Students take courses in medical terminology, keyboarding/word processing, transcription and medical legal issues. The number and type of courses required varies depending on the type of institution awarding the certificate in medical transcription.
The North Carolina Community College System offers a two-year degree in medical office administration. The required course work for transcriptionists is housed under this program. Some colleges, such as Johnston Community College in Smithfield, offer a part-time, three-semester program leading to the medical transcription certificate. Contact your local community college to see if this option is offered. As of the 2009-2010 school year, tuition in the NCCCS was $50 per credit hour. The 16-credit-hour certificate at JCC would cost $800 plus student fees and books.
Some colleges offer an online partnership through their continuing education departments in conjunction with national online providers. This option is more convenient but more costly than the community college option. North Carolina State University partners with Gatlin Education to offer the certificate that in 2010 required 240 contact hours and cost $1,599.
Some private technical schools, such as TechSkills in Raleigh, offer medical transcription training is metropolitan areas in North Carolina. Check for technical schools in your area. In the Raleigh area, contact:
TechSkills
5400 Trinity Road, Ste. 102
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
919-851-1700
Regardless of the source of training, certification in the field greatly improves chances of finding a job. According to The Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity awards two voluntary designations; registered medical transcriptionist (RMT) and certified medical transcriptionist (CMT).