Unfortunately, you need 2 years' work experience to take the CMT exam. NM
Posted By: Deb on 2009-03-07
In Reply to: graduated almost a year ago from a "Big 3" and nada - mkj
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How can you sit for the CMT exam without the 2 years' experience required?
.
I agree. Take it for the experience. It will take you 2 years of experience but you will easily
Experience: 2, 5, 10 years
How are newbies supposed to get experience?
Does anyone know of companies who hire newbies?
as an MT with 17 years experience....
your offer is more than fair. with all the new MT's on this forum saying they can't get a job, this is a fabulous offer.
my hat is off to you for taking the time to train, and pay 7 cents a line. I started out at minimum wage 17 years ago...just grateful for the opportunity.
with my 15+ years experience, I could never be as arrogant......
as you sound. Why would you lump all the new MT's in one category and assume they all expect $60,000 per year. When I first got in this field, I found most MT's were burnt out nurses who felt they were the only ones who could perform this job. They were wrong. Anyone with dedication and the desire to learn can be good at this job and YES make $60,000 with your kids at home. I should know, I have four kids, and have done all the little league, gymnastics, school volunteering, etc., that a mom wants to do. I find your assumptions an embarrassment and I would like the new MT's to know that you and your opinions do not represent me. Good luck to all newbies. Stick with it, and you can make your $60,000. It just takes time and hard work.
People have been saying that for years. Some have a different experience
I think that the industry is screening out people who don't really enjoy medical transcription and some who weren't prepared to do it well enough to make money. The jobs and money are pretty good for the people who like to do this work, are motivated, and know what they are doing. No complaints here! Also no put down of those who are not doing well. Medical transcription is not for everyone. That's not an insult. Find something you love and do it well!
I would rather hire someone with years of experience
and could care less what school they went to, than someone with no experience who came from the Big Three. Experience is valuable!
I'm making that after 19 years of experience
It would depend on what you're doing in three years as far as a job or having your own clients. I wouldn't expect to make $40,000.00 after three years. I think it will take a lot longer than that to build up to that kind of money; however, if you work 2 or 3 jobs, you could probably come close. You'll just always be transcribing and you'll have no time for anything else especially if you plan to work for a national.
You need 2 years of experience to take the CMT test. NM
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Four years' transcription experience, but new to MT
Hi, all.
I've been reading the forums with great interest for a few weeks now, and I realize the job market is pretty dire these days, but I thought I might ask for some advice all the same. I'm a stenographer, so I can write up to 225 words per minute in realtime, which comes in handy when producing accurate transcripts very quickly. During the school year I transcribe for Deaf and hard of hearing college students, but summers are slow for me, and I thought I might be able to find some seasonal overflow work to supplement my savings until August. I've been a general Transcriptionist since 2005, and have produced media editing scripts, scripts for closed captioning, transcripts of seminars and business meetings, among many others. Just this year I've been getting a lot of experience with medical terminology, transcribing interviews for an ophthalmology journal and classes for a Deaf student in Pharmacy school. The fact remains that I've never done any actual medical transcription work, per se. I'm not sure whether to market myself as an entry-level transcriptionist or as one with some experience. I've got a robust medical steno dictionary and considerable research skills, but I'm unfamiliar with formatting conventions. Where should I look to either supplement my training or to find an employer who would be willing to fill me in on what I need to know and then set me loose at 225 wpm?
wanted to share something from my 15+ years experience....
When I first started out, I graduated from a business college. Nine months, five days a week, four hours a day of schooling. When I finished top of my class I thought I was ready. I struggled to find a job; not too much outsourcing back then. I begged a medical records director to hire me on, and he did. I literally was not ready for what was to come. Luckily I was mentored by a lady who knew it all. She was great. After six years at the hospital, I broke away and started with my own accounts. I have raised four children (youngest in kindergarden). I have been a team mom for baseball, board of director member for local little league, and never missed a school function. This has been an awesome profession for me. Some days are better than others as far as pay is concerned, but on average I am pulling $200 a day....not bad.
There is a book out there that might be of help to you new graduates. It is called The Medical Phrase Book. That book helped me very much. The other thing that really works is using a telephone book A-Z to jot down new meds and words you learn.
Good luck to all of you.
I absolutely agree. I have 4 years' experience, but wouldn't try to enter the field now. nm
nm
I graduated from CAI years ago, always had work since
nm
Try to get a job in a hospital. Don't try to work at home for a few years of doing this full-tim
x
Work Experience
I am a recent MT graduate and I am a little nervous about the school I trained through, which was U.S. Career Institute and it was originally At-Home Professions. I have been trying to fill out applications for MT jobs and I am not sure what to check for experience in subspecialties? Any advice will be appreciated as how to fill out applications.
Thank You!
Roxie
Finding MT work with no experience
Hi,
I am a stay at home mom ready to re-enter the workforce. I am taking classes at a local college, Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, Medical Terminology, Medical Transcription, etc. I have previous secretarial experience, lots of data entry, transcription, etc. My question is, am I going to be able to find any work as a medical Transcriptionist without experience, and how do I get experience if no one will hire me?
Thanks in advance.
Take the outside experience. Will be invaluable for when you finally can work
s
Not a good idea to lie about work experience -
Chances are there is a reason they do not want someone with less. More than likely it will be obvious to who hires you that something is amiss. Never a good idea to lie about these things because you more than likely will be found out! Good luck to you. :-)
You have not been transcribing 10 years. Your resume reflects about 4 years tops. I am going to put
very little MT experience and now you're pushing software that posters can get for free. There is a problem with that. You need to search YOUR heart ands ask yourself just how helpful you are really trying to be to new MTs or if your lining your own pocketbook because you don't know how to transcribe yourself.
Physical Exam
Does anyone know of any good sites (or books that are not too pricey) that describe the steps of a PE? I have found bits and pieces here and there, but nothing that puts it all together. I type for orthos and sometimes they lose me on the provocative testing words. I am mainly looking for PE samples/explanations for things like: knee, shoulder, hip, wrist, ankle. I have a reference sheet that states their normals, but sometimes they do a test that isn't on the sheet and of course that is when they mumble and I just can't hear it properly. I think it would be helfpful for me to be able to picture the steps of the exam as they are dictating them.
Thanks for any ideas!
She is wrong--- you cannot even take the CMT exam -sm
until you have 2 years experience first of all, and yes it is through AAMT - they use an independent company that has offices all over the U.S. to give the test. No community college can offer it either, and it costs a lot more than $150 to take; AAMT member can take it for less, and non-members pay a bit more (~$300 or so), not sure of the exact prices but you can go to the AAMT website and they lay it all out, requirements, prices, etc. This is the ONLY CMT exam in existence. All you get in a course is a "certificate" for completing the MT course you took, it is NOT the same thing. You need to straighten your friend out, any company will know she is lying (however unintentionally) about being a CMT if she has no job experience.
What CMT exam? What college are you attending? (sm)
What CMT exam would this be? What organization sponsors it?
Yes, there are a number of groups offering "certification" exams, but there is only ONE recognized exam, and that is the CMT exam offered by the AAMT.
Somebody pops up monthly, it seems, offering some half-baked "exam" or other. Nobody recognizes them.
You can take them if you want, but they are a waste of your time and money. Most of them are only a means to get you to shell out money for the test, for the alleged "certification," and for continuing education units in the years after. And it's all a complete WASTE.
This is almost as big a scam in MT as crummy schools.
Please do your homework and find out exactly what this is before you spend money on it.
If it is not the AAMT exam, it is not recognized by anyone. And if it is the AAMT exam, you can't take it anyway because you don't have 2 years of experience.
Don't think that taking a different exam is going to help you get a job, because it won't. If you pass it and claim to be certified, employers will assume that you are misrepresenting your credentials and they won't hire you.
flunked my 1st employment exam
I just took my first employment exam ever with Transolutions. I really wanted that job because it seemed like the best company that still takes dialup. I live near the edge of nowhere and we don't get DSL. You have to have a 96 to pass the test, and I got a 93.9%. I am so bummed. Anybody else ever flunk one of these? Any tips on how to improve? Any job leads?
Is it worth taking the RMT exam?
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's because CS doesn't have an entrance exam, they will take money from anyone
regardless of whether they have a snowball's chance in you-know-where of ever making it as an MT.
I doubt its "the CMT exam" which AAMT has some organization
the test you are referring to is probabky your final exam there at the school and you will receive a "certificate" for MT, not the same thing. Also it cost $300 or so and you must have a minimum of 2 years experience working as a MT before you are even allowed to take the test. Go to the AAMT web site and look up the test certification requirements.
My final exam was all but ' simple, easy, clear
transcription. It was 70 pages long, 98% accuracy, the audio was mediocre. It was a good school, but not M-Tec or Andrews.
I've seen awful work from "experienced MTs and good work from new graduates
I've seen awful work from "experienced MTs and good work from new graduates.
Training and education really does make a difference. Some people just have 15 or 20 years of very bad experience. They may be fortunate that one employer was willing to hire and keep them, but if that one closed, they would be in trouble. It all depends on the person. some new graduates are a better bet then some experienced MTs. I would prefer to find an experienced MT with great skills and a teachable attitude, but many experienced MTs know everything and are only willing to do things the way they've always done them.
most psych work is included in multispecialty hospital work..sm
contracted to a medical transcription service that requires multispecialty experience because of the hospital work. Unfortunately, very rarely can a medical Transcriptionist these days be given only one specialty when working for a service or hospital. We have to be well versed in multi specialties. The Turn Around Time on demands have increased, and thus the service or hospital gives the MT many different types of work. Learn as many specialties and gain as much experience in different specialties, which in turn will make you a more valuable MT and more apt to gain employment.
Just be sure not to pay for work. There is an MTSO below who apparently charges to work for them (sm
It might be tempting when you're getting desperate for work to pay someone so you can work for them, but don't do it. You can buy software and a foot pedal on your own, so don't let them fool you. If you are approached via e-mail from this site by an MTSO saying they have work for you, please read the posts below before making any decisions.
I took their course 5 years ago - sm
I was quite happy with it and the price, cost a little bit more now but still reasonable. If you do all you are supposed to it does prepare you well enough, though I skipped a couple things (learning the abbreviations); and I skimmed on the actual practice dictation which was a big mistake but I wanted to graduate and get working. But I still passed the final, though not as well as I would have if I had practiced more in advance. Took me 2 months to land a job, another 2 to actually start that particular job though; in the meantime I cold-called and landed a job with a small local MTSO and started that one first, then the other fell into place about 6 weeks later (acute care where I was thrown to the wolves basically). Nothing beats learning on the job though and I learned lots while testing my butt off to land that first job. There are plenty of CAI grads, just many look down on them though the program is very good and you come out adequately prepared though I think no school can prepare you for the real deal, it can at least give you the tools and knowledge to deal with reality.
They have been saying that for years, but...
from what I gather, MT's will always be needed, even to just proof the voice recognition. I will say, however, that I am a recent grad, and am finding out that it doesn't pay very much unless you get perfect dictators, which is very slim to none in this business! Good luck with whatever you choose, but I would look into something else as far as medical to do.
MT for 5 years sm
My advice to you is to do as much research when looking for a job as possible. I did not do this and until I came to MTStars I thought the 0.7 cents per line was what everyone was making. I did not realize I was making almost the lowest rate in the business. I have been doing this parttime for 5 years and there are jobs out there, just make sure you do the research into the companies like you seem to be, and as others have said make sure you go to one of the reputable schools that companies will look for. Do not get discouraged, this can be a wonderful and lucrative business if you make sure to take your time before jumping.
With almost ten years of MT, I would say...
If 'q.d.' follows a medication as part of a medication sig, you must type 'q.d.' If 'q.d.' is dictated within context as a "short cut" for the doctor, you must type "daily".
These edits are required to produce more professional medical/legal document...and we all know that some dictators need all the help that we can give them.
IMO...
-Jade
I took this course years ago.....
I did get a job at a local hospital, but I had an advantage. I had previously worked as a CNA at multiple hospitals and nursing homes, and ward clerk at a hospital. This is a basic course and you will probably have a hard time finding a job. I'm not trying to be rude, just truthful.
How I did it and have been doing for over 10 years....
Okay, it is time to let the cat out of the bag on how you are going to be successful as a Transcriptionist out of school.
The first thing I am seeing is that these schools promise that you will be working from home making in upwards of $40,000 a year. Forget about that. You are new to this. If you come out of school working on a production basis you may very well fall flat on your face and make $3 an hour by the end of the day. I was a transcriptionist for almost 5 years working for a hospital and I decided I could make more working on a production basis.......I failed miserably my first year.
First off, get experience under your belt and make an hourly rate in the meantime. How did I do this? Well, I started out getting a job in a hospital, any job I could get. I started out in billing, even though I wanted transcription. I watched and waited for openings, when finally someone in the psychiatric unit called me (I made friends with everyone, the key to getting calls like this one) and said they were losing their transcriptionist and I should apply. I applied and got my first transcription job, making an hourly rate. Had I not gotten pregnant with twins I would probably still be there.
After babies were born, went back part time in the evenings. This time since I had experience and another local hospital was willing to hire me in the radiology department. Again, hourly. I watched and waited once again (I hated radiology transcription). I got to know who was in charge in the transcription department. I sent her a fax asking her if she needed any part time help (back then there was no work related email). She said, yes, I could work part time (I now had "experience"). The part time went to full time with benefits. However, I got bored and decided to work for, of all companies, Medquist. I thought with my speed I would be making at least $20 an hour.....hahahahahahahahaha, what a joke. I was lucky to make $8 an hour with them. After about a year of struggling I finally got my foot back in the door of a hospital in another state. I had to commute to the hospital every day during training, it was awful, however, now I again work from home, have the ability to make about $20 or more per hour, I own my own home, own a half decent car, I am divorced and don't take any child support from my ex, instead we share in the custody 50/50.
The moral of my story........
Get your foot in the door. Look for jobs that are front desk, secretarial, whatever. Once you are in there and they realize how great you are you can go wherever you want. My first transcription job in the psychiatric unit also involved secretarial duties, so not just straight transcription. I highly recommend getting into a hospital. The bennies are the best and lots of hospital transcriptionists are working from home with full hospital benefits. If you can't get into a hospital, get into anywhere where you can do some sort of typing/transcription, that way you have your first reference/experience when you apply to a company that is strictly work from home. Everyone wants experience, they just don't want to be the ones to give it to you.
I am so tired of seeing these schools and companies swindle people.
If you are looking into training, I highly recommend your local community college. You will probably take some credit college courses that will be able to be used should you decide to do something else. My local community college has a course for under $3000 and there are college credit courses that are able to be used towards another degree.
I did my training as a medical assistant, transcription was only part of the course. However, now I am so bored with transcription that I am going back to school to be a nurse.
I hope this helps someone out there. Good luck to you all!
I know 2 different MTs with 30 years
in this business. One lost an account to EMR and the other lost a good portion of an account to "writing in charts" which is a clue that particular account is going EMR most likely in the near future and trying to save money to purchase it... It is very expensive for the doctors (more than our pay). My PCP uses it and he said it is very costly but he is still using it.
Now those MTs that lost accounts are working for nationals and averaging between 6 and 8 dollars an hour because they are being thrown horrible dictators and platforms that aren't up to par.
Everyone in this business is struggling and thankful for what they have and afraid to ask for a raise. I have 2 of my own accounts that I haven't had a raise in 10 years because I know someone will underbid me in a New York minute if I were to raise my rates.
I just like what I do and like the flexibility, but if I were to spend $4,000.00 it would definitely not be to become an MT, not by today's standards anyway.
Can you share where you work that the work is plentiful? nm
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Been at it 25+ years, still love it the same way I did at first. NM
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Two years this month.
I was just telling some gals that I have made the mistake of attaching versus copy and paste more than once. I was applying to many companies and simply not reading directions word-for-word while doing so. With "many" companies actually preferring the attachment method, I just honestly got in a hurry and didn't pay attention. I did this as a new grad, I've done it with a couple years' experience! I also caught it right away too, and resubmitted, but that's not the point. Just like MTSOs "scan" resumes in a few seconds, I scanned ads. Just a fact! I'm busy too, whether I'm working or not. I know better now though!
I think as a newbie, and with so many companies using the "two-year experience clause," I just felt like a submitting machine. I didn't put a lot of thought into what I was actually submitting, because I really didn't expect anyone to pay much attention to me no matter what I did.
I did, however, make sure that I spellchecked any communications and tried to be as professional as possible. You might be surprised at how "unprofessional" some MTSOs are! I am hearing them say that they don't want to hear about personal issues, but I have also had many come back and burden me with their own! They sometimes set the tone for casual-type communications, which I find offensive and unnecessary.
I started out with all my resources in place. I think that MTSOs have to remember that a newbie is just that. We have just spent thousands to be educated, bought a new computer in some cases, bought a library maybe, and had to set up an office in our home as well. I invested thousands before I applied for my first job! An experienced mentor and friend told me not to scrimp where resources were concerned, and I didn't! The generalization of the MTSO about newbies was what ticked me off. We might make mistakes, but who doesn't? That was unfair!
As far as the $400 phone system, that I would have noticed and passed on immediately. Some schools don't even explain what these are. I had to ask! I now own one that I haven't used in over a year since I bought it. You are trained with Wav files, which is the more prevalent of the two forms of obtaining voice files, and no, I don't have one sitting around "just in case." These bad boys cost from $300-$800. Get real. I doubt there are many experienced MTs who have this or would spend that kind of money upfront before ever hearing the dictators and knowing what you are getting into.
I do, however, think it is perfectly fair to expect that applicants have the basics in place, i.e., resource books, Word processing program, updated computer with protection, and at least a USB pedal.
There is no excuse for punctuation, spelling and grammatical errors in any communications related to finding work. I agree with that.
I hired on with Medquist out of school, or soon thereafter. Here was their attitude at my office: Leave a ton of blanks, time is money, you will learn from your feedback (if you are lucky enough to get it).
I was very uncomfortable with that! I wanted to learn and grow. I was perfectly willing to spend ten minutes researching a single word or phrase in order to learn, and I felt good about my results. Fact is, more companies than not could care less. I've been told that we hire editors for that, so move on. Time is money!
I continually st rived for perfection, and that does take time. You have to be willing to spend countless hours in research and then verification through viable resources your first years. I did, and I don't regret it. Let's take into consideration also though that I was in a position to do that! I do this because I'm good at it and I love it. If I had to pay the mortgage and support a couple of kids, I might look at things in a whole different light.
I think that schools and their ads are a big problem when it comes to moms at home. They give the impression that having children, as well as not being able to pay for child-care services is some sort of prerequisite for this work! If you have these needs, this job is for you. Bull!!
Then, you have people replying to questions like, "why did you choose this career" with responses like, "I have kids and can't afford child care," versus, "I love this work, and I am good at it."
I personally strive and always have for perfection. I have done my time in downtime, and that is with an extensive medical background beforehand! You really have to be willing to give your all, work hard and for little to start. That's a fact!
IMO, schools are failing sometimes to provide their students with essential information in important areas. I see new grads out on the moon alone the day after they pass their exam with nothing but a lousy outdated list of companies to apply to.
Yes, I think you addressed this issue appropriately. I hope it turns into a revealing and learning thread for all concerned!
Thanks,
Missy C
been filing IC for over 15 years
You will definitely need a CPA for this one. You will get to deduct what ever portion of your home you use from your mortgage payment (if you use a room that is 250 squre feet in your 1,000 square foot home, you can deduct 25% of your mortgage payment and utilities), part of your auto (depending if you use your car at all to pick up or deliver work), internet costs, phone costs, and the list goes on.
Personally I do not set aside taxes for my share of the household income. My husband claims 0 and covers mine and his; seems to work for us.
You will definitely need a CPA because there are things you must pay such as self employment tax. If you try to do this yourself and make a mistake it can be very costly later on.
Good luck!!! I hope you enjoy being your own boss. I certainly do.
This is the 3 cpl job, right? Your pay should go up in several weeks, NOT in several years! nm
s
My mentor 12 years ago.
was the owner of a small MTSO here in town. She took me from typing psychiatric accounts to acute care and I worked for her for 8 years. The pay was low at first at $7 an hour, but in a few months I went to incentive and was making a lot more money and learning every day. So I would say to get some resumes made up and get out the yellow pages and see what you can find around town. Most hospitals I applied to would not accept me until I had experience, which now I can understand why. It's really hard now if you're new and most MTs are at home. I miss that I can ask any questions of my coworkers if I was stumped on something, or asking if they would please listen to something.
You are very lucky, with 4+ years exp, I get .09 cpl - nm
x
where have you been for the past two years?
You say, "In-house jobs are being outsourced rapidly" and then draw the conclusion that there must be a demand for more MT's? Where do you think those jobs are being outsourced? It ain't Kokomo, it's New Delhi, etc. It used to be new MT's COULD get a job, back in the old days when the market wasn't imploding. But even then, you really needed to work in house before you could work from home. It ain't as easy as it seems, especially with ESL's.
Look I'm sorry you got misled about the field. But flogging a dead horse isn't going to help.
That was not the case 6 years ago, though - sm
things might have changed. MQ will allow graduates from certain programs apply though they have no experience, granted you have to pass the test in order to get a job. If you fail it they say to reapply in 6 months.
We were all newbies, but 5 years ago you
had a better chance at getting a job. If you only want to hear the good stuff you aren't going to learn anything. I feel for you, I really do, but if you had investigated before taking your course you would have been better informed. I don't care how much anatomy and terminology you had and I don't care if you made 100% on every test, you still have not experienced real transcription. There was one newbie MT that had a cerficiate stating she had a completed a course and she insisted she was a certified MT, which she was not.
I'm self-taught, got into the business quite by accident, but I have also seen at it for 20+ years and things were much different then.
I know you're frustrated but we're trying to educate you and you aren't open to hearing anything that isn't positive.
MDI-MD requires their MTs to have 3-5 years of
experience, I think. They are a great company, but they aren't set up for mentoring newbies. Good luck. 
I did not incorporate until 15 years into being an IC
My husband and I file a joint return, and my social security number was what I used in lieu of a federal tax ID#.
I worked for probably 12 years with only one
computer, but I was the only one who pretty much used the computer. That was years ago before the internet became what it has and you weren't downloading music, uploading pictures, etc. I would make sure you have a good virus protection program. If you have a SO that likes to play on-line games or computer games or have kids who need the computer for research I wouldn't spend the funds for a second computer, especially if funds are tight.
I only made $13.00 after 20 years
If you want to just get the experience, then go for it. Once you've gained talent and speed and enough experience, you can take that and make more than that much per hour by working production, but at least hourly, you can slack a little at times and not worry.
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