Which AHDI approved school is best?
Posted By: Keri on 2007-08-20
In Reply to:
I want to become a MT. Which online school/course should I go through? Once I am a MT will I have steady work if I choose to do it from home? Thank you.
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Are they actually AHDI approved?
You can find a list of AHDI-approved schools on their website.
MSU-Bottineau AHDI Approved
Hello, I work at Minot State University - Bottineau and we were recently approved by the AHDI. We offer a Medical Transcription Diploma program online. We are an accredited school and financial aid is available for this program. After you have completed our program, the AHDI will set up an apprenticeship for the student so he/she can start working right away. We are a small campus located in North Dakota. At our school, you get one-on-one attention and you aren't just a number. I just wanted to get our name out there. Let me know if you have any questions, thanks!
AHDI (AAMT) approved list
http://www.ahdionline.org/scriptcontent/mtapproved.cfm
approved course
What is the difference in being an Institutional Member of American Association for Medical Transcription and being an approved AAMT course?
AHDI.........s/m
I agree with deenibeeni, this has nothing to do with getting hired or not. Most of the MTSOs and clients do not care about the AHDI and if the schools are accredited or not. Clients set their own format requirements, often disregarding AHDI rules.
They know about M-Tec and Andrews, which are the 2 best schools and prepare the MTs better than the other schools, but who can afford them? Otherwise, I do not think that there is a big difference between one or the other MT school.
Once hired there is a lot of on-the-job learning, especially technically.
M-TEC is AAMT approved
M-TEC would get my vote, because they are the only school that has been approved by the American Association for Medical Transcription.
AAMT-approved
My school was AAMT-approved. But so far even the local companies in my area won't hire without experience. I live right outside of Nashville and have several companies including eTransPlus, Transhealth, and Spheris close by. Medquist recently moved. TransHealth was at least nice enough to reply back to my application. The others haven't done anything. Thanks for your responses.
Approved schools
First, I think M-Tec is the best school out there. As far as I know, they are the only one who includes technology training in their curriculum.
I would recommend looking into approved schools on the AHDI site (http://www.aamt.org/scriptcontent/mtapproved.cfm). Your friend can then consider getting her RMT and participating in the Registered Apprentice Program right afte graduation. (http://www.aamt.org/ScriptContent/apprentice.cfm)
CS is AAMT Approved
:)
Could try RMT w/less than 2 yrs exp. check w/AHDI
x
AHDI online
I don't know if this would help or not. I think they would be your best bet at finding your answer 100%.
There are only two approved/certified by the AAMT.
.
From what I understand when I asked the AHDI...
An approved course means that they passed the AHDI's requirements (you can see the requirements that must be met on the AHDI's website), but an instutional member only means they have paid a fee to become a member of the AHDI. The AHDI in no way endorses these companies. Any company can pay the fee and become an instutional member. This is evident in that a company that is a known scam in the MT community is an instutional member of the AHDI.
AHDI has heard of MTec
The AHDI has definitely heard of MTec--they're on their list of approved schools. The list is on the AHDI website.
Most national services have heard of MTec, too. If you asked a small, local company, they might not have, but many, many other companies will have heard of them, since they tend to hire a lot of MTec and Andrews grads.
Approval by AHDI/AHIMA
That's not what accreditation means. You might want to look it up. Your interest in doing that is a clue to your suitability for MT. If you jump at the chance, you're cut out to be an MT. If you don't want to do it, think twice about getting into a field where looking things up is 90% of the job.
There is no "accreditation" program for MT courses. There is, however, an "approval" program run by a joint committee of the AHDI and AHIMA.
Approval just means the school met the standards on paper. It doesn't mean they teach MT successfully. There are a lot of schools on the approval list whose graduates can't get jobs because their training isn't adequate.
Approval by AHDI/AHIMA
means much less than you think. This organization is not an academic board, nor a board of licensure. They think rather too highly of themselves. I know many fine MTs who are not and have never been associated with AHDI. I am one of those people. I make an excellent salary, even in this economy, and have never once been asked about AHDI. They are, quite simply, irrelevant. They are also one of the reasons much of our work is being offshored. I will not support them in any way whatsoever.
M-TEC and Andrews are the two best. Forget about the approved schools ...
they approved Career Step despite the fact that it did NOT even meet their criteria!
AHDI Student Alliance has a mentor
program set up. If you can, visit the AHDISA website. Just post that you are interseted in the postgraduate mentor program, and they will give you more info.
Website is ahdisa.org
Good luck! 
"approved" by AHDI doesn't mean its great (nm)
TRSI is "approved" and they are a terrible school. They ignore students, they don't teach you anything, and I wasted my money there. I'm at Medline now and its a great school, yet both are "approved," so just because a school is approved doesn't mean its the best. Its how the school treats the student, I have learned. Jeni.
You say CS, is this Career Step? Is this one of the AAMT approved schools? sm
I know there are several, but can't remember their names. If so, you probably don't need to worry about a local college. The AAMT approved schools (I am not an AAMT supporter) will at least get you a good chance at a job, if you do well.
Don't worry about the grumblers. Complaining is human nature, I do it myself. If you get good training, work hard and are a flexible, fast learner, you can make a good living. Those of us from the old school miss the "gravy days," but they'll never come back. It's still a good profession, especially if you approach it as one, not a sideline. Good luck.
Apparently, the AHDI can't make up their mind! See inside
From the FAQ on their website (as mentioned by someone else here):
"Two years of transcription experience in the acute care (or equivalent) setting is required to take the CMT certification examination."
Accredited basically means they offer financial aid. Did you mean AAMT-Approved?
If it's an AAMT-approved school, you won't have a problem. Schools that provide financial aid are required to be accredited. That means their financial records are reviewed to make sure the government's money is being handled right. They aren't evaluating the value of the course or qualifications of the course to teach medical transcription.
Forget "approved" schools. AAMT set the criteria, then approved schools that didn't meet i
Stick with Andrews or M-Tec (both of which happen to be "approved") but forget about any others, they are not worth it.
Agree with an outside school, but I went to a business & tech school. Great experience, better
s
You CAN get a job at home, right out of school, but it has to be a GOOD school.
You should enroll in Andrews School or M-TEC. I know you don't want to spend more money, but at least you WILL be able to get a job. If you thought At Home Professions was a good course, you will be totally amazed at what you DIDN'T learn in that course that you WILL learn at the two good schools. There is no "required" curriculum for MT, anybody can open up a school, charge what they want, and teach what they want. Companies will waive the 2-years' experience requirement for graduates of Andrews School and M-TEC, but NOT for the other schools.
School?
Has anyone graduated from Thomson Education Direct and got hired anywhere?
Just wondering about choosing the right school for medical transcription course.
MT school
I attend the Andrews School. It has a very good reputation among national services--some will even waive the minimum 2-year experience requirement and allow you to test for them if you are an Andrews graduate. I have heard good things about M-Tec as well. I would suggest that you contact hospitals, nationals, etc. that you might want to work for and ask them which schools they suggest as far as turning out job-ready graduates. Good luck!
$ for MT school
No, I don't. We have debt out of our ears but you can make payments or charge it or whatever it takes. I've always had to spend money to make money. I just want to make sure I can make it back fairly soon. When I do the math it seems like you have to be pretty darn fast at transcription to earn a living. I admire the people out there doing it!
School and $$$
Hey, sorry about your ankle. Sounds like this could be a perfect time to study for MT. I'm sure I saw scholarship information that was based on financial need on one of the "3" schools...Andrews, MTEC or Career Step. Go to their websites and see! All the best to you! 
What to look for in a school
There are three things to look at in choosing a school and neither of them is money.
The first is whether national services already hire their grads and keep them longer than 6 months.
The second is what percentage of the grads score adequately on the employer's test.
The third is how many students complete the course with a grade of 95% or better on the first try.
Even if an employer is willing to hire from a school, if few grads pass his test and qualify to be hired, then the school isn't so hot. If the employer hires, but the grads can't keep the job for even 6 months, then the school isn't so hot. If the school has a high drop-out rate and many students (sometimes "most") don't make it to graduation, then the school isn't so hot. If it takes students several tries to pass, then the school isn't so hot.
You can see that just examining whether an employer will hire a grad isn't such a good measure. You also have to look at how many students get to graduation, how they got there, how many of them passed the test, and how many of those didn't get fired or quit in frustration.
You want a school whose grads are almost uniformly hired by nationals and which graduates nearly all students (all have drops, but you want a low level of those) on the first try.
Considering all that, you have two options: M-Tec and Andrews. And Andrews has a pre-admission test you'll need to pass to get in.
In your case, you should not go for a school which will allow you to skip any courses. You don't know anatomy and terminology like you'll need it for MT--what you know is what you need for billing, and that is different. Unless you hold a PhD in anatomy, you need to refresh your memory. Any school that lets you get away with not doing that does not have your best interests in mind.
School
I recently graduated from Thomson Education Direct. Recently changed to Penn Foster.... I made 49.00 month payments with no interest. Is a good school!
yes, I'm still in school ..... nm
zz
Still in school????
I assumed from your post you were a recent graduate.
school
I agree.....Accept a challenge to succeed.
School
Education Direct,,,now called Penn Foster.
Great School!
School
HHHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMM! I just graduated and landed a job within one week.!!!!
School
Are you stocking me? Your a stress ball!
Is school a must?
I have been an administrative assistant for 8 + years and I will be graduating from my Medical Office Specialist/Billing and Coding class in May. Do I absolutely have to go to school to become an MT or can I just test to get a job? Any responses will be greatly appreciated.
Shona`
re: Is school a must?
Yes! Have you mastered anatomy and physiology? Do you know pharmacology? Can you know medical abbreviations? Can you decipher various dialects of providers well enough to produce a medicolegal document? How about the body systems, brain functioning, neurology, endocrinology, cardiology, orthopedics, pulmonology, etc., operative techniques? Medical terminology of all the above specialities, plus more, then if your answer is yes, then test away. Transcription is a labor intensive occupation that requires medical knowledge, dedication, and accuracy.
Is school a must?
If you are really good at learning from a book and feel like you lack experience in just a few areas, then study that way. I got a little training but mostly I was self taught. I knew what I wanted and studied from books and listened to any dictations I could find. The hardest part is getting your foot in the door. I put applications in everywhere and was lucky to have a small MTSO let me show them what I was capable of though. If you have the extra money for the schooling, then go for it. I dont believe that it's a must though.
Good luck!
What school did you go to?
They should be able to help you, if the school was any good. If not, then you need more education from a better school.
school
I graduated from Career Step recently and I felt they thoroughly educated me on just about everything i needed to know. I took the online course and it took me about 9 months to finish.
School
NC Newbie -- what school did you attend? I assume you're from North Carolina, and so am I. Since I have done acute medical transcription years ago, I am in the process of trying to find a school for refresher courses. A lot of medical stays the same, but there are a lot of new procedures, drugs, etc.
Perhaps your school? (sm)
I would first check with your school for assistance. Many schools will offer some type of program to help get you pointed in the right direction.
If you went to one of the top three I know for sure that they offer assistance in this area.
Get your school to help you.
Your school knows which ones of the employers really like graduates of the school you attended. They know where they have been successful. If they have no employers clamoring to hire their graduates, you've got a problem. That means the employers have seen what their graduates can do and they don't like it.
Then you may have to work in a doctor's office. The pay isn't good, there are rarely opportunities for pay increases, but at least it's something.
I hope the first scenario describes you. Good luck with your new career!
The School you went to?
Career Step. I've heard of this school before, but like you I am still in the researching process for the best place to take the on-line course. How expensive was this course? Can you email me your answer. Thanks
My email address is: louisem@cinci.rr.com
Thanks again. Awaiting your response.
Where did you go to school?
Many comapnies will waive that 2-year requirement if you attended a school with a solid reputation of producing work-ready grads. Again, you get what you pay for.
school
I wouldn't go by one person's opinion. I am going through that program and I think it is good. It is very detailed and they teach about everything. They didn't even say what they sent the 14yr old there for anyway, maybe that particular course was bad.
The best school for you
In the MT world you will hear people talk about the Top Three. That would be Andrews, MTec, and Career Step. These are all good. The best school is the one that is going to be the most comfortable fit for you, and you will find that out by visiting their websites and forums. Like everything else in life, cost may be the determining factor. All three of these "top three" schools are good and their courses are very comprehensive, so you will have tons of work to do whichever one you choose. Be sure to choose a program which will help you find a job. It is surprising how many people enroll in courses which do not offer them any assistance at all. Courses also vary in length and instructional methods, so you'll have to decide how much time you can spend studying each day. Good luck!
Best school
A good school to look at is Janet Stiles electronically taught transcription. You can get more info at www.settinc.com
Best school
I took Career Step and it was great. I graduated within 7 months with high honors and I got a job in less than a week. If you go directly through careerstep.com you will only pay about $1350. Yeah, it sounds like a lot of money, but it's not when you actually see how much experience you get from just taking the course. I got a job that was looking for 2 years of experience.
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