Online Schools with a Certificate in Transcription: How to Choose

A number of schools offer online certificate programs for aspiring transcriptionists, most commonly in the fields of medical and legal transcription. Individuals who pass such a program can go on to work in doctor's offices, hospitals, law practices, government agencies or general transcription companies.

Selecting an Online Transcription Certificate Program

Program Specialties

Prospective transcriptionists must first decide whether they are interested in working in the medical or legal field. Specializing allows individuals to learn about their potential work environment and become familiar with industry-specific terminology or codes. Students in both areas should have excellent editing and proofreading skills. They should also have exceptional typing proficiency, although the exact words per minutes needed to enroll or pass varies by program.

Program Types

Students may be able to choose between a fully online or hybrid program. While transcriptionist certificate programs can typically be completed entirely online, hybrid options allow individuals to take some courses in person - or at least connect directly with live instructors throughout their self-guided program. This enables them to get personal feedback or perform supervised typing tests.

Delivery Systems

Students typically do not need to provide their own specialized software or hardware to enroll in an online transcriptionist typing program; however, they may learn to use some industry-specific software and equipment, like a transcription foot pedal, throughout their lessons. To get started, they need up-to-date computers with sufficient memory to download programs and documents, as well as access to the Internet. They may need to be able to play video with sound. Some content is sent by e-mail or physical mail, so prospective students must provide addresses.

List of Online Transcription Certificate Programs

Online Medical Transcriptionist Certificate

These programs, which typically last one year, teach participants to transcribe dictations concerning patient diagnoses, procedures and assessments. Specific courses may include anatomy and physiology, medical terminology and pharmacology language. Some programs emphasize editing skills for transcriptionists. These programs may also offer specialized training to prepare transcriptionists to work from home. Online medical transcription programs are generally self-paced programs. Individuals who earn a medical transcriptionist certificate qualify to work in entry-level positions for hospitals, clinics and outpatient centers.

Online Legal Transcriptionist Certificate

Commonly available through continuing education departments, online legal transcription certificate programs include classes on beginner and intermediate keyboarding, word processing, business communication, stenography methods and courtroom procedures. To enroll in an online transcription program, students must have excellent typing skills regarding both speed and accuracy. Some certificate programs include courses on the history of law practice, legal specialties, billing processes and ethical issues. Graduates of legal transcription programs are prepared to work in law offices and courtrooms as legal transcriptionists, court reporters and stenographers; they may also transfer into a related associate's degree program, such as one for paralegals.