How To Become a Medical Transcriber in 2025: Career Guide

Have you been thinking of how to become a medical transcriber and don’t know where to start?

Well, this post is for you. If you want to work in the medical industry without necessarily being a medical professional, then a medical transcriber would be the best option for you. 

However, being a medical transcriber is not an easy job as it involves converting voice recordings of medical professions into text, thus requiring one to have specific skills. 

This article will discuss how and what you need to become a medical transcriber. So, let’s get started!

Who is a Medical Transcriber?

A medical transcriber is someone who converts recorded audio from healthcare professionals to written medical reports. These medical reports can either be a patient's medical history, consultation reports, operation reports or discharge summaries.

The best part about becoming a medical transcriber is the flexibility of the work. You can either work from the office or work remotely from home.   

What Exactly Does a Medical Transcriber Do?

Here is what a medical transcriber does in the healthcare industry.

1. Listen to Voice Recordings

A medical transcriber listens to recorded audio files by doctors, nurses, physicians or any other medical professional.

These audio files contain patient information. 

2. Transcribe the Voice Recordings

The medical transcriber then transcribes the recorded audio into a written document.

They also ensure the documents are well-formatted like using headings appropriately. 

3. Proofread and Edit

Accuracy is essential in medical transcription as any small error can lead to misinterpretation of a patient's medical reports.

After transcribing the medical transcripts, a medical transcriber must carefully proofread their documents to check for grammatical and spelling errors. 

4. Comply With Healthcare Regulations 

Medical documents may contain sensitive patient information, so as a medical transcriber, you must comply with confidentiality laws and regulations. 

What You Need to Become a Medical Transcriber

If you’re aspiring to become a medical transcriber, here are the soft and technical skills you need to have to be successful in this field.

High Typing Speed

As a medical transcriber, it’s crucial to have a high typing speed, as most medical institutions require one to type at least 50 words per minute. Furthermore, accuracy goes hand in hand with speed, so as you type faster, ensure your document is error-free. 

Excellent Listening Skills

The medical and healthcare industries use complex terminologies thus, as a medical transcriptionist, you need to have excellent listening skills to understand speech and accents.

This is much needed, especially if the audio is unclear or has background noise. 

Writing Skills

Medical transcriptionists must have excellent writing skills.

Remember, accuracy is everything in medical transcription, and there is no room for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors as this helps prevent misinterpretation of medical reports.

Proficient With Transcription Software and Tools

A medical transcriber must be proficient with various transcription software and tools to complete their work efficiently.

Knowing how to use and operate word processing software like Google Docs and tools like Express Scribe will help improve efficiency and productivity.

Knowledge of Medical Terminologies

Knowledge of different medical terminologies is important for accurate and quick transcribing.

Although many employers prefer people with medical knowledge, you can use medical dictionaries or seek education to learn more medical terminologies and vocabulary. 

Time Management

Medical transcription often has tight deadlines. So, transcribers must organize their workload effectively.

This will help them prioritize urgent tasks and even maintain accuracy under pressure. 

How to Become a Medical Transcriber

Nowadays, most employers prefer to hire people who already have some form of formal education or training as medical transcribers.

If you are interested in medical transcriber, here is how to become one:

1. Get Necessary Education

You need some kind of formal education to become a medical transcriber. The minimum education requirement is a GED or high school diploma. 

Once you have this, enroll in a community college or vocational school that offers medical transcription courses.

You can also enroll for an associate degree program that offers medical transcription courses.

Additionally, there are so many online courses that teach medical transcription and often offer programs that cover medical terminologies, pharmacology, healthcare documentation, grammar and punctuation, and many more. 

In the medical transcription industry, it's important to have certification which help put you at the edge in this competitive job market.

Consider obtaining certifications such as Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS) and Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS). 

2. Gain Work Experience

Before you even think of getting a job, first gain experience by seeking internship opportunities or volunteering in hospitals, clinics, or any other healthcare facility to gain real-world experience. 

3. Start Applying for Jobs

Now that you have the necessary skills and experience as a medical transcriber, you can start applying for jobs.

There are so many places where you can offer your medical transcription services, like hospitals, clinics,and insurance companies, among others.

In addition, you can approach medical transcription companies like Verbal Script, where they offer flexible, work-home jobs. 

4. Stay Updated With Emerging Trends in the Medical Transcription Industry

Medical transcription is evolving very fast with the rise of AI tools and voice recognition software that improve the productivity of your work.

Staying updated with these emerging trends will improve your skills and remain competitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Medical Transcription a Good Side Hustle?

Yes, medical transcription can be a good side hustle, especially if you are a homestay mom or someone looking for part-time work.

Additionally, there is a high demand for medical transcription in the medical industry; thus you can work remotely with flexible work hours and earn extra money.

Do transcribers make good money?

Transcription is a profitable career, and yes, transcribers make good money.

However, this depends on experience and speed.

Beginners can earn as low as $15, while experienced transcribers can earn $25 and more.

The important thing is to build a strong portfolio that will get you more job opportunities which means more money. 

How do I get certified to be a transcriptionist?

To become a certified transcriptionist, you first need to enroll in a program that offers transcription courses and learn grammar and medical terminology, among others.

After completing your program, apply for certification through organizations like Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS) and Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS).

What skills do you need to be a medical transcriptionist?

A medical transcriptionist should have a good command of grammar, spelling, and punctuation to produce error-free documents.

They should have good listening skills to transcribe audio recordings accurately, type fast, and know various medical terminologies. 

As a medical transcriber, having good time management is important to ensure you submit urgent tasks on time. 

What are the three biggest challenges of being a transcriber?

Every profession has its challenges, and so is transcription.

One of the biggest challenges in transcription is strict deadlines.

Some employers require transcribers to work quickly without compromising on quality.

Additionally, you might encounter audio files that are not clear or complex medical terminologies that are hard to grasp.

Bottom Line

With the above guide, I hope you know if medical transcription is the right career for you. With the required skills and expertise, you can start your medical transcription career even with transcription services like Verbal Scripts.