Is Medical Transcription Certification Necessary?
Becoming a certified medical transcriptionist is really a
personal choice. At present, there is no requirement for MTs to
become certified at this time.
To become certified you will need to pass an exam given by the
AAMT (American Association of Medical Transcriptionists). This
is a two part exam, written and practical and takes about 5 to 6
hours to complete. It is a very in depth exam and most MTs take
a prep course before taking the exam.
The exam consists of two parts. The first part is a written exam
which consists of 120 multiple choice questions about anatomy,
physiology, medical terminology, English and grammar, etc. The
second part of the exam is a practical test where you transcribe
several different reports.
Once certified it means you can use the letters "CMT" (certified
medical transcriptionist) behind your name. You must recertify
every 3 years.
Certification is highly regarded in some circles of the MT field
and some MTs believe it opens doors for better opportunities.
Personally, I feel medical transcription certification is a
personal choice. Although, certification gives you the
opportunity to prove your skills as an MT, not being certified
does not take away from them.
I have never run across a physician or account manager who has
asked me whether I am certified or not. They are merely
interested that I can efficiently complete the work, follow all
the privacy regulations and charge them a reasonable rate.
I don't know of any MTs who have lacked opportunities due to not
being certified either. Again, the choice is a personal one and
for some it is a great sense of personal achievement.
If you do decide to become certified, it will be a great
personal achievement. It will take a time and financial
commitment. At present, the AAMT fee for the CMT exam for US and
Canada is $195 US dollars for AAMT members and $275 for non AAMT
members. You must also have 2 years experience working as an MT.