Obtain your high school diploma or your GED, which are required for working toward your certification in medical transcription.
Purchase library and reference books on medical training and medical terms. This will help you prepare for your career in medical transcription. Websites such as Medical Transcription Word Help and Med Terms (see Resources) feature a vast amount of free reference information and resources for medical words and meanings.
Learn and become familiar with the dictation and typing software a transcriptionist is required use when transcribing medical reports and recordings. You will also need to improve your typing skills to be entirely efficient as your work load increases.
Apply for a training and certification program in becoming a medical transcriptionist. Although becoming certified is optional, it is highly recommended, as this will allow you to advance ahead of others who do not have certification. Programs vary from state to state; some websites such as All Allied Health Schools (see Resources) provide detailed program and sign up information for each state's certification programs.
Apply for a job as a medical transcriptionist at your local hospital, doctor's office, or if possible, your local free clinic, highlighting any personal hands-on experience, training, and your certification (if you received it). Nursing homes, home health agencies and other public health businesses also hire medical transcriptionists.