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#107465 - 08/14/08 11:47 AM
Questions before enrolling in MT course
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ja0000
New Member
Registered: 08/14/08
Posts: 4
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I am a stay-at-home mother with a Bachelors Degree and a former career in IT. I'm looking for a more family friendly career and MT seems like a good choice for me. Currently, I'm looking through the Andrews and M-TEC websites and I plan to enroll in a course by the end of the year. I have a few questions before I do.
Both Andrews and M-TEC claim very high job placement rates after successful completion of their courses. Is this too good to be true? Can I be fairly certain of getting a work-at-home job soon after graduation, if I do well on the final?
I would like to devote about 15 hours a week to studying. According to M-TEC this is enough to finish on time. I'd like to know if others think this is enough.
Initially, I would like to work part-time and then switch to full-time work when both of my kids are in school. I would like to work about 15 hours a week for the first year. Is this too little for most employers? Will it be more difficult to get hired if I want to work less than 20-25 hours a week?
What is realistic hourly pay for someone starting out as an MT? A rough estimate would be helpful.
Thanks.
Edited by ja0000 (08/14/08 03:48 PM)
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#107620 - 08/15/08 10:22 AM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: ja0000]
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bobbcat
Member
Registered: 03/27/03
Posts: 7187
Loc: My office.
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Did you peruse the pinned threads for some feedback? Have you considered talking with either Linda at Andrews or Susan or Kathy at M-TEC?
_________________________
Bottom line, it's either M-TEC or Andrews.
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#107627 - 08/15/08 10:46 AM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: ja0000]
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baldymom
Member
Registered: 02/26/04
Posts: 644
Loc: Hampton Roads - Va
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Working only 15 hours a week would probably only be possible if you worked as an independent contractor (IC) for someone else or were able to find some work "on the side" for a small local clinic (and I do mean small) or possibly on a prn basis for a small local MTSO.
As for estimated pay, you will be paid by the line. Anywhere from 5 to 8 cents depending on who you agree to work for and under what conditions. More if you get your own accounts. Working only 15 hours a week on an acute care account for someone else, you would not make minimum wage your first year at least. You could get close to $10 an hour after the first year if you worked on a clinic account.
All those estimates you see for $35K plus for MTs are only good for MTs who have been working for 2 years or more full time. Those are numbers you have to work up to.
And yes, the job placement rates for M-TEC and Andrews graduates are that good. It is not too good to be true.
I would think 15 hours a week would get you finished in 12 to 18 months. I don't know what "on time" is.
_________________________
What would you do with a brain if you had one? -- Dorothy -- Wizard of Oz
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#107631 - 08/15/08 11:14 AM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: baldymom]
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ja0000
New Member
Registered: 08/14/08
Posts: 4
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bobbcat,
I haven't talked to anyone at the schools yet. I've been looking through the postings on this site to get more info for now. When I have a better idea of how everything works, I'll talk to both Andrews and M-TEC.
baldymom,
I used to know an MT who worked 15 hours a week, for a transcription company, for 3 years and then 25 hours after that. Another MT I met a while back (also a part-timer) said that she thought it might be difficult to find a job for only 15 hours a week. She recommended at least 20. I would be willing to do no more than 25 hours for the first few years. I'm trying to get a good idea of what is realistic without going the IC route.
Initially, I'm not too concerned about making a lot money. I ran a freelance web design business from home for 2 years. I made $600-$900 a month. That's all I really need to make before my children start school. After that, I would switch to full-time.
On time, for M-TEC, is 18 months.
Thanks for the responses.
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#107639 - 08/15/08 11:52 AM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: ja0000]
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FarAwayDeb
Member
Registered: 03/15/02
Posts: 2956
Loc: just south of Rochester, NY
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I'm trying to get a good idea of what is realistic without going the IC route.
Just in case you don't know, being an "IC" doesn't necessarily mean you have your own accounts. You can work for a company, or an MTSO, and still be an IC. Mainly that means you have to deduct your own taxes, and pay for your own equipment. I have worked for almost 5 years at many places, and I have always been an IC, yet never had my own account(s).
_________________________
Good grammar ain't easy.
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#107658 - 08/15/08 12:53 PM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: FarAwayDeb]
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ja0000
New Member
Registered: 08/14/08
Posts: 4
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FarAwayDeb,
That's good to know. I assumed it meant finding my own clients.
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#107666 - 08/15/08 01:25 PM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: ja0000]
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baldymom
Member
Registered: 02/26/04
Posts: 644
Loc: Hampton Roads - Va
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That's what I meant when I said you could work as an IC for someone else. I guess technically we are called subcontractors. I have also only been a subcontractor since I first started. I do work between 20 and 25 hours a week, but I don't have to. They hired me part-time and I could have said 15 hours a week. Working as a subcontractor gives you the most flexibility without all the "hassle" of maintaining your own clients. You just still have to care for all your taxes and insurance and such and get no benefits or paid time off, etc.
_________________________
What would you do with a brain if you had one? -- Dorothy -- Wizard of Oz
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#107674 - 08/15/08 01:52 PM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: baldymom]
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ja0000
New Member
Registered: 08/14/08
Posts: 4
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baldymom,
What kind of insurance do you need?
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#107688 - 08/15/08 02:16 PM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: ja0000]
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baldymom
Member
Registered: 02/26/04
Posts: 644
Loc: Hampton Roads - Va
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I just meant if you need medical, dental, prescription, etc. Just those insurances normally afforded to regular full-time employees.
_________________________
What would you do with a brain if you had one? -- Dorothy -- Wizard of Oz
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#107742 - 08/15/08 08:23 PM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: baldymom]
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Redpen
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 987
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. . . if I do well on the final . . .
This is a point you should discuss with the schools. I feel very strongly that education works best with timely and insightful feedback. I would not want to make a student wait until "a final" to find out if they can actually do what they have been studying for 12-18 months!
It's a lot better to be tested continuously from the beginning and coached, so that you're aware of your progress and are given the tools for improvement. It should not be a surprise saved up until the end!
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#107749 - 08/15/08 09:11 PM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: Redpen]
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FarAwayDeb
Member
Registered: 03/15/02
Posts: 2956
Loc: just south of Rochester, NY
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. . . if I do well on the final . . . This is a point you should discuss with the schools. I feel very strongly that education works best with timely and insightful feedback. I would not want to make a student wait until "a final" to find out if they can actually do what they have been studying for 12-18 months! It's a lot better to be tested continuously from the beginning and coached, so that you're aware of your progress and are given the tools for improvement. It should not be a surprise saved up until the end!
 You definitely don't want to go through an entire course that doesn't have instructors (not mentioning any names), and then fail the final two or three times, and still not know what you are doing wrong.
_________________________
Good grammar ain't easy.
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#108112 - 08/20/08 09:13 AM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: FarAwayDeb]
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Mama_san
New Member
Registered: 08/18/08
Posts: 3
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Hello all,
I'm new to these forums and I'm trying to decide between Andrews and M-TEC for medical transcription. I understand they're both very good schools; however, I would like to make sure that I'm picking the best one of the two. I would love to read your opinions on which you think is best and why.
Thanks in advance.
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#108909 - 08/25/08 10:50 AM
Re: Questions before enrolling in MT course
[Re: Mama_san]
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scp29440
New Member
Registered: 08/25/08
Posts: 6
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Hello to Everyone:
I have taken the pre-test for Andrews and have researched this school for over 3 years. The buzz about this school is nothing but positive! Currently, I am working two jobs (one full-time in billing for a local Water and Sewer District and the other a part-time ER Patient Rep for our local hospital. I am hoping to start Andrews within the next couple of months. I wanted to ask a question, does anyone on this site live in South Carolina? I live in Georgetown, which is between Myrtle Beach and Charleston?
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