Many people are looking for a rewarding career that offers job stability, flexible hours and
competitive pay. That can be achieved without having to undergo years of schooling. A career path as a medical transcriptionist can open up a wealth of possibilities as it is a job that is in constant demand. Medical transcriptionists also learn a valuable array of skills that makes for a truly unique profession.
Virginia Medical Transcriptionist Job Overview
A medical transcriptionist in Virginia is responsible for the converting medical audio recordings into typed documents and reports. Health care professionals and physicians compile audio recordings as part of their daily work, which brings about a constant need for those recordings to be converted into documents. Medical transcriptionists play a valuable role in creating medical records that are of great importance in the health care industry.
The keyboarding skills of a Virginia medical transcriptionist are above average, although it takes more than fast and efficient typing to work in this field. Virginia medical transcriptionists are very knowledgeable when it comes to medical terminology. They are able to listen to audio recordings and identify medical terms from simple dictation. That means knowing the meaning, spelling and context of medical terms.
Health care professionals use a vast amount of medical jargon and abbreviations in these recordings, which are instantly recognized by medical transcriptionists in Virginia. Upon the completion of any transcribed audio, there is the need to review and edit the document for clarity, context and consistency. A Virginia medical transcriptionist attends to each of those tasks so that final documents include a 100% accuracy rate.
This collection of skills enables Virginia medical transcriptionists to work in an array of settings, which include diagnostic labs, medical offices, hospitals and many other kinds of facilities. Medical transcriptionists can also work for private companies or from the comfort of their own homes.
In order to become a Virginia medical transcriptionist, candidates are expected to be reliable, dependable and capable of meeting strict deadlines. There is also a need for accuracy, which requires medical transcriptionists to be extremely thorough in every aspect of their work.
Salary and Potential Pay
The average salary of a medical transcriptionist in Virginia is $31,500 per year. Certain areas of Virginia have higher yearly averages while more experience also results in higher pay. The job prospects for medical transcriptionists in Virginia continue to be on the upswing, with more opportunities resulting from the booming health care industry.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for medical transcriptionists represent state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2021.
Virginia License Requirements
The state of Virginia has no required license that is distributed to working medical transcriptionists. Regardless of experience, a Virginia medical transcriptionist does not need to attain any kind of licensing. However, an accredited certification is strongly recommended to improve job prospects and overall pay.
Virginia Medical Transcriptionist Certification Requirements
The quickest way to find full-time work as a medical transcriptionist in Virginia is to earn a certification from an accredited post-secondary school. There are a number of vocational schools and technical institutes that offer medical transcriptionist training throughout the state. Some Virginia community colleges also offer these programs.
An Associate’s Degree that specializes in Medical Transcription serves as a very reputable form of certification in Virginia. This educational path generally lasts two years while other accredited post-secondary school programs span an average of one year. The AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity) offers its own certifications that are a form of ongoing education for certified medical transcriptionists. These certifications can be obtained in any state, including Virginia.
Medical transcriptionist certifications from accredited schools meet the job qualifications mandated by most businesses looking to hire medical transcriptionists in Virginia. Non-certified job applicants typically get passed over in favor of candidates who hold a Virginia medical transcriptionist certification. These certifications are more than just a form of documentation, but proof that a candidate is adequately prepared to take on a job as a medical transcriptionist in Virginia.
Education Requirements
The state of Virginia requires medical transcriptionists to be a minimum of 18 years of age and have earned a high school diploma or GED equivalency. Candidates must also be able to pass a criminal background check along with a drug screening. It is also helpful for candidates to have previously acquired some basic keyboarding skills and a general knowledge of MS Word and Excel.
Medical Transcriptionist Resources
Job Listings for Medical Transcriptionists in Virginia
There are an abundance of job opportunities for medical transcriptionists throughout Virginia, which can be found on this website.
Virginia Healthcare and Hospital Association
This association combines a multitude of online resources, which include upcoming events, services, news and more.
Learn more about all the statewide hospitals in Virginia and catch up on all the latest news and events by browsing this online resource.
Medical Transcriptionist Jobs in Virginia
Browse through the long list of LinkedIn job listings for medical transcriptionists in the state of Virginia.
Medical Transcriptionist Forums
Virginia medical transcriptionists can reach out to other medical transcriptionists nationwide with this online forum.