Looking Out for Scams in the Medical Transcription Industry

Medical transcription is a very popular option forBut what about community colleges, you may ask?
working at home. Landing that first job after trainingSome do indeed have good programs for less, but
can be tough, but it's legitimate work once you getthey generally lack the reputation that helps you to land
going.that ever so hard to find first job. Talk to the school in
But that's the challenge. Getting things going.detail about their placement rate after training if this is
The first thing you need to understand about medicalthe option you would prefer to pursue.
transcription is that you need training at the very least,Watch out for companies that claim to give you
and quite possibly some experience, before you cantraining with no experience that will lead to a job. There
find that transcription job from home. Most employersis one company in particular which changes names
will not train you on the job. Due to the sensitive natureregularly, which emphasizes its "Christian" character,
of this field, they need people who are prepared toyet is nothing more than a scam. They require
work and dedicated to their jobs.students to purchase software, and then you never
Before you sign up with any online medical transcriptionget good enough to get paid. The name change can
school, you need to research them. You want tomake them hard to identify, but the routine stays more
ensure that you have a good shot at actually landing aor less the same.
job afterward. Choose a poor quality school and youWhen it comes time to look for actual work, many
are less likely to land any job at all.employers will consider you to be an independent
There are three schools that are commonlycontractor rather than an employee. This is an
recommended by just about any MT discussion board.important difference both at tax time and in how you
They are The Andrews School, M-Tec andget your equipment. You may be expected to provide
CareerStep. The first two are considered by far to beyour own, although some companies may send it to
the best, but many employers do approve ofyou.
CareerStep as well. It's also more affordable than theAs with any work at home job, employers should not
other two, which is a consideration for many potentialexpect you to pay for the privilege of applying to work
students.for them. No fees to show that you're serious, for
That good reputation is key to getting a job in thisexample. They should be clear about how you will get
industry. Without it you are going to struggle to findpaid. In most cases you will be paid on production
work. Good schools have a solid reputation, and manyrather than hourly, typically a set rate per line. One line
of them use the HPI training program. They may alsois often 65-75 characters in length.
offer job placement assistance.As with any work at home opportunity, medical
Do not expect to pay just a few hundred dollars fortranscription scams are out there. But if you are
training. Quality training is a bit pricey, and goodcareful and do your research, you can avoid these
programs run at least $1000 and often over $2000.and enjoy a fruitful career.
This is not a cheap deal.