Transcriptionist

[Erica Abbott]

Okay. So it's sad that I am posting a discussion directly after my last one (lol) but this discussion is for my mom. She has been working as a civil clerk for over 27 years at the local Sheriff's office. She is very interested in learning about becoming a transcriptionist. Seems how she doesn't have time to get on here yet with my grandmother being sick and with her own work now, I thought I would ask for her.

I suppose the questions would be: Where does she begin to learn about exactly what being a transcriptionist means? Do you have to go to school to become one? If so, who has good online programs? Also, are there transcription agencies that she would work for or is it something that's purely and independent-type profession?

I really appreciate everyone's help on this! I am excited to tell her everything I find out!

[Devon Roberts]

Erica,

Have you checked into the possibilities of her becoming a scopist? I just think it would be an easier field for her to get into because it is wide open and not very many people know about it.
Check out the information on my website at www.joyfulscoping.com if you would like to know more.

Ms. Devon Roberts
Scoping Made Affordable

[Judy Barrett]

Hello, Erica Abbott.

I am often asked about transcription by people who call me about my scoping training program. In the general legal/medical arena, people get involved in doing medical transcription, for doctors, or legal transcription, for attorneys.

I did medical transcription years go, before I found scoping, and I am sad to report that that field has its problems these days, with jobs being outsourced to India and the Philippines, and voice recognition software coming into play. I am approached every week by people who have been in the MT field for years, and are looking for an alternative, or people newly trained in the field who can't get a foot in the door without proof of a year or two of experience.

Scoping requires in-depth professional training, but it is a much more viable field these days, and it involves text-editing of transcripts, rather than transcription, which is much easier on body, mind, and soul!

I offer a video webcast which explains what scoping is all about, and includes a demonstration of the specialized CAT software used in the field. Feel free to get in touch and I can send you a link to that webcast.

Scoping is done almost exclusively in people's homes, unlike a lot of transcription work which requires you to go out of the house. And your mother's background would serve her well in a scoping career.

I go way back to the days before we had the Internet, and this was a great career then. Now we have the Net and sites like this one where people can gather to exchange information. It's a brave new world!

Warm regards,

Judy Barrett
Scoping Training Consultant
www.ScopingCareers.Com

[Erica Abbott]

I deeply appreciate both of your responses. I am sending my mom all of the information you have given me. She is definately looking to stay home and still work just as much. Thank you!!!

[Sheri]

I work as a medical transcriptionist. I worked for about a 1-1/2 at a hospital then was laid off when our transcription was taken over by a national company (I work for that company now). Essentially what your mom would do is type physician dictation of all types. She would need to go to school to learn terminology, lab tests, drug names, etc. Most of the work is found working from home for a national company. You have to have at least 1-2 years experience, so for a newbie, it is very difficult to find work. You have to pass a test when you apply for jobs, so it's very important she choose the correct school. There are a few online schools that MT companies work with and hire their graduates. The big ones are Andrews and M-Tec, also Career Step. She can go to MT Jobs and MT Stars and gain alot of information there. You need a good reference library. Stedman's has the best with books for each specialty. You are usually paid by the line anywhere from 6 cents to 12 cents IF you actually typing the report. With the switch to speech recognition, you will just edit a report for about 30% less. Medical transcription is very competitive. I would recommend she do a lot of reseach of the field and look into scoping also. I think scoping would be easier to get into than medical transcription, and I think the pay may be better than transcription. I hope this can help her. I wish her much luck.