One of the fastest growing work-from-home positions is medical transcription work. Although not all of these jobs are work-from-home positions, most of them are. If you are interested in this field, you may wonder what sort of training you need and how to find scholarships for medical transcription training. In fact, you do not actually need to be certified to become a medical transcriptionist. Many people choose to join this field based on the strength of their own skills.
A medical transcriptionist takes audible files from doctors and transcribes them into text. It is important that this work is done very accurately as these texts will be part of the patient’s medical records file. The doctor may use these records to prescribe future treatment for the patient. The smallest mistake could be disastrous for the patient. In order to be a good medical transcriptionist, you need to be knowledgeable about medical terminology and you must have above average spelling, communication and memory skills. In addition, you should be able to sort and verify numbers with very detailed accuracy. You will need to be able to operate most basic office equipment and computer software. As your job is dependent upon typing, you will need to have fast and accurate typing skills.
If you feel that you have these skills but you would like to hone them, you should enroll in a medical transcription course. Most employers prefer to hire transcriptionists who have completed some training. There are two-year associate’s degrees and one-year certificate programs available at many community colleges and vocational schools. These courses offer classes on anatomy, medical terms, the legalities of healthcare documentation, and English grammar.
In order to pay for one of these courses, you may need to find some grants or scholarships for medical transcription courses. If you do not already have a bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible for grants. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you may still be able to qualify for some low-interest loans. In order to see what you qualify for, you should speak with the administrators at the school you plan to enroll at. They will have information about scholarships and loans. In addition, you should fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This form collects information about your income from the past two years. If you are a minor, you may also have to include information about your parents’ income.
If you do not qualify for any grants or scholarships, you should not hesitate to take out some loans for this course of study. Government based loans have very low interest rates, and sometimes, they can even be used to cover basic living expenses like rent or utilities. It is also worthwhile to contact the local charities in your area. They may offer general scholarships or specific scholarships for medical transcription. Groups like the Rotary Club or the Lions are notorious for offering scholarships as are businesses like Walmart and Target.
Once you have completed your education, you can look forward to an exciting and flexible career. You will probably earn about $14 to $17 per hour, and in some cases, you can even earn more. Most importantly, you will be able to work from home, and you will know that you are helping people.
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