Pell Grants are available to low income students attending a participating post secondary educational program. The amount you receive depends upon your income, your parents' income if you are a dependent, and other assets available. You must also be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen attending or applying to a qualified school.
Even if you do not qualify for the maximum amount, you may get partial funding from a Pell Grant. The institution you are attending may credit the Pell Grant money directly to your educational costs or you may receive a check and will need to pay your costs from there.
Other Federal Grants may also be available, such as the Academic Competitiveness Grant if the student is attending a qualifying school or program at a particular school, and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant for students with a greater financial need. You may need to be qualified for a Pell Grant in order to qualify for either of these grants.
Check with your state's Department of Education to see if they offer grants that meet your needs. These grants may be based on financial need, your career plans, your background or other criteria. Grants can be awarded specifically to students in occupational and vocational programs. You may need to complete the FAFSA in addition to any state forms.
Many medical transcription schools are not eligible for Pell Grant funding because they are not accredited by an authorized agency. The ability of a particular program to accept Pell Grants or other grants is not an indication of whether or not you will get a quality education through that program. You are advised to research any medical transcription school you are considering to be certain that it will meet your long term goals.