Becoming A Certified Medical Transcriptionist
The Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) designation is for individuals who have passed the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) certification examinations.
AHDI is promoting CMTs in the public interest to uplift professional standards. A Certified Medical Transcriptionist has proven competency. The CMT credential needs to be refreshed every three years. Transcriptionists need to comply with continuing education requirements.
A certified medical transcription designation is not a requirement for a career in medical transcription. However, it can provide an advantage for promotions and those seeking management level positions.
Eligibility Requirements
Work experience may be in companies or in home medical transcription. Candidates for the Certified Medical Transcriptionist exams must have at least two years work experience in the acute care setting. Acute care is medical center dictation involving several dictators, various formats, report types and all the major specialties, especially surgery dictation and some minor specialties.
The exams are made up of knowledge in the field and transcription performance items. Transcription performance items include transcribing dictation, proofreading and editing. This exam is conducted year-round worldwide in Thomson Prometric test centers. Exam schedules can be found at www.prometric.com/ahdi.
Application forms may be secured at ahdionline.org. There is a non-refundable $10 dollar exam application fee. When the application is submitted, candidates can expect to receive an Authorization Letter in the mail within about two weeks. The test must be taken within 90 days of receiving the Authorization Letter. Otherwise, the candidate has to reapply.
Score reports are immediately available for those who complete the exam. For those who fail, there will be a report on what areas need improving.
The exam fee for the Certified Medical Transcriptionist exam (CMT) is $195 for AHDI members and $275 for members. Payment is made upon registration. The fees are the same for re-examinations.
Practice Tests
Gaining experience while doing medical transcription jobs is the best way to be prepared for the exam. AHDI also offers self-assessment programs that candidates can purchase to prepare for the exams. These are practice tests available at ahdionline.org that evaluate a candidate's readiness to take the exams.
Coverage of the AHDI CMT Examinations
The following topics will be covered in the certification examinations.
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- Medical language including terminology and abbreviations
- English Language
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Disease Processes
- Medico-Legal Issues
The transcription performance section will cover transcription, editing and proofreading.
The Certified Medical Transcriptionist exams validate a medical transcriptionist's expertise and knowledge in the field.
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