Becoming Certified

<= span style=3D'font-size:19.5pt;font-family:Verdana'>Becoming Certified

The most important consideration in finding successful employment = in the Medical Transcription industry is your skill set. Certification, while = not essential, can be very helpful in advancing a career in Medical Transcripti= on. When people speak of certification in the Medical Transcription field, they= are typically referring to certification with the AAMT (American Association of Medical Transcriptionists). The official designation of the AAMT certificat= ion is "CMT" - Certified Medical Transcriptionist.<= /p>

While the CMT is certainly highly regarded, it is by no means a prerequisite for entry into, or advancement within the field of medical transcription. Many competent transcriptionists do not have the designation. However, if your time and resources permit, it is something that should be seriously considered.

The CMT credential is particularly important for those interested = in pursuing a management level or supervisory position in the industry.

Getting Certi= fied

Becoming a CMT requires an investment - both in time and money.

The CMT exam is a two part exam. Each part must be taken separately and each requires the payment of a fee. You are required to pass Part I bef= ore sitting for Part II.

Part I

The first part of the exam is a multiple-choice, objective examination. This exam measures overall competence in the foundation knowle= dge required to be a successful medical transcriptionist. Test sections and weighting are as follows: Medical Terminology (30%), English Language and U= sage (25%), Anatomy & Physiology (20%), Disease Processes (15), Healthcare Record (5%), and Professional Development (5%). The exam consists of 120 multiple choice questions in the 6 major content areas listed above. The ex= am is administered electronically on touch-screen computers. The time allowed = for this exam is 3 hours. No reference materials are permitted in the testing center.

Scheduling the Exam

This exam is administered year-round at nationwide testing centers. Exams can be scheduled by calling 1-800-274-8719 or 610-617-9300. Alternatively, information can be obtained from the Medical Transcription Certification Commission (an AAMT organization) by calling 1-800-578-9823. = The exam is open to anyone who feels prepared to take it. Self assessment tools= are available from AAMT.

Exam Fee

This exam fee for Part I of the CMT is currently $150. The same fee applies to retakes.

Part II<= /span>

The second part of the CMT exam is a transcription exam. This is a rigorous, competency based exam that tests an applicant's ability to accura= tely and proficiently transcribe physician dictation. This exam is administered = in a controlled setting and requires several years of experience transcribing a broad array of complex medical records. The exam consists of approximately = 15 minutes of dictation representing a broad cross section of report types and specialties. Applicants are allowed 2 hours for this portion of the exam. Reference materials, notes, spellcheckers, and abbreviation expanders are permitted.

Scheduling the Exam

This exam is offered several times per year and must be scheduled = in advance by calling the Medical Transcription Certification Commission at 1-800-578-9823 or e-mailing them at mtcc@aamt.org. The exam is available for anyone who has successfully passed the Part I exam within the previous two years.

Exam Fee

This exam fee for Part II of the CMT is currently $100 for Members= and $150 for Non-Members within the US; $200 for Members and $250 for Non-Members outside of the US. The= same fee applies to retakes.

Preparing for= the Exam

Of course, the best preparation for the CMT exam is a number of ye= ars of intensive experience transcribing medical records reports for a hospital= or medical transcription service provider. Many graduates of medical transcrip= tion training programs elect to sit for Part I of the exam shortly after complet= ing their training - while the foundation material is still fresh in their mind= s. Part II of the exam, however, requires a significant amount of practical experience.

AAMT also offers a number of self-assessment products that can be purchased in advance of taking the exam. These are essentially simulated te= sts that allow a prospective candidate to assess whether they are ready to take= the actual exam. These practice tests also help prepare a person for the actual exam experience. Self-assessment simulation exams are available for both Pa= rt I and Part II and can be purchased on-line at www.aamt= .org.

Maintaining t= he Certification

In order to maintain the CMT designation a transcriptionist must continue to demonstrate progress in the field by periodically fulfilling approved continuing education requirements.

Getting More Information

AAMT offers an overview of the certification process on its web si= te. Go to www.aamt.org and click the "certification" button.