Idaho cities offer high employment prospects for medical transcriptionists. In many cities,
the population ranges between 45,000 and 80,000. Boise, the capital, holds a population of about 200,000. With high populations, healthcare needs equally go up, creating more demand for medical transcriptionist services. To practice as a medical transcriptionist in Idaho, you require some postsecondary education. It also helps to get certified for the field. The steps outlined below will help you to prepare for practice in Idaho.
Medical Transcription Training and Education Requirements in Idaho
Training for medical transcriptionists in Idaho is offered by various schools and community colleges. Some schools offer an online learning option. Training programs may be at the certificate or associate’s degree level. Certificate programs usually take six to eight months to complete. However, some certificate programs take 12 months to complete. Programs equip students with basic skills in medical transcription, which prepares them for entry-level jobs in the field. The certificate coursework covers areas such as basic anatomy, computer skills, legal issues in healthcare documentation, and medical terminology. Many community colleges offer both certificate and associate’s degree programs. The associate’s degree program covers areas such as advanced anatomy, ethics in healthcare documentation, medical terminology, medical transcription technology, pharmacology for medical transcriptionists, and risk management. Graduates of associate’s degree programs are awarded with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in medical transcription. Most programs require students to complete a supervised internship in a healthcare center, hospital or other setting that uses medical transcription services.
Medical Transcription Certification Requirements in Idaho
Certification for medical transcriptionists is a voluntary decision in Idaho. However, medical transcriptionists who choose to get certified greatly enhance their professional development. Certification helps to distinguish you in the field, and improves your salary prospects. Many employers prefer to hire certified transcriptionists because they are well-trained. Certification for the field is offered by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI), which offers basic and advanced certifications for healthcare documentation specialists. If you are just preparing to join the job market, you may want to consider the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS). For those who already hold the RHDS, and have at least two years’ work experience, the Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS) is a good choice. Both credentials are issued for a three-year period.
Idaho State Licensing Requirements
Idaho, like most US states, does not have licensing requirements for medical transcriptionists. Nonetheless, it is best to verify licensing requirements, if any, with the Professional Licensing Services of the State of Idaho or the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Staying Current and Continuing Education
Medical transcriptionists who hold the RHDS and CHDS credentials need to recertification in order to keep their credentials active. Recertification for RHDS-certified medical transcriptionists involves taking a current credentials course. RHDS-certified transcriptionists are also required to take a recertification exam. CHDS holders are required to earn a minimum of 30 continuing education credits during the three-year certification period.
Medical Transcriptionist Job Prospects and Potential Pay
In many of Idaho’s cities, the annual salary for medical transcriptionists is much higher than the national range of $27,600 to $40,800. Cities with the highest number of jobs for medical transcriptionists in Idaho are Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Nampa. Most medical transcriptionists in Boise and Nampa earn between $36,600 and $45,800 annually. In Coeur d’Alene, earnings for the profession range between $37,500 and $46,900. Other cities with a fairly high annual range are Meridian, where the annual salary falls between $36,600 and $45,800, Idaho Falls, with a range of between $35,400 and $44,400, and Pocatello, where the annual range is between $32,100 and $40,200. In Caldwell, the annual salary falls between $36,600 and $45,800, while in Twin Falls, many transcriptionists draw an annual salary in the range of $32,100 to $40,100.
Resources
Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI)
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Idaho Health Information Association