Taking Tests

if you go to their forums, you can find that a lot have gotten jobs.  The Career Step course is self-motivated.  You do a lot on your own, but you have a support group to help when you need it.  I have never had a problem w/ getting a reply back when I have needed one.  It is taking me over a year to finish because I work full-time, and I am transcribing for a dentist that I started working for after I started the transcription portion of the course.  Again, you have to be self-motivated, but don't you have to do that with almost everything?

Does passing the RMT exam help you find a job if you have no experience?  I'm wondering if I should try to take this test.

...that offer it, is it acceptable to use reference materials.  I didn't see anywhere on the page that I couldn't.  Just askin'.

laptop isn't quite as easy and I'd recommend you have a professional do it.

There is no difference in working on a laptop versus a desktop.  If there is a problem it may either be an equipment issue, such as the sound card, or a setting issue.  Maybe you need to update drivers or something similar.   I've worked on a laptop exclusively for 6 years. 

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. 

Don't understand the reason either.....I just take the test...

your stuff.   Some of comes from education, most comes from experience.   If you are unable complete the test without it timing out then you know you still have lots to learn.  No 2 tests are the same so you can't take it enough times to get all the answers, but it gives you an idea on what kinds of things they are looking for and shows you your areas of weakness, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.   I have nearly 20 years of experience and I have some across questions on testing that I had to look up.   Not all tests are timed, but I did take one test that was timed and it timed out on me too; more probably because I was rereading everything and didn't realize it was a timed test, but I was still offered a position.  You just might get started on clinic notes rather than acute care and your pay rate will most definitely be lower than if you had scored better. 

instructions on how to notate a blank.   I have 20 years of experience and I have only had one test in my career that I have had to leave a blank,  but there are usually different levels of reports.  One report may be very clearly dictated, clinic type work where there really isn't a lot of medical terminology.  Another may be an acute care report, possibly an Op, and then one may be a report there the sound quality is bad, an ESL dictator, or a fast talking US dictator.

The company is trying to get an idea of your skill level.  If you do very well on the first report but not so well on the second and horrible on the third, then they will probably offer you a clinic account and start you off at the bottom of the pay scale.  

Leaving a blank wouldn't count against you as much as guessing at something and getting it wrong.   I don't think leaving a blank will stop you from being offered a position, but excessive blanks would probably would. 

This website is great reading.  This link takes you to a page of neurologic physical examinations, but it has everything, not just neuro.  I guess it's a site for doctors.  You do have to register to certain things, and I don't know if they require you to be a doctor to register because I haven't tried it lately.  There is plenty to see without seeing close-ups.  Something constructive to do while waiting for that first job.

http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic632.htm

I recently tested at both companies and am beginning to wonder how long this process takes. While I am waiting for their replies, if anyone could tell me of other corporations that hire new MTs I would appreciate it.