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Medical Transcriptionist Degrees for Military and Veterans

Medical Transcriptionist Degrees for Military and Veterans

What Is a Medical Transcriptionist Degree?

A Medical Transcriptionist Degree or Certificate trains students how to document medical dictation, patient histories and exams, diagnostic findings, and treatment plans. They learn medical terminology and transcription skills and take courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and healthcare ethics. Graduates then work in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and transcription service companies.

Medical transcription editors also have a Medical Transcriptionist Degree or Certificate, although some companies will allow those who hold a high school diploma with previous work experience to land a position.

Types of Medical Transcriptionist Degrees

Depending upon the company and position, job requirements for medical transcription range from having a high school diploma or GED and certification to requiring an Associate’s Degree. Associate’s Degrees for medical transcription take about two years while earning a certificate takes up to one year.

Depending on the school, Associate’s Degree programs can be completed online or on campus. Associate’s Degrees may cover coursework in science, language, business, medical terminology, and generalized subjects and offer hands-on training in transcription. Certificate programs typically focus only on medical transcription topics.

What Can You Do with a Medical Transcriptionist Degree?

Students can become medical transcriptionists, whose main responsibility it is to transcribe dictation from healthcare professionals into written reports. Medical transcriptionists make about $37,060 annually. Students can also find jobs as medical coders. Their main responsibilities are to translate medical services, procedures and diagnoses into a numeric or alphanumeric code. They make about $54,973 annually.

Additionally, students can find opportunities as medical editors, where they review and edit transcribed documents for accuracy, completeness, and clarity. Medical editors make considerably more, at about $77,522 per year.

Is a Medical Transcriptionist Degree Worth It?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a decline of jobs in medical transcription in the coming years. New tech—like speech recognition software, electronic medical records and AI— are some of the reasons medical transcriptionists are seeing lower pay and less jobs. Medical transcription editors will, however, always be necessary because tech is not foolproof.

It still needs human overseers to confirm its accuracy. Anyone interested in becoming a medical transcription editor should familiarize themselves with the aforementioned technology.

Also, a person with a Medical Transcription Degree can find work in general or legal transcription.

Is a Medical Transcriptionist Degree Hard?

A Medical Transcriptionist Degree can be challenging due to the precision and focus required to excel in the coursework. Students need to learn complex medical terminology, be accurate typists, and be familiar with transcription software. Strong attention to detail and the ability to work under stressful deadlines are also required skills for students.

Select VA-Approved Colleges with Medical Transcriptionist Assistant Programs

Northland Pioneer College- Northland Pioneer College offers an Associates Degree in Medical Transcription and has GI Bill-approved programs, offers credit for military experience, is approved for Tuition Assistance, and awards credit for the CLEP exam.

Southwestern Community College- Southwestern Community College offers an Associates Degree in Medical Transcription. It has GI Bill-approved programs, is approved for Tuition Assistance, and awards credit for the CLEP exam. Southwestern Community College is a MyCAA-approved school.

Generations College- Generations College offers an Associates Degree in Medical Transcription and has GI Bill-approved programs, and is approved for Tuition Assistance.

Eastern Maine Community College- Eastern Maine Community College offers a Medical Transcription Associate’s Degree. Phoenix College has GI Bill approved programs, offers credit for military experience, awards credit for the CLEP exam and is approved for Tuition Assistance.