If I were you, I'd want my money back from whatever MT course you took.
Posted By: deb on 2009-06-06
In Reply to: so confused! plz help - kellz
If you've had any decent MT training at all, this shouldn't have been any problem for you.
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- so confused! plz help - kellz
- If I were you, I'd want my money back from whatever MT course you took. - deb
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Sorry you didn't check it out before signing up. Can you get your money back?
It definitely is not a very good school, and you definitely will have a difficult time finding a job after finishing that course, because the people doing the hiring know that that course is not extensive enough to teach you what you need to know.
I may have one that I bought a while back. Will check tonight and get back to you.
nm
You need to go back
I've been doing this for 22+ years, that includes in-house, on a QA level, managing, and being an MT. I have never reached 50K and do not anticipate that I ever will. I have reached that 40K mark on good years like the other post stated, but 50K is unrealistic without years of experience and great pay...which we do not get anymore. You really have to love this job, not like it, and give hours and hours to it. It consumed me for a number of years, then I realized I needed a life. Gratefully, I went back to just being an MT working at home and actually make more money then when I was a manager. If you are simply in this for the money, you will get burned out very fast. This profession can burn you out like no other. Good luck on your choices, but be realistic.
Getting back in
What would a refresher course do for you? The purpose of a course isn't to teach you a bunch of words, instruments, and drugs. It's to teach you how to transcribe--the process, the expectations, what references to use and how to use them, etc.
If you worked for 4 years, you should already know how to transcribe. The fact that you were away from it for 5 months doesn't mean you lost all that knowledge. You should still be able to get going with it.
No training course is going to update you to TODAY, because there are no training materials that close. When you trained before, you might have felt that you learned words and terms that were "current," but they were only as current as the teaching materials.
You should be able to dive right into a job. If you want some review, consider getting some of the SUM program tapes . . . maybe the ESLs. That's a good set and you'll benefit from it. They also have practice tests and other materials at reasonable cost.
If you do that, you can get your speed back up enough to feel comfortable applying for a job. After that, you should be able to work just fine.
Redpen
Andrews School
Going back to school
I have been taking an at home MT course. I have lost all ambition to continue with it due to the things I have read on this site. I don't want to waste anymore of my time and money on something where I will not even be able to find a job when I am finished. It appears there are hardly any jobs out there for "newbies", and the money doesn't seem to be much. So, I have decided to go back to college and go into radiology. It will only take two years and I will make more money than doing MT work. Good Luck to all of you.
Get back what you can, and enroll with...
M-TEC, Inc. The cost is substantially less, and they offer placement assistance. Their current rate of placement is about 97%. Most companies waive the 2-year experience requirement for M-Tec grads.
So what if someone is getting a kick-back
If someone is helping others, and they want the help, why should kick-backs matter? I did not take an online course or any course for that matter, but why should it matter if someone is getting a kick-back? I think that is just a nasty way to be when we should be helping one another. Sounds like a little jealousy to me. JMO.
They responded back to me...
10 hours (600 minutes) of transcription is all they do in "training." Gees - that's absolutely nothing!
Go back to school?
They came to town, advertised in the local newspaper, held a seminar in which they promised lots of work and no worries about technology taking over. I enrolled, worked my pootootie off, paid a lot of money and discovered a newfound respect for medical transcriptionists. I just finished the MT course after about a year almost 1/2 with a GPA of 91, yet I never once thought to investigate what companies were hiring and whom they wanted. I did call the local hospital and an owner of a transcription service who advised me to enroll in school. Now...I find companies want 2+ years of experience and the local hospital is not hiring at this time. I did not attend Andrews or M-TEC; however, I am wondering if I should enroll in one or the other. Any advice for someone fresh out of school looking for a job?
ME too, I wish they would open it back up to us, with
strict rules and if you break them, you are out, that probably is too time-consuming, oh well. Great supportive board there.
I'm the slow kid in the back.....
...and I need to get faster! My transcription is okay but my line counts are low. After transcribing, I re-listen to the entire file to make sure I got everything. My mentor says that's slowing me down too much. Can any of you established MTs share some advice on how to edit more efficiently? I know it's supposed to be something that comes with time, but is there any way to hurry the process along a bit??
Getting back in the field
I have a certificate in medical transcription with four years experience working from home; however, I have not worked in five years since quitting to be a full-time mom. Can anyone recommend a great way to back into the field or a refresher course from a reputable company? I would love to do transcription again but don't want to spend a lot of money to do it since I already completed a course a few years back. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Getting back in the field
Thank you for the advice. I do need to update my reference materials. The school I attended no longer offers the program and unfortunately the company I worked for is no longer around after my supervisor retired, so I am at somewhat of a disadvantage. Has anyone ever heard of FutureMT? They have one of the least expensive programs on the internet. I'm looking at that one and MedTrans Inc. I hate to repeat a lot of what I know, but may not have a choice at this point.
Getting back in the field
I'll look into this. Thank you!
I am going back to college
I went to school back in 06 for this. I know MT is going down. I know I cannot give my kids the kind of life I want to doing MT. I absolutely want to stay in the medical field, so I chose to go back to college for nursing. I am getting a loan for it, and at least I know that when I am done with schools and testing I CAN get a job in the hospital without a problem and be able to pay off my loan. Its just right for me and my family.
I go back to test...
later this week. they called me back after the interview!!!!! woohoo!!!!
thank you for the encouraging words! :)
Go back to the school that trained you
and demand that they finish the job. They did not make you job-ready. Your English-language skills are too weak to make you employable in any position other than a dead-end, minimum-wage job. Bluntly speaking, if you do not improve your English communications skills, you will face disappointment in your job search.
Got that right, mom! Can't just put the little ones on the back burner while you try and earn a
s
I'm like you, type, then go back and relisten. I used to just
read but kept falling asleep. I just turn the speed up several notches and relisten and it isn't so bad. I actually am sometimes able to get a blank with the speed up that I couldn't when I played it several times at regular speed.
Disagree. MT is dying. Get out and don't loook back.
x
I send my wav. files back and Encrypt them
x
Funny how you keep coming back and posting this - sm
Makes me think YOU are the "owner" of Proficient Transcription. Hmmmmmm...
What I want to know is why the VLC owner lives in Canada and is not allowed back in the U.S.?
nm
Read back thru the Word Help and Style boards, too, to see answers to ?? others have. You'll lear
s
Quick Look Drug Book great for this as it has conditions/diagnoses in back with meds
s
Money
What are the chances of making $35K yearly and still having your wits? That is really what I am concerned with. I live in South Florida and am considering this profession. I would like to make enough to supplement husband's income of $85K. However, I don't want to be so stressed out that I can't enjoy life, either. Is there a happy medium here?
money
Those are good ideas.
Its not that I don't have the money, I just have a hard time spending large amounts. I can fritter away $100 here and there at Target and Walmart, but, phew, a $1500 check is hard to write.
We actually have enough money in savings, IRAs and investments to live at our current standard for at least 18 months without either of us working. Not that I would want to do that, but it could be done. So, its not that I don't have the money, its just a matter of spending it. I'm sure you can tell that since we have almost 2 years of living expenses saved up in the bank (and we have about 30-35 yrs to go til retirement), we are kind of tight with spending money.
Thanks for the suggestions though. I do need to have a Yard Sale, as much to get rid of stuff as to get some cash on hand. I have a pile of childrens' clothes to take to the resale shop for some cash too.
Where is the money at?
I was wondering...do MTs make better money working for someone or having a business of there own? Just wondering. I realize being new I will not have my own business for a couple of years but will I be able to make a "living" until then?
Big name=big money when you-sm
can get the same elsewhere at much lower prices. This board and its members often advocate only three schools that charge more than the others and don't offer a lot more. Most companies don't even know these names and could care less as long as you have a certificate and are certified. If you look into these higher priced courses, the only thing different is that they might use the more expensive transcription tapes, that's about it. These courses, all of them, are basically taught by sending you a few books then it's up to you as an individual to make it work. You will see members of the big three schools advertising their wares left and right here and everywhere they see someone looking. They are out to make a catch, so don't be fooled by the nonsense you here about their grads being the only ones being hired out of school. That's total bull and being said their by their little advertising cheerleaders, as well as the owners themselves who have no pride or too much. They order a bunch of books, sell them to you at twice the price and sit back and rake in the profits.
The money isn't what it used to be, and
job security isn't what it used to be.
It might still be a good career for somebody who is especially suited to it. That is, someone who has outstanding skills in written English and has the time and money to to to one of the best schools (Andrews and M-Tec are two two IMO, and cost about $4000. Some people have reported it took them 9 months to graduate, just to give you an idea). He or she must be interested in constantly researching new things and learning every day. You need a great work ethic, especially if you end up working at home. It isn't easy to sit at a computer at home working when there are so many things at home calling for your attention. You need to be able to invest in books/CDs, computers, and equipment when necessary. There are many factors to consider. You should go to Monster.com. I think you can take little tests there to see what kind of work you are suited to. You'll be happier in your work if you choose something you will be good at.
No money for us
Simple....corporate greed. Make more money sending work abroad. It'll turn around, may take a while but once the first big law-suit happens, it'll turn around.
I never said she owed me any money.
nm
Before you spend your money -
Do tons more research before you spend your money, please! I went to MTEC, graduated in 9 months, and have been working from home for more than 8 years now doing acute care. I had recruiters banging down my door to test and was offered positions after every test I took. The little medical backround you already have is nowhere near enough to be an MT, so get a SOLID education so you will not come back here at the end begging for someone to hire you for 2 cents a line. Best of luck! 
Your money would be better spent on
coding and billing. The MT profession is making less and less and having to work more and more. A new MT has a hard time finding a job. As far as boredom, it is what it is. If you find sitting for hours with headphones while mumbling baboons try to put a report together entertaining, than this job is for you. If not, select something different. The top schools is where you want to go if you decide, but again, if I could start my career (been in this for 20 years), I'd go with the billing/coding. It can be done onsite or at home, and all practices need these people to bring in the dough. You'll make more money at it anyway especially since new MTs make next to nothing.
My living is a fair wage for the time and effort, but the effort is from having many, many years of experience. A new MT will have to look a lot of words up which takes time away from production.
Good luck whatever you decide.
P/S: EMR will be mandated probably by the year 2015, so if you're young and smart, you'll choose another profession. I hate to be that way but it's the truth.
Don't waste your money. It's ridiculous
to think that you'll get an education for $12.00 or $50.00.
If you are going to invest money in something, invest it in some legitimate tapes at Medword or HPI.
Wasting your money and time
I am a recruiter and Editor and I have not had anyone from PCDI who could pass the test to be hired. I even gave one person a chance because of her circumstances and she couldn't do the most basic of reports. I've had resumes stating "I want an all American account because I have not been trained on foreign doctors." It's a waste of money. They don't prepare you for anything.
No money, wonderful place
I don't believe you have to register to use word help. Response time depends on the question. Some of us can figure out what you mean in minutes and some of us take a while and/or may never come up with anything. It's a great place, though (thanks MTStars!!!). Highly recommend you bookmark it. Even if you feel it might be a silly question, just ask! I was blessed to work in-house my first two years, and I was constantly asking for help! Good luck!
I'll believe it when I hear from others getting their money.
nm
I wouldn't let it rest til I got my money!
That is what the scammers want you to do, so they can get away with it and keep cheating other people. She is asking an honest question that pertains to her problem, while at the same time keeping it in people's minds to look out for people like this.
M-Tech wannabe...wish I could get the money together right now
I just finished 18 months training at a community college to become an MT and I am not marketable. The provided no books, no equipment, and only 3 months of actual transcription practice. It cost me 4 times as much as the M-Tech program and I walked away with nothing...now I'm back at square one. I've researched online schools and narrowed it down to M-Tech, but after reading the great posts about this school, I'm sold. I am not giving up becoming an MT.
but you certainly save money on travel
and perhaps on work clothes/food away from home. When my son got to be about 8, the child care issue was no longer a problem. But when he was little, he would stand by my desk and say "Play with me" if I had no one to take care of him.
.. So others don't waste their time & money on the same course.
x
Pretty good money
You can make pretty good money as an MT, but it takes time. You might be ready posts from people who have only been in the field a couple of years. I read an article recently that gave a pretty accurate account of what can be expected for pay. It was called "How much money can you make as an MT" It was on the articles page of this website www.help4mts.com and there were other articles too if you have not gotten started. There are many factors involved in MT paid, i.e. inhouse, SE, contract, benefits, etc. Good luck.
Making decent money here.
I was one of those stay-at-home moms that wanted to make my own hours and earn a good living and I am doing just that. I have been an MT for 2 years now. I work at home while caring for my 3-year-old son. Yes, it is not easy, stressful even, but I make more money at home (close to $20 an hour) than I would make at a B&M job and I don't have to pay $1000 a month for daycare anymore. I have a completely flexible schedule and I work early in the morning while my son sleeps and during his nap times. If I have to, I work again in the evening to finish up work.
This profession is difficult and takes a lot of work, but what career that pays a decent salary doesn't. It is possible to make more than $4-8 an hour. It does not take years and years. I was up to $12 an hour after 6 months, comparable to what I made in my previous position, where I had been employed for 3 years.
Just because you can't make it in this industry is no reason to discourage others from trying.
Thinking about MT as 2nd job - extra money
Hi there - I have a very sound career holding a Management position making great money, however we are trying to pay off bills and I thought I would pick up a second job. A friend told me about being a MT and at first I was kinda excited to start my research, then sites like this (some of the posts) have scared me. HOWEVER there are a good number of success stories. I think I may continue on, as this will not be my main job, just for extra income.
My question for all of you who are certified. I keep reading about the BIG 3 schools. I don't know who they are, but I was going to go to one of my technical colleges in my local area. Is that a no no in the MT world? I mean, it's an accredited school. I'm just scared that when applying for jobs, they will want those that came from the big 3 that you all are talking about.
If anyone can share information I would greatly appreciate it. Thx a bunch!!!
We don't hate our jobs. There's no money in it
anymore now that the corporations have taken us over & are offshoring our jobs. This field used to pay really well, but those days are over & it can be difficult to make minimum wage, especially on VR. Many MTs are trying to re-train to find other careers so they can actually make a living.
proficient transcription...sent them money...will I get work?
I was hoping this would be a great job. Does this company actually give you work? Really worried now. Help!!!!
I also feel the money is slowly slipping away -
I started off being paid on a gross line and making 60K a year. Those accounts dried up. I now struggle to make 25K and I am a fast, accurate MT. I do enjoy the work, but enjoyment does not pay the bills.
Everywhere I have worked, coders made more money than MTs.
nm
Yes, new MTs have value. Doesn't mean companies should lose money on you, though.
There's an extremely high cost to mentoring/training new MTs. You've come into MT work with the wrong expectations, I think, regardless of where you got your direction.
Not much money to be made for new grads at MedQuist.
Guess it is pretty profitable to get rid of experienced MTs and then fill their spots with new grads at half the rate.
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