The healthcare field is growing at a faster than average rate, creating more job opportunities every day. As a medical transcriptionist or transcription editor, you will play a vital role in healthcare documentation. Medical transcriptionists and transcription editors enjoy a rewarding career with good job prospects and potential pay. Our research team has collected and analyzed data from many institutions across the nation to see which schools and programs stand out in 2017. The schools listed here have been ranked as having some of the best medical transcriptionist and medical transcription editor programs in the country. (Methodology)
Antelope Valley College
3041 West Ave K Lancaster, CA 93536
Antelope Valley College
The Medical Transcription Editor program at Antelope Valley has been approved by the AHDI. The program has been in existence for over 20 years and its online training format allows students to learn at a pace that is comfortable to them. There are approximately 640 hours of work that goes into the average completion rate of this program. Antelope Valley also offers a three-instructor support system. There are financing options available to students in 3-month and 12-month plans. To qualify for the Medical Transcription Editor program, applicants must be able to type at least 30 words per minute and have a high school diploma or GED equivalency.
Ashworth College
6625 The Corners Parkway Suite 500 Norcross, Georgia 30092
Ashworth College
Ashworth offers Medical Transcription Training that is conducted entirely online. As part of the curriculum, students will even take virtual field trips. The training takes four months to complete and prepares students to take the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) certification exam that is offered by the AHDI. Tuition rates are extremely affordable as Ashworth features some of the lowest rates among all Medical Transcription training programs. A foot pedal and textbook are both included in the tuition fee and both are shipped to each student. Students can enroll online anytime during the year.
Bellevue College
3000 Landerholm Cir SE Bellevue, WA 98007
Bellevue College
Students at Bellevue can choose from a couple of different medical transcription courses. Bellevue offers a Medical Transcription Editor course and a Medical Terminology course, both of which are offered online. The Medical Transcription Editor course has been approved by the AHDI. Each course offers one-on-one support from a Bellevue medical transcription instructor and the school also provides graduate support. Included in the price of tuition is a transcription pedal, course e-book, membership to the AHDI and an online reference library subscription.
Bishop State
351 North Broad Street Mobile, Alabama 36603
Bishop State
Bishop State Community College offers Medical Transcription training as part of its certificate program options. Students are required to complete 26 credits on their way to earning a Medical Transcription Certificate from Bishop State. This is considered a short certificate that is part of Bishop State’s Health Information Technology Program, which has been accredited by accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Medical transcription classes are held at the Baker-Gaines Central Campus location. Bishop State has received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Bristol Community College
777 Elsbree Street Fall River, MA 02720
Bristol Community College
BCC features a Certificate of Achievement in Medical Transcription that is comprised of 29 total credits. Students can earn this certificate in just two semesters. All of those medical transcription credits are transferable should students decide to pursue an Associate of Science at BCC in Office Administration or choose the Medical Administrative Assistant option. BCC has five different campus locations in the state of Massachusetts and has been in existence since 1965. BCC has earned accreditation from the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.
Bucks County Community College
275 Swamp Road Newtown, PA 18940
Bucks County Community College
Bucks offers a Medical Reimbursement/Coding Specialist Certificate that is awarded to students upon the completion of a hybrid program. This is a 180-hour program that combines classroom instruction and online work. This option takes a little more than two months to complete. Bucks also offers a Medical Transcription Home-Study Course, which is a self-study program. Students work from home at their own pace and the coursework typically takes six months to complete. Enrollment can begin at any time and there is no time limit to complete the course.
Butte College
3536 Butte Campus Drive Oroville, CA 95965
Butte College
Located in Oraville, CA, Butte College offers two medical transcription education options. The first option is a Certificate of Achievement in Medical Transcription, which requires the completion of 43 units. There is also a Certificate in Medical Transcription offered and that requires the completion of 17 units. There are some courses in both programs that have prerequisites, which could add to the total time it takes to suffice all the necessary requirements. A variety of financial aid options are also available to students in both of these medical transcription programs.
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd St. Arkansas City, KS 67005
Cowley College
Cowley offers students the option of earning a Medical Transcription Certificate that can be completed in just two semesters. The course totals 31 credits and is competency based, meaning that graduates of the program will acquire the skills needed to enter the profession immediately. Medical transcription courses at Cowley are offered during fall, spring and summer semesters, and will only be cancelled because of low enrollment. Cowley has an open admissions policy and does offer scholarships to students, but that is done on a limited basis.
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
316 Eastern Drive Moorefield, WV 26836
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
There is an online Medical Transcription program offered at Eastern West Virginia. Start dates are subject to change according to each semester. To complete this program, students must complete 90 hours of coursework. This program is part of the Continuing Education Health Care Programs at Eastern. New students are expected to be able to type a minimum of 30 words per minute. Eastern has an open door admissions policy and welcomes transient, conditional and early entrance students, in addition to regular and transfer students.
El Paso Community College
9050 Viscount Blvd. El Paso, TX 79925
El Paso Community College
EPCC offers a Medical Transcription Certificate Program that takes one year to complete. There are 10 required classes within this program, which starts at the outset of every fall semester. The program is offered completely online, although there is a capacity of 12 students. There are several admission requirements that need to be met in order to be granted one of the limited amount of spots. Course materials and textbooks are not included in the price of tuition. This program has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
GateWay Community College
108 N 40th St. Phoenix, AZ 85034
GateWay Community College
GateWay Community College is the initiating college that works in conjunction with Maricopa Community College to provide medical transcription educational programs. Students can choose to earn a Medical Transcription Certificate or an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Transcription. These programs have been accredited by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). The Certificate option is the shorter route as it requires the completion of 32 credits while an Associate’s Degree requires 68 credits to be completed. There are some perquisites in both of these options.
Highline College
2400 S. 240th St. Des Moines, WA 98198
Highline College
Students at Highline College have the option of earning a Medical Transcriptionist Certificate. The program requires the completion of 48 credits, which are broken down as follows: 25 core credits, 8 supporting course credits, 15 related institution credits. This program features self-paced modules that allow students to cater to their own learning styles. Open entry enrollment runs year round and not all required courses are offered during evening sessions or in each quarter. Highline’s school year is split up into four quarters that begin with each new season.
Houston Community College
3100 Main St. Houston, TX 77002
Houston Community College
A Medical Coding/Transcription Specialist Certificate is offered at HCC and requires students to complete 21 credits, which are usually spread out through two semesters. There are core and program concentration courses along with a Capstone course, which is taken in the final semester. This Medical Transcription Certificate program falls under the Business Technology program at HCC. Tuition fees for this program rank much lower than similar programs at other institutions. HCC has eight different campus locations and students can use their medical transcription training towards an Associate’s Degree in Health Information Technology at HCC.
Jefferson State Community College
4600 Valleydale Rd. Birmingham, AL 35242
Jefferson State Community College
Jefferson State features Medical Transcription and Editing among its Workforce Education Programs. The Medical Transcription and Editing program has been approved by the AHDI. The program is offered online and allows students to work at their own pace. To complete the program, students undergo approximately 640 hours of coursework. The curriculum also prepares students to take national certification examinations. Students have access to three-instructor support teams, which assist in all phases of this education. Jefferson State features one of the longest running programs in the country as it has more than a 20-year history.
Moraine Valley Community College
9000 W. College Pkwy. Palos Hills, Il 60465-2475
Moraine Valley Community College
The Medical Transcription Program at Moraine Valley consists of courses that total 20 credit hours and students who pass those courses will earn a Medical Transcription certificate. There is a program prerequisite that requires applicants to be able to type at least 50 words per minute. Applications are only accepted to this program during various times of the year. Moraine Valley features three campuses, more than 150 programs of study and has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Partial payment plans are also available to medical transcription students.
Normandale Community College
9700 France Avenue South Bloomington, MN 55431
Normandale Community College
The Medical Transcription Editor Program at Normandale is offered entirely online. This allows students’ learning styles to dictate their individual pace. The average completion time for this program is 32 weeks. Students can increase that time by spending additional hours a week on their coursework. Continuing Education Units are earned within this program. The program has also received accreditation from the AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity). Normandale has established a partnership with CareerStep, which helps graduates find work with companies looking to hire medical transcriptionists.
Palm Beach State
4200 Congress Avenue Lake Worth, FL 33461
Palm Beach State
Students at Palm Beach State have the option of earning a College Credit Applied Technology Diploma in Medical Transcription. The program features 33 credits and is offered at the Lake Worth campus, but will soon relocate to the Loxahatchee Groves campus. The core courses within this program are all offered completely online. Students must earn a “C” grade or better in those core classes. In order to be admitted to Palm Beach State’s Medical Transcription program, applicants must be able to type a minimum of 45 words per minute.
Quinebaug Valley Community College
742 Upper Maple Street Danielson, CT 06239
Quinebaug Valley Community College
The Medical Transcription Editor training program at Quinebaug Valley is a distance learning program that is available entirely online. Students who join this program of study are immediately eligible to receive a free laptop, Kindle, iPad or a $400 reduction in their tuition. The Medical Transcription Editor program can take anywhere from four months to a year to complete as students work at a pace that best suits their learning style. Students have the option of registering for this program in person, over the phone or online.
Richland Community College
1 College Park Decatur, IL 62521
Richland Community College
The Medical Transcription program at Richland has been renamed Healthcare Documentation. Students can choose to pursue an Associate of Applied Science in Healthcare Documentation, which is offered completely online and can be finished in four semesters. There is also the option of earning a Healthcare Documentation Certificate, which can be completed entirely online in three semesters. The comprehensive Medical Transcription program at Richland has been approved by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP), which is a joint committee founded by the AHIMA and the AHDI.
Rochester Community and Technical College
851 30th Ave SE Rochester, MN 55904-4999
Rochester Community and Technical College
The Medical Transcription Certificate program at Rochester is offered entirely online. There are 16 credits within the program and students can enter into the program on a full or part time basis. Registration can be done online, although instructors need to issue an approval before students can begin taking classes. There is also screening criteria for applicants, which includes the ability to type 45 words per minute. Rochester has a team of qualified instructors within this program. In-state and out-of-state tuition rates are the same.
Sheridan Technical College
5400 Sheridan St. Hollywood, FL 33021
Sheridan Technical College
The Medical Record Transcription program at Sheridan runs 11 months in length and requires the completion of 1200 hours of coursework. The program is operated mostly online, although students are required to attend one evening class per week. That class is held on Sheridan’s main campus. Upon completion of this program, graduates qualify to take Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) national examination offered by the AHDI. The Medical Record Transcription program at Sheridan has also been approved by the AHDI. Sheridan is located in Hollywood, FL and has been accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
Skagit Valley College
2405 East College Way Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Skagit Valley College
A Medical Transcription Certificate is available at Skagit Valley College through a curriculum that combines instructional lectures and lab work. The program runs 11 weeks long and is comprised of 22 lecture hours and 66 lab hours. Within the overall course, students are taught critical components of medical transcription and that includes information technology, critical thinking, and technology. There are three prerequisite courses that require a “C” grade or above, or permission from the department chairperson. Academic support is offered to Skagit Valley students through its Counseling and Career Services.
Southern State Community College
100 Hobart Dr. Hillsboro, OH 45133
Southern State Community College
The Medical Transcription Program at Southern State is offered at the Central Campus location during day sessions. This 35-credit program is designed to be completed throughout two full-time semesters, with the exception of any prerequisite classes. In order to participate in the practicum portion of the Medical Transcription Program, students need to have accumulated a 2.4 minimum GPA. A time limit is set when it comes to completing program requirements. Applications are accepted from February 1st until the time in which all spots are filled.
SUNY Broome
PO Box 1017 Binghamton, New York 13902
SUNY Broome
A Medical Transcription Certificate can be earned by completing 28-30 credits at SUNY Broome Community College. This certificate program generally takes one year to complete and spans two semesters on a full-time basis. Students who graduate from this program are eligible to continue their education at SUNY Broome as part of its Health Information Technology or Medical Assisting Associate’s Degree programs. Students also have access to SUNY Broome’s Applied Learning and Career Center, which features job search assistance, interview coaching, resume development and more.
SUNY Orange
115 South St. Middletown, NY 10940
SUNY Orange
SUNY Orange offers a Medical Transcription Editor course that is only available online. This is part of SUNY Orange’s Continuing and Professional Education (CAPE). A few different start dates for this course are available throughout the year. Students are e-mailed course specifics 1-2 days after the final registration date. SUNY Orange is located in Middletown, NY, although online students are not subject to pay any out-of-state tuition increases. SUNY Orange has received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tallahassee Community College
444 Appleyard Drive Tallahassee, FL 32304
Tallahassee Community College
TCC offers Medical Transcription training through a six week course. A new course begins at the start of every month and students can dictate their own pace of learning with two lessons issued each week. This course is offered through Ed2Go, which is a reputable online education provider. TCC students will not be required to attend any actual classes and can complete the course from their home. While this is an online course, it is an instructor-led class as students can reach out with any questions or concerns.
Tri County Technical College
7900 US-76 Pendleton, SC 29670
Tri County Technical College
Tri County Tech offers a Medical Documentation Specialist Certificate, which replaced the previous Medical Transcription Certificate. The program is offered on the Pendleton campus inside the Acceleration Learning Center for Office Professionals. Classes are not held in a traditional classroom as students work independently in a lab setting. In each lab setting, there is an instructor-mentor present to provide assistance when needed. Students are able to select lab sessions that best fit into their schedule. There is no specified start time as students can register and begin their lab sessions immediately.
University of Central Florida
3280 Progress Dr. Suite 700 Orlando, FL 32826
University of Central Florida
The Continuing Education program at UCF offers Medical Transcription training. The course is offered entirely online and spans a total of six weeks. There are two lessons released each week and ongoing interactive discussion work. A new course opens up every month and registration stays open up to two weeks after the start date. A final exam will be issued and is the final step towards completing this training course. Although it is not a requirement, students should have a basic understanding of medical terminology and touch typing when starting out in this course.
The University of Utah
1901 E. South Campus Dr. #2174 Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9359
The University of Utah
A Medical Transcription Editing Certificate is offered as part of the University of Utah’s Continuing Education and Community Management. The Medical Transcription Editing program is only offered online. The curriculum has been designed to meet all of the AHDI requirements and will prepare students to take the RHDS certification examination. Enrollment in this program will also provide students with a voucher to take that RHDS exam. There is no official start date for this course as students can enroll online and begin working at their own pace.
Wallace Community College Selma
3000 Earl Goodwin Parkway P.O. Box 2530 Selma, Alabama
Wallace Community College Selma
WCCS has an Associate’s Degree option for those looking to embark on a career as a medical transcriptionist. Students can earn an Associate’s of Applied Science as part of the Office Administration Program. This program offers a medical transcription option that requires the completion of 67 credits, and that includes two outside lab hours per week. This is more comprehensive than most medical transcription education programs as students graduate with an Associate’s Degree and not just a certificate. Students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA as well as a “C” grade or better in all classes.
Western Iowa Tech Community College
4647 Stone Avenue Sioux City, Iowa 51102-5199
Western Iowa Tech Community College
The Medical Transcription Diploma program at WIT consists of 40 total credits and is offered at the Sioux City campus. The classes are intended to be completed through two full-time semesters and a third semester that will only require approximately 7 credits. WIT offers tutoring services and also features out a variety of financial assistance options. WIT has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has also earned approval from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Students have the option of continuing their education at WIT by enrolling in a variety of Associate Degree programs.
Methodology
(Methodology)
HealthcaresystemcareersEDU.org uses a number of important factors to determine overall rankings for our top 35 medical transcriptionist and transcription editor programs list. These factors include a combination of cost and financial aid, along with the number of programs offered. In addition, we consider student-teacher ratios, and employment/career counseling services. Finally, graduation rates were an important aspect when considering what schools to feature.