Either one will prepare you equally well (& give you the best education of any MT school).
Posted By: sm on 2006-03-16
In Reply to: MTEC or Andrews, or....??? - Amanda
Call each school and speak with Linda (Andrews) and Susan or Kathy (M-TEC), and then go with your gut as to which one you feel most comfortable. You can't go wrong with either of them.
I don't know about the footpedal issue, but M-Tec does teach expanders.
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- MTEC or Andrews, or....??? - Amanda
- Either one will prepare you equally well (& give you the best education of any MT school). - sm
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The schools that prepare you
to get a job at graduation are Andrews and M-Tec. Both are on-line schools that are extremely thorough. They are quite affordable for all you get, at only around $4000. That's like community college price, and yet the education is extremely specific to precisely what's going on in the industry. Either school will prepare you to a T and you will have no regrets.
We have had several CS grads come and admit CS was not all it was cracked up to be, and they should have done Andrews or M-Tec. They can get jobs and work, but they had a lot of catching up to do on their own to fill in the holes of their education.
CS gets promoted because they PAY people and companies to promote them.
Go to the M-Tec and Andrews websites and see all they have to say. One or both will test you for aptitude for this work. From your post you seem to be fine in the English department, which is critically important.
http://www.mtecinc.com/
http://www.andrewsschool.com/
This site discusses schools: http://www.ahdionline.org/scriptcontent/mtapproved.cfm
there are equally as many female perps....sm
This behavior is not just exclusive to MEN online. There are plenty of women scamming their husbands and chatting up men online too, risking their marriages.
I have been online 10 years and have seen people meet online in chat rooms and marry and stay married...however, I've also seen FAR more marriages break up over being online and having secret relationships online.
Be careful, stay safe.
They're equally good.
They're both excellent, so go with the one you feel fits your personality and needs best.
We took on a PCDI grad where I work, and they did not prepare her
adequately even to do radiology work. We utilized her as a temp for a few weeks, and the only thing that got her by was her good English vocabulary. She didn't even know when to ask questions a lot of the time. She didn't know how to utilize reference books or websites, either. So I had to look over every report I had time to and make corrections. Any reports that I couldn't check went straight to the radiologists. Thankfully most of them caught on that we had a newbie and they needed to check every word. It was a shock to them.
Acute care would have been leagues over her head, poor thing.
With an M-Tec education,
you will have no trouble getting a job and KEEPING the job once you get it. With AHP, you will struggle to find anyone willing even to let you test for a job, and it is unlikely that you will be able to pass even an employment test let along succeed at any MT job. Get your money back from AHP and spend it on M-Tec. Choosing a school just because it is cheap is a poor decision. Choose a school that provides a QUALITY education that will get you a job. M-Tec will do that. A cheap "education" is a waste of your money. You will quickly make up any difference in the cost between AHP and M-Tec by being able to get a job right away. All the months and months and months you will search for a job with an AHP education is money you would have been making with an M-Tec education. Go for cheap and you will pay for it for a long time.
MT education
I've had four people approach me in the past few months wanting to get into MT to work at home. One went so far as to take an employment test and couldn't understand why she didn't pass. When I told them it was really necessary to get some schooling, i.e. Andrews, etc., not one of them pursued it. There are a lot of people out there that think this job is a piece of cake.
You really need some education in
and punctuation. General English rules. The terminology is one thing, but you also have to know how to accurately transcribe the document. You also should have HIPPA training, pharmacology and other things. This is just my opinion. You may be able to get hired somewhere with what experience you have, but I think you would be very frustrated. Especially if you have never actually listened and tried to transcribe dictated reports. Doctors can be very hard to understand and a good school will have live dictation for you to practice with to get some experience before getting out there and trying to do it for real.
Education
Does anyone have any information whether good or bad on Gatlin Education Programs. I am thinking of registering for their online MT courses and want to make sure it is a good decision. I appreciate any information.
Thanks
Education
I am a recent graduate of a 2 year college. I received my Associate Degree in Medical Transcription (Health Science) and did an externship within my schooling. I am so fearful of not finding a career now that I am out here sending resumes. I keep seeing the "need 2+ experience" listed for qualifications. I just spent over $30,000 and a huge amount of time in being sure that I was getting the top grades. The idea of going back to school really breaks me. I am so eager, passionate, and willing to work hard.
While I understand that as a newbie I will not be paid as high of a rate as the seasoned MTs, I would not work for this low of a wage. My education and knowledge stands for something. I know in dollar amount, it is costing me way more than 3 cents a line.
If anyone has any suggestions, other than go back to school, I am more than willing to listen. It is not that I oppose more education, because that is actually the quite opposite. Medicine will continue to evolve and we will all need to stay current through education.
Continuing Education?
I have been working as an MT for a few months now and received my education through a local technical school that only provided the basics. I work on very easy accounts with no ESLs. I am concerned about not having the proper knowledge and skills should I have to change companies in the future. I have been looking into further education through M-Tec and Career Step. I am noticing a significant price difference in the tuition for both schools. Is one better than the other? Or is graduating from Career Step just as good as M-tec. Another question I have from anybody who has graduated from these schools is how many hours approximately do you need to put in to graduate within the allotted time? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
continuing education
I have a question and need some advice: I took one of those cheesy 5-month courses for little money and was basically blessed to get a job with a local company. I have been working for 6 months now and LOVE my job. Although, I do not feel as though I have enough education to be the best MT I can possibly be. I also feel limited in my work as I was put into one particular field and I am fearful that if I ever should switch companies I would not be able to pass their tests. I am considering going to Career Step or Andrews School. I want to do this while working full time. Are these schools self-paced or do you have to put in a certain amount of time during each week? Any information from graduates of these schools or tips would be greatly appreciated!
Do you have any education MT-wise? . . .
It you have some MT schooling, you have a better chance. However, if you simply think you can work as an MT because you type well, that's a different story. There is so much more to medical transcription than just typing (transcribing). You need to know medical terminology, formating and more.
I started my education
at a community college and finished at PCDI, and the materials were identical, so I can't say either way is better, but the best help I got was once I started working, and the training on the job. I think PCDI teaches the basics, and if I were you, I'd shoot for an in-house position to start with to have some help. All of PCDI's tapes were incomparable to what you really get. If I had a doctor speaking like that, I'd be making millions :) Good luck!
Good education
I did have a good education! Did you? Andrews M-tech whatever..there are other schools out there that can provide good, solid training and I believe I received that! I wish you would stop judging, you have no idea what I can do! Check out the board a little more, there are some happy people out there .
The difference in education might
Have you compared how many hours of transcription training you had in college/school with Andrews and M-TEC? Were your instructors CMTs with many years of experience? Did your curriculum include anatomy, diseases, pharmacology? I assume it included medical terminology. Maybe if people were to compare the curriculums (or if you prefer, curricula) they would understand why M-Tec and Andrews have such a good reputation. When you graduate from those top two schools, you are very well prepared to work, and that is what many companies have come to realize.
Right now is a difficult time to find employment because many companies are running low on work due to the holidays. Have you inquired about internships locally? Doesn't your college/school offer any help with finding a job?
Was your goal always to be an MT? If so, why obtain an associate degree? If you have come to realize that you want to be an MT, then maybe you would be better off investing into Andrews or M-TEC.
Have you passed any tests/all tests? Many companies have a direct link on their websites for the testing. I would assume if you aced a test they would be willing to talk to you. How many resumes have you sent out? I believe it will be harder for you to get your foot in the door somewhere, but if you really want this, you will find a way.
Good luck!
You got a job, but still have less of an education than if at M-TEC or Andrews.
I know because I also graduated from CS. I have seen the materials that M-Tec and Andrews use for teaching, a lot different (and better) than the homemade books written by Andrea Anaya from CS. No "automatic grader/comparter" either
Wrong, you CAN get a job with education.
You CAN get a job with just an MT education, if the education prepared you well enough. I know slews of MTs who did this. Certification in MT isn't necessary, either.
You CAN get a job with just coding education, but certifications help. I did it. I know someone who just a few months ago got a really nice inpatient coding job with no experience at all. She completed school, got 2 certifications, and was hired after testing successfully with a hospital.
In fact, I work with about 15 coders who got their jobs straight out of school with no experience.
If you are well-prepared and are able to present yourself appropriately, you CAN get a job straight out of school.
MT Education and Training
I am in the process of attending Allied Business Schools and have found that their programs are challenging, but yet easy enough that somebody who has no clue about medicine can do them.
http://www.alliedschools.com
BTW---I earn nothing from this, just giving what I have experienced.
Anne
No, not really. Experience in the field - but not just more education.
x
I think PIE stands for Partner in Education SM
Medquist used to have a program with several MT training programs listed as their Partners in Education (PIE). They would hire people who graduated from the MT programs on their list without requiring work experience (they still had to pass the test). I'm not sure if they still have this program or not.
They're not recommended for MT education. Go elsewhere. nm
n
Your situation may allow you to test without further education
Contact the employers and see if they will let you test. It can't hurt to try. You have some good experience. I doubt that you need a complete course.
Ten thousand dollars? On an MT education?
What in the world? What company?
What type of education did you get? What did you study?
??
Education comes in other ways than only top 3 schools
I started my medical career as a paramedic and segued into MT (without any further formal training) so I could work while being on call. Though perhaps you might think I'm bumbling, perhaps you might not think so after I intubated and defibrillated your husband during his heart attack?
Good education works. sm
The reason why most newbies can't get a job is because their education is lacking. The top 3 AAMT approved schools have a proven track record in producing employable graduates. Those are the facts and they'll never change. However, it's unfair for you to spread the false message that you're spreading of how education doesn't count. It does count and there's enough unemployed newbies on this website alone to prove it.
Gatlin Education Services
Has anyone taken the MT course from Gatlin Education Services? I don't see much about it on this board and was just curious about everyone's opinion.
It has to do with the education you received and what your skills are.
If you paid for a crappy course and didn't learn half of what you need to know, why should a company let you prove what little you did learn? They know which schools provide GOOD training and which do not. You also need grammar help, it's "should have" not "should of," if you don't know simple English grammar why should anyone trust your medical terminology skills?
Also, coding education/certification will not get SM
you a transcription job at all.
You can't beat Andrews or MTEC for an education. NM
x
So you got excellent "secretarial" but not transcription education
There's a big difference. If you want to do transcription, you don't want a secretarial or technical course. You want an expert instructor teaching you to transcribe the way employers want it done.
Unfortunately, many people have to go to local schools because they are "accredited" for financial assistance. That's great, but if they don't teach you want you need to know, I don't think it's worth the time and effort you put into it, regardless of how cheap it is.
If you have a good MT education, work from home. Besides
There's not much help going on at hospitals and clinics these days. At least the national services have someone assigned to help you if you need help from home. I wish they had done that when I was just starting out years ago.
If you have already done the right thing and you have a good MT education, go for the work-at-home job. Good luck with your new career!
If you didn't get a good education, neither on site nor at-home jobs are going to make a difference. Just go get a good education and make things easier on yourself and your potenetial employers.
Get a solid education and doors will open
Many companies waive the 2-year experience requirement for testing if you attend M-Tec or Andrews. Their schools consistently produce grads who are ready to hit the ground running. I hire those grads every chance I get. I have found those with "local community college" education sorely lacking in even the basics to be a success.
Good education DOES work. And there are more ways to get it than Three.
Continuing education is required to do this job, you must know terms as well as the providers do.
OR if you got a good education but test as poorly as some of my applicants
it won't matter if you go back to school (I'm assuming the posters mean to go to a REAL school, like ONE OF THE BIG THREE). If you got a decent MT education, and you aren't getting work, it may be either that you are not testing well or you haven't gjven it enough time. Another idea may be to ask an MT to test you and critique how your work is. That might give some insight. Or you could try to find an internship. Or you could ask an MTSO to exchange a sum of money for some on-the-job training. I mean, the possibilities are endless if you are willing to be creative.
Yes! Let's encourage lack of education and bumbling into jobs
That should be our goal. Talk people out of education. Years ago most people did exactly what the poster described. In fact, there were few schools and the ones that did exist were pretty much useless. They still exist, but they have bad reputations. Why you would think that one person's success story is a slam against schools that give a solid education? That's a rhetorical question. I don't think I want to know. I think I already have a good idea. As someone said, it's jealousy.
Education and Internship at a Medical Transcription Company
I live in Austin, TX. A local medical transcription company has their own in-house training and internship. They started their own training because they couldn't find qualified people for their workload. The cost of the education and internship is $2,000. They then hire you as a contractor, if you get a 'B' in the class. Although they cannot guarantee work, they say they are very busy handling work from 5 area hospitals. Someone my sister knows works for them full-time and is happy.
I've also looked at the job requirements for the company Medquist. One suggestion they have is learning at a school based in Utah, Career Step. The education is online and through cassettes and books, not at the school itself. Their education costs around $1,500. Although you're not guaranteed a job at Medquist, you most likely will be considered because you trained at CareerStep.
I'd like your opinion about this. It seems you need to take a training or education course to learn medical transcription and at least 1 year of experience to get a job. I didn't see any problem with paying for training. Do you?
Thanks, amelia
You need a GOOD education to have the experience waived. Simple as that. NM
x
Put the money towards good education, not an unnecessary laptop.
It should tell you something that a school offers a "free" laptop to get students to sign up. List how many good things and how many bad things you have heard about Andrews and M-TEC. Then make the same list for Allied and TRS. There's your answer.
You don't need the medical education for GT but that doesn't make it easier
"General" covers a lot, some of it is easier, some of it is a nightmare - just like MT.
Don't Give Up!
I graduated in March of 2005, and I thought I would never find a job. I eventually had to take another job to supplement income, but then out of the blue my prayers were answered and I got a job working at home with my kids. So don't give up, it is possible to work out of your home out of school.
No one is going to give you something for nothing.
Life just doesn't work that way. You will need good training to have any reliable prospects, regardless of what line of work you decide to go into. If you want to be an MT, get the best education you can. The better your training, the more options you will have and the better your income will be. There are two schools that are universally recognized by MT employers as turning out job-ready employees: Andrews and M-Tec. With an education from one of those two schools, doors will open for you. Don't waste your money or your time on one of the cheap schools or allow yourself to be taken in by someone who offers to "mentor" or "train" you "for free", then just keeps you working and working for nothing. Andrews or M-Tec, period.
Don't give up
Rainbow...your post goes to show that it is not EASY. Some people think we just sit and type. There is so much more involved. The only way to get the hard words is through experience. If you try using Stedman's Smartype the words come up if you can get the first few letters. It helps a lot.
Hang in there.
Don't give up...
I also took the PCDI course. What a waste of money! However, before I even finished the course, I tested with a company and was hired and received a job offer from another company. Both companies were small and local. I think your best bet is to check with local transcription companies, check newspaper classifieds, and check with any MTs in your area. Another MT gave me a list of several small MTSOs in my area that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.
Good luck! You can still find a job even with the education (or lack of) that you got from PCDI.
Don't ever give up!!
I was pregnant when I graduated from my program at the community college. So I waited until I had the baby before I started looking for work. After I had the baby, I started pounding the pavement (or keyboard for that matter). It took me four months, but I finally landed that first job!! I love it!!
Keep looking, you'll find your match when the time is right!!
Don't give up!!
As a new MT, I understand your frustration. It took me 3 months to find a job. I work at home for a local dermatology clinic with 2 wonderful dictators. They hired to me so they could free up the in-house MT to work on insurance stuff. I've been doing all the typing since my 2nd week.
The only advice I can offer is to make sure your resume looks awesome and apply and test everywhere possible.
It will happen for you. Don't give up. We have to prove to everyone that we can do it.
Good luck!!
Don't give up!
I have been in this field for over 7-1/2 years and never have taken a course...my mother has taught me everything and basically I worked for her. I have so many people that want to do this profession, but basically they want people with experience...and that is it. I got into it in 1998 with a BS in Biology and after working as a retail manager...I was lucky. My first on-line job, I cried, even after working with my mother on local accounts for over a year. It is tough. I will even say I lied and told them I had worked for a major hospital in order to get jobs...you do what you have to do and hopefully you can just pull it off. This is the only advice I can give you...and good luck! Also..if you can narrow down your expertize, that is a HUGE help...I personally do ophthalmology, which is truly simple, but not many people out there can do it and that narrows the focus for employers. Find something you really like doing and focus on that subject...Radiology is another good one. :0)
Don't give up!!
I went to community college for my MT degree. I was pregnant when I graduated and waited until I had the baby before I started looking. I had some voice files to practice on to keep my ears in "tune." But once I started looking, I found a job working at home for a local dermatology clinic in about 4 months. I love it and don't really care to work for a national. From what I read on here, there aren't any "good" nationals to work for.
Keep plugging. You'll find your opportunity.
Good luck!!
Don't give up...
Don't give up. I started out without any training at all and never worked in house. I actually had a BS in accounting. I convinced a local doc to let me do his transcribing. Because he was so difficult to understand and it was oncology none of the other transcribers would take him on. Three years later and I have worked for Spheris and now a local hospital. Just remember, don't give up.
Don't give up.
All I can tell you is to keep taking those tests. I too graduated from at home professions. I don't think they adequately prepared me and sadly I have experience doing transcription. I has been years since I was actively working though. Good luck and don't give up. It can take up to 5 months to get a job in this field. You might also want to consider trying local doctor's offices/hospitals where you could work in the offices. I am wishing I would have had the money to take a different course.
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