What Is a Medical Transcriptionist?

A medical transcriptionist documents important medical information from health care providers. Often, a medical transcriptionist is responsible for writing a report of what a doctor has said and editing and updating medical records to ensure accuracy. Learn more about what a medical transcriptionist does, the skills you need to qualify for the role, how much you may earn, and how to begin your career in the health care industry.

What is a medical transcriptionist?

A medical transcriptionist listens to medical notes from health care professionals and accurately transcribes those audio recordings into written medical documents used for a variety of purposes.

Medical transcriptionists usually work in health care offices or remotely from home, providing telescription services as full-time employees or freelancers. This flexibility is just one of the perks of a career as a medical transcriptionist. As a medical transcriptionist, the work you do supports health care providers and ensures the accuracy of patient records. 

What does a medical transcriptionist do? 

A medical transcriptionist transcribes the notes health care providers record after a medical visit with a patient. They then file away or store those documents in the correct location. Health care providers typically use these documents for insurance companies, the patient, and anyone else who needs access to a person’s medical history.

Specific responsibilities of a medical transcriptionist include: 

• Checking audio for errors and reporting as necessary

• Translating and understanding medical jargon, terms, and abbreviations into an easy-to-understand document

• Editing medical documents according to the employer’s preferences and requirements

• Using specific equipment and tools to dictate doctor’s notes into medical documentation

• Following confidentiality laws and guidelines 

In order to properly do their job, medical transcriptionists use specific equipment and tools. These include a PC, Microsoft Word, transcription software, a headset, and a foot pedal. 

Medical transcriptionist salary and job outlook

The median salary for a medical transcriptionist is $37,060, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1]. These professionals are still in demand as long as doctors' offices and health care facilities need the support.

Medical transcription and AI

As the field of medical transcription shifts, there will be a growing need for AI-powered transcribing and people to help facilitate that process. The shift has already begun to digitize and use software to help medical transcriptionists. If you're looking to get into this field, you may want to also brush up on technology and AI.

Skills needed to become a medical transcriptionist

Some key skills you need to work as a medical transcriptionist are good listening skills, the ability to think quickly, multitask, and communicate well. A few other skills you’ll need to be successful in this profession include: 

• Typing skills and speed: At the core of this profession is the ability to type efficiently and accurately. You will need to be able to type at a fairly high rate of speed while also listening, which requires dexterity and skill.

• Accuracy and attention to detail: These are key skills in this profession, as a medical transcriptionist also identifies errors or inconsistencies in medical documents and reports these errors to the appropriate person for correction.

• Strong ethical foundation: You’re working with confidential information and sensitive medical data, so adherence to HIPAA policies and ethical confidentiality is a must.

• Medical terminology: You will need to have a strong knowledge of common medical terms, jargon, and abbreviations to be able to dictate health care provider spoken notes into written documents.

• English and writing proficiency: The ability to understand the English language and properly write out notes using proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax is important.

• Self-motivation: Medical transcriptionists must be intrinsically motivated as they transcribe audio, which requires a lot of focus and concentration. Remote employees will need this skill even more as they work from home and may make their own hours. It’s also helpful to remember that some medical transcriptionists earn wages per word and not per hour. 

How to become a medical transcriptionist

To become a medical transcriptionist, you may need medical transcription training and experience working in a health care facility. Your employer also may ask you to complete on-the-job training as you adapt to your new work environment and get a feel for the pace of a medical office.

1. Get a diploma or some training.

Employers typically prefer medical transcriptionists who have completed some kind of formal education, either in the form of a certificate or degree. You’ll need your high school diploma or GED at minimum for admittance into these programs. 

If you choose to enroll in a medical transcriptionist certificate program or an associate degree program designed for medical transcriptionists, you can study medical terminology, anatomy, and health documentation. Consider these key factors to compare programs:

• Duration: An associate degree takes an average of two years to complete, while a certificate program will take between six and eighteen months to complete, depending on if you’re enrolled full or part-time.

• Coursework: Associate degrees will include general education classes, whereas a certificate course will only include courses for medical transcriptionists. Both will teach core skills like medical terminology, medical transcription, word processing software, and common medical office procedures and devices.

• Cost: The average cost of a medical transcriptionist certificate program may vary depending on factors like location and the program you’re enrolled in. The average cost of an associate degree from a community college is $7,560 per year [2].

• Convenience: You can find online and hybrid options for both degree and certificate programs. Most vocational schools or community colleges offer convenient options like this, along with classes that may fit the schedule of a working professional. 

2. Consider a certification.

You can become a registered medical transcriptionist by earning your RHDS, or Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist, offered by the Association of Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). You’ll need to complete an approved medical transcriptionist training or degree program to qualify for this credential. This type of certification is best for entry-level medical transcriptionists who want to specialize in a certain area of health care.

Another certification available to medical transcriptionists is the Certified Healthcare Document Specialist, or CHDS, also available through the AHDI. This certification is intended for medical transcriptionists with professional experience and an RHDS certification. Applicants for this certification will also need to have completed an approved program. CHDS certification is also meant for certification in a particular area or specialty within the field of health care. To maintain RHDS or CHDS, you’ll need to apply for recertification every three years.

3. Apply for jobs.

Now that the learning and skill-building are out of the way, it's time to apply for jobs. Getting your foot in the door can take a little bit of patience and persistence, but just know that you meet the qualifications and can leverage the plentiful resources on the internet to guide your job search.

How long does it take to become a medical transcriptionist?

It takes anywhere from six months to two years to become a medical transcriptionist, depending on whether you enroll in a medical transcriptionist certificate program or an associate degree program. Aside from gaining your education and/or on-the-job training, it will also take some time to apply for and find a job. If you want to add certifications, expect to spend anywhere from six to 18 months per certification.

Career paths for medical transcriptionists

If you want to use your job as a medical transcriptionist as a springboard into other allied health care careers, you may want to consider these similar career choices that also assist doctors and nurses in supporting roles along with their annual salaries: 

• Medical assistant: $44,728 

• Home health aide: $37,292

• Medical biller: $44,012

• Medical coder: $51,883

• Medical laboratory technician: $62,813

Managerial positions in medical transcription

Medical transcriptionists who want to stay in their profession and advance their career may look into these roles:

• Quality assurance editor: $59,550

• Medical transcription instructor: $54,833

• Document integrity specialist: $46,613

• Medical records transcription supervisor: $48,298

• Manager of medical records: $46,514

*All annual base salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of November 2024 and does not include additional pay, such as commission and benefits.

Note that some of these positions may also require a bachelor’s degree or higher. If you decide to transition into one of these roles, you may need to further your education beforehand.

Getting started in health care with Coursera

Medical transcriptionists have the responsibility of writing detailed and accurate notes about a patient for a doctor or other health care professional. If transcribing medical documents interests you, consider a career in the health care industry.

As you prepare for your new career, expand your knowledge with the Medical Terminology Specialization from Rice University to learn all the necessary jargon for your role as a medical transcriptionist.