Accreditation is the best sign that a school is legitimate. Accreditation is not required in the medical transcription field like it is in some others, but it can be a good indication of the quality of a school. If a distance learning school is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), it is a sign that it is for real. The DETC is an accreditation body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Another body that should approve a program is the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). If this body approves a school, it is a sure sign that the school is legitimate, and that graduating from their program will provide you with authentic credentials. AHDI also administers the two primary certification exams that are used within the medical transcriptionist industry. The first certification is known as RMT, or registered medical transcriptionist. This certification is for recent graduates or workers new to the industry. Taking an AHDI-approved course will typically prepare you well for certification as an RMT.
One reason that the world of medical transcription schools is so muddy is that many of the schools that offer training in this area do offer online courses or distance education options. The problem is that the Internet is where most of the scam schools appear as well. AHDI lists more than 20 approved schools on their website that offer distance education options. More approved schools offer solely distance-based education than campus-only options. The A & H Training Corporation, Dakota College at Bottineau and Mt. Hood Community College are some examples of programs that have actual campus training. Schools like M-Tec, Allied Medical School and Career Step are approved, but only have distance-learning options available.
Because the legitimate schools and the scams intermingle in your search results online, you need to learn how to spot the schools that aren't offering you an education with any real value. Be very careful of schools that promise employment upon graduation, or that extol the number of jobs the industry has available. Like all fields, medical transcription experiences its ups and downs, and is competitive. Any program that offers to "certify" you as a medical transcriptionist that is not AHDI- or DETC-affiliated should be treated cautiously. Companies that offer training on the job are also to be watched, as legitimate jobs should usually require two years of training. Also, be aware of schools that claim to be "accredited," but aren't associated with the AHDI or DETC.