| The importance of the medical transcriptionist can | | | | or AAMT, grants the voluntary designation of |
| never be overestimated. The reports that they | | | | Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) to students |
| document can make the difference between right | | | | who pass a certified examination. The constant |
| and wrong treatment. A small error can lead to bad | | | | evolving of medicine requires the medical |
| or even fatal consequences. Thus, formal training | | | | transcriptionist to frequently update his or her skills. |
| becomes a necessity for them. | | | | Every three years, CMTs must produce continuing |
| Employers generally choose to hire transcriptionists | | | | education credits for recertification. |
| who have done their post-secondary training in the | | | | Apart from understanding medical lingo, it is |
| field, which is offered by community colleges, | | | | imperative for transcriptionists to have competent |
| vocational schools and distance-learning programs. | | | | English grammar and punctuation skills. Also, familiarity |
| Though not always obligatory, the completion of a | | | | with computers and word processing software will |
| 1-year certificate program or a 2-year associate | | | | come in handy. Normal sharpness in hearing and |
| degree is recommended. These courses may include | | | | attentive listening skills are crucial, too. Applicants are |
| anatomy, medical terms and legal issues involving | | | | sometimes required to take pre-employment exams, |
| health care documentation, and grammar and | | | | with employers generally preferring those with |
| punctuation of the English language. Most of these | | | | experience. |
| programs offer supervised on-the-job training. | | | | With certain experience, medical transcriptionists can |
| Transcriptionists, who are already attuned with | | | | elevate to administrative positions, editing, |
| medical jargon from prior experience as a medical | | | | home-based work or teaching. With supplementary |
| secretary or a nurse, become adept through training | | | | training or education, transcriptionists can become |
| and refresher courses. | | | | health information technicians, health information |
| The American Association for Medical Transcription, | | | | administrators or medical coders. |