Medical transcriptionists work in most health care settings such as clinics, physician offices, hospitals, as well as transcription services and insurance companies. Some transcriptionists work in their homes as subcontractors or as independent business owners. Medical transcription programs are found in community colleges, technical colleges, private colleges, and home-study programs. The best programs allow feedback from the instructor and the ability for the students to ask questions of the instructor. A good medical transcription program should include information about English grammar and punctuation, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and ethical issues.
Medical transcription is a highly skilled profession and requires extensive study.
When you graduate from school you will have a certificate of completion. Certification is an AAMT convention and not an industry standard. It is not necessary to become a CMT to be a medical transcriptionist. In fact, most MTs are not CMTs, and being a CMT does not mean that the pay will be any higher. Salaries and earnings vary considerably according to area.