Medical Transcription Certification
Medical Transcription Training and Schools
Although graduating from an accredited medical training program is not a requirement for certification, it does make your chances of securing employment and a high salary much better, which is essential for getting the 2 of years experience required for certification. Attending a medical transcription school will also guarantee that you’ve learned the material required to pass the certification exam.
Becoming Certified and how the test is administered
Getting your certificate as a CMT (Certified Medical Transcriptionist) is a lesson in patience. Current criteria for admission in a certification program entail two years of experience as a MT at a medical care facility. The AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity) Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) exam contains an objective general MT comprehension section and an MT performance section. The AHDI suggests setting aside at least four hours for the whole test.
Preparing for the exam
This test will be given all throughout the year in specified examination centers. These are their explicit instructions:
What to Bring to the Testing Center
You must provide one form of current and valid government issued identification, bearing a photograph and signature. Acceptable forms of primary identification include: passport, driver’s license, or employee identification card.
What Time to Arrive at the Testing Center
Plan to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment to allow time for check-in procedures. If you are late in arriving, you may not be allowed to test.
Payment
Prometric collects fees from you for the Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) exam. Fees will vary depending on whether you are a member of the AHDI organization or not and are factored into the eligibility to test which is sent by the AHDI. If there are any questions about the cost of the exam, please contact AHDI directly. Payment methods include the following: Visa, Master Card and American Express.
Reschedule / Cancel Policy
If you wish to change your exam date and time, you must do so two (2) calendar days prior to your appointment using the Reschedule/Cancel option on this Web site or by calling your local Regional Contact Center (RCC); the Web site is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After that, you may not change your exam date and time and you will not receive an examination fee refund. If you call within the appropriate time limit, you may change your appointment.
Scheduling Online
In order to schedule online, you must provide an e-mail address. Prometric will send you an email confirming your appointment. If you do not have an email address, please call the Prometric Regional Contact Center.
You will have to go through a series of website pages that are entitled:
- Privacy Policy Review
- Eligibility Information
- Exam Selection
- Test Site Selection
- Date and Time Selection
- Personal Information
- Appointment Review
- Appointment Complete
Then, you should be set with the date and time of the test and where it will be administered!
Examination fees
There is a non-refundable $10 application fee. The examination fee for the Certification of Medical Transcription (CMT) is $195 for members of AHDI or $275 for non-members. As soon as you register, you must pay these fees. If you must retake the exam, the same fees are valid.
Retaking the CMT exam
AHDI provides that you cannot take the CMT examination more than two times within a period of twelve months. Moreover, CMT applicants cannot retake the exam until after six months from the date of the failed examination. An applicant can take the exam as many times as wanted.
Conclusion
The best way to prepare for the CMT exam is to serve as a MT transcribing in a medical setting for several years. There are also several sites, including AHDI, that provide self-assessment examinations and practice tests. These can be invaluable for passing the CMT examination. After three years of obtaining the CMT, you must renew your certification, so find out if your employer supplies funds either in part or in total for continuing education; it might save you quite a bit of money in the long run.