work from home or work in a hospital, clinic, or doctor's office, but I would do the same thing either way. I sent my resume to many, many companies.
If you are looking online and the company website offers testing for employment, take the test. That is how I ultimately landed the job I have now. The company I work for states they want 2 years of experience, but I tested for them and they hired me because I passed.
It is not easy to land that first job. You just have to be determined and keep at it. Since I got hired I have had 5 more job offers. It will happen for you too. Good luck!
recent grad
Just wondering if there are any companies that hire new graduates. I am a recent grad. (Dec 06) and I am having a heck of a time finding people who hire newbies.
thanks
There are several recent posts....
from their graduates who have found jobs. You may want to do a quick search.
Their current ad on the other board says they're hiring
s
Try this link to a recent ad on another board. sm
http://www.mtchat.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=164984&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=14&fpart=1#164984
I am a recent Andrews Grad.
I finished the course in 9 months. It is at-your-own pace to a degree. You do have a time period to turn in each assignment--but it is completely doable. I graduated, started sending out resumes the next day and landed a job the day after that. I am very pleased with my choice. Just my 2 cents.
also a recent graduate and jobless
I really think we have to take into account the times and hope to see a little economic recovery soon. I have been told that things typically pick up in January. It seems a lot of recent grads are in the same boat.
Survey for recent MT grads with up to 1-2 years
experience.
I work for a company who is presently looking at starting at MT program with an internship and then a job offer when over. I would like your responses in what could have made your program better or if you feel there was anything bad about it and what that was. If you would like to respond, please email or feel free of course to post here. At this time, I am not able to provide the company name that is starting this program, but I can tell you we are going to be working to make it the best possible, and with your help be able to offer a better program to future MT students. Thanks in advance!
Have a friend who is a recent graduate for MT, does anyone know of a company who hires with less
than one year's experience or has a mentoring program? TIA!
See "Cheapie Correspondence Schools" post below for our most recent mention of PCDI. (nm)
(nm)
students unite
Anyone else out there taking the At-home professions medical transcriptionist course? As you can see many transciptionists have a network of other transcriptionists to ask questions. If anyone is interested in having a sounding board and being a sounding board I would be glad to buddy up. I am in the 5th course 42 lesson and I am finding some of the verbage difficult to understand due to the foreign accents and various other crap on the dictation and I speak spanish and understand it as well, So I am used to listening for this type of thing. Maybe I am just crazy but if your are looking for help I have a 98% in the course. IM me or email me - if we are all set up on IM we can have pretty much immediate answers if we know them- otherwise it is back to the message boards.
Sometimes hire students before they graduate. nm
x
calling all M-Tec students/grads...
How many hours a week did it take any of you to complete the Tier 1-Premier program in 12 months or LESS? Is it possible to still work 30 hrs/wk and do this?
New Grads and students beware
DO NOT WORK FOR TOTH TRANSCRIPTION. They will not pay you, and they prey on new grads. There have been MANY people come forward claiming the same thing. They are a complete scam. Take my warning, do not work for them.
oops!...can't take on anymore students/trainees ...nm
.
Unfortunately, the schools who hold "seminars" are the ones who rip off students. sm
It will be very difficult (but not impossible) to find a job with an "education" from those shysters. You will definitely be able to get a job after completing the program from Andrews or M-TEC, the money is worth it. Many companies waive the 2-year experience requirement and will let you take their employment test (which you should have no trouble passing) if you attend Andrews or M-TEC. Sorry you got suckered, but you're certainly not the first! (and unfortunately won't be the last)
Andrews teaches Canadian students.
Same goes for Andrews -- you can train with them from Canada and they have a number of Canadian students.
The suggestion to call the directors and talk to them is a good one. The schools teach much the same material and achieve the same ends.
Andrews does have an entrance exam, so be sure to take that first. Some find the decision much easier after that . . . :)
HHELP! Any MAC computer students/MTs out there studying? or working?
there?? I was strongly leaning towards M-Tec for schooling, and just read you can't use a MAC computer while studying there. I can't afford to switch over to a PC right now.
Has anyone found that using a MAC handicapped them?
Please advise! TIA! -Anne
Career Step students PAY to train for Spheris
"Beginning in 2005, a select group of Career Step students will be offered the opportunity to participate in the exclusive Spheris Training Track. The Spheris Training Track has been designed around Career Step’s proprietary medical transcription training program. Portions of the training program have been tailored to meet the specific training and hiring requirements of Spheris." So goody. YOU pay Career Step for your Spheris training.
The solution then would be for potential students to contact the employers
If someone wants to work at home for a national company, contact them. If you want to work on site for a local hospital, contact them.
My bet is that the national services and some of the other large services will prefer certain schools and will not test others. I'll also bet that the local hospitals will have never heard of any medical transcription school and will prefer the school down the street. Of course they may not hire new graduates, so once that person graduates from the school down the street, they may have to go to work for a private physician's office for a couple of years. Do you disagree with that?
Spheris used to hire Career Step students nm
nm
Graduates, has anyone found
that M-Tec's curriculum was superior to Career Step? Also, for M-Tec grads, were you able to repeat a section (if you tested poorly) until you got it right, and improved? Was there a limit on how many times you could re-test on any given area (I'm thinking of my weaker areas that might need extra time.)
TIA! :) -Anne
Who hires new graduates?
Can anyone give me some ideas on who hires new graduates? I'm having no luck.....
Looking for graduates from either CAI or Medtranscription.com
Hi,
I'm looking into MT programs, and am looking for feedback from graduates of either CAI, or Medtranscription.com
Would like to know about your experiences with these places! Thanks! Laura
Any MT Advantage graduates?
I'm looking at the MT Advantage Career Center. I would like to hear from anyone who has taken their course. I'd like to know how successful their students are at obtaining jobs after completing the course.
Thanks Much!
It isn't just new graduates. The job market...sm
is not what it was in MT. I guess the economy has affected it.
One of the hardest things I've done was find a job after MT school. I searched and searched. I finally just kept applying and somone gave me a chance.
Doesn't land her a check when she sends potentia students away
Private schools have the luxury of not having to enroll people when they know they can't do the work. Public schools do. Private school managers, owners, or directors can be honest with you and tell if you if they don't think you can type or spell well enough and would be wasting their time and your money.
Employers will hire new graduates of
well-regarded MT schools, schools such as Andrews, M-Tec, and Career Step. Unfortunately, PCDI has a very poor reputation among MT employers, so it might be that that is causing the problem rather than lack of experience since many well-known MT employers will waive the two-year experience requirement for graduates of schools that are known to turn out job-ready MTs (Andrews, M-Tec, and Career Step). You might have better luck with a local doctor's office or clinic that does only one specialty. If you continue to have difficulty finding work, you might want to consider supplementing whatever training you got throught PCDI with a course from one of the "Big Three". Their graduates generally have several job offers upon graduation, plus those schools provide placement advice and assistance to their graduates.
WHAT??? to say that if a newbie graduates from a top three, it makes
her as qualified as someone with two years experience. Puhleeze. That is simply wrong.
Just telling the truth. Many of their graduates
come here and say the same thing. Their program stinks. Any company that advertises on matchbooks and TV you really have to wonder how good they are. You never hear of M-Tec or Andrews advertising.
Spheris hires new graduates
Good luck!
Are there any companies hiring graduates?
I graduated from Career Step program and looking for a second shift position. Does anybody work for a company that is currently hiring graduates? Thanks for any responses! 
The better schools are not having problems placing graduates
I'm asking why the community colleges can't do the same thing. Why can't they go take the approval test with AAMT and prove that they are just as good as the so-called best schools, the ones that are approved because they were able to pass that test. Maybe that would help them be able to get employers to hire their students. Can they not pass that test?
any new graduates live in Orange County California.
From what I gather, and remember as I was in your shoes 15 years ago, to get a job is tough. Are new graduates interested in working in externship program and a more experienced transcriptionist's residence for maybe 6-7 cents per line??? I have been pondering this and would appreciate any feedback.
I've seen plenty of these graduates scrounging for work.
This board isn't the only board in town, and I've seen many of the grads from your favorite schools searching for work just like everyone else. Just because "you" haven't seen it here doesn't mean it's not happening!
Besides, these schools are mostly affiliated with nationals, which IMO, stink anyhow. I'd much rather work for a nice small private. Nationals are not the be-all and end-all by any means, and they work with just a couple of the big boys. The ones who take the biggest advantage of their employees!
Keep looking Alicia. Don't listen to the school cheerleaders.
Are there companies offering 7 cents a line to new graduates? sm
This person has been offered 6 cents a line but I know the company and getting a raise will be like pulling teeth even if you do excellent work. This graduate will be doing acute care and feel like 6 cents is okay for clinic but 7 cents is more in line for acute care. This student graduated with honors from MT course.
Spheris hires entry level graduates from
at 5.5 cpl, they pay direct deposit on time, insurance not that great (large deductible) and all the usual FT benefits. Only PT benefit is 401K. My supervisor, QA people, and accounts have all been decent, 4-1/2 years into it.
The courses worth taking are M-Tec and Andrews. Their graduates
are usually able to get jobs without 2 years of experience that is normally required. Is if worth it? Do you have small children, a husband, do you want a social life - then no it isn't worth it. If you just want to do this PT, in addition to a FT job, it might be okay for a short time, but it gets harder and harder to make a living as an MT. A lot of companies use offshore MTs, they get the good work and the crap gets left for us, or it all goes and we get stuck editing it for pennies and you end up working for minimum wage. You'll also burn out in a short time trying to do both.
if there is just you and you don't care to have a life then it would be okay and if you have a knack for it you can make some decent money. If you are a respiratory tech in a hospital talk to people in your department. Maybe you can start out doing work-related transcription without having to go to school and you can get a small taste of what it is like to see if you really want to pursue it.
Found a company that is willing to give new MT graduates a chance
Hello,
A company called World Direct Transcription Services, called me yesterday. And she asked me a couple of questions, and then asked me if i would take 2 tests. I said yes of course! One test is a terms test, other is a typing test, also she wanted me to go to a certain website and take a speed typing test too. I will let everyone know today if i get hired.
Sonnett
Andrews, MTEC, and CareerStep produce graduates that are regularly hired. NM
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