Working at home is a dream many people have, but it isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Medical transcription is a real work-at-home career, but is it right for you?

Medical transcription is part of the health information technology field. Physicians and other health care providers dictate a patient's medical reports which are transcribed into documents. These dictations are usually sent out to the transcriptionists over the internet in the form of digital files. They are transcribed and sent back to either the transcription company they work for or directly to the medical facility.

I've been working in the MT field since 2005. Below, I go over some factors for you to consider before choosing a career in medical transcription.

You might have a friend in the medical field like a nurse or office worker who tells you it's really easy to get in or you have to know someone who knows someone to get an at-home position. Neither of these things is true. While medical transcription doesn't require a college degree, it generally requires specialized education.

Some people may start out working in a medical office or hospital and start doing a bit of transcription here and there, but most people have to learn MT from a reputable school.

These are your two main options:

• Attend a community college on campus that has an MT or HIT (health information technology) program (this may include medical coding and billing with MT education).
• Attend a school online that is either a community college with an at-home program or is a school that specializes in MT training.

Among online schools, these are considered the "Big 3" (you can visit their sites linked at right):

• Career Step
• M-TEC
• Andrews

Each one of these schools specialize in MT training and are well known among companies that hire at home for providing employees that are ready to start work as soon as they graduate. Some also offer medical coding training as well as special programs for military spouses.

I attended Everett Community College online based in Everett, Washington, which uses the Career Step curriculum. I was single at the time and qualified for financial aid. Career Step is actually reasonably priced at around $2,000. But they're not accredited and don't qualify for government financial aid programs. Attending Everett was the best of both worlds for me. The main difference besides the cost is that Career Step is a self-paced program whereas Everett is just like any college where you need to turn in homework assignments weekly.

Some pros of working in the MT field are:

• You really can work in your pajamas and slippers.
• Many companies will hire you as an independent contractor with a somewhat flexible schedule.
• You save cash on clothing, auto expenses and fuel.
  

Some cons of working in the MT field are:

• It's usually production-based pay, so if you don't work, you don't get paid.  No chatting at the water cooler but still expecting an hourly wage.
• MT is tedious work.  Do you thrive on excitement in your work?  If so, you might want to pick another career.
• It's also lonely work.  If you're a social animal, it might not be for you.

There is a prevailing myth about the MT who can work when she wants, take care of her kids and make lots of cash. The reality is that medical transcription is something you have to focus on. You can't do MT while cooking dinner.

If you want to take care of kids while you work, it's best if they aren't babies or toddlers that will need a great deal of your attention. You can always consider a babysitter or daycare, but you have to decide if it's worth it based on your total household income. As far as the cash, I explain that further below.

There are several types of environments you can be employed after you complete your MT training.  Not every MT wants to work at home.  Some hospitals, local clinic and doctors' offices hire in-house transcriptionists.

Many companies that hire at-home transcriptionists will state on their websites that they prefer MTs with 2-3 years of experience.  But if you have gone to one of the big 3 schools mentioned above, some companies might be willing to wave this requirement and let you take their employment exam.  One of the most popular websites to find work is MTJobs.com.

Most at-home medical transcriptionists get paid on a per-line basis. This can vary by company, but a common way this is calculated is by paying a few cents per 65-character line (with or without spaces).

Entry-level pay is usually .06 to .07 cents, and MT companies usually want their employees to complete 1000 to 1200 lines a day. Independent contractors generally have a more flexible schdule but are expected to let their bosses know about how much work they can do per week. At the rate of .07 cents per line for 1000 lines, the daily pay would be $70.

Medical transcriptionists don't need to be certified or licensed, but there are certification exams that can impress employers if you want to take them.  Learn more at the ADHI link to the right.

I hope this gives you some guidance in deciding whether an MT career is right for you.  It can be a good fit for the right type of personality.