Article: A high school diploma or GED is the only formal requirement for becoming a medical transcriptionist. If you're an adult without a high school diploma, you can take a test to  earn your GED.  Most states require you to be at least sixteen years old before you can take the GED. You can take the GED without attending classes first, but it helps to review the material before you take the test. There are many online resources available, and nearly every town offers GED classes. As a medical transcriptionist, most of your time will be spent listening to doctors' dictation and transcribing that information into written form. You'll need to be able to keep up a good typing speed as you transcribe. However, you don't need to be the fastest typist in the world. Forty-five words per minute is a speed that will allow you to transcribe quickly and accurately.  You can test your typing speed on various websites. If you're a very slow typist, you should consider taking an online typing course to  increase your speed. You don't need more than a high school education to become a medical transcriptionist. However, further education in medical transcription will help you learn the medical terminology that is part of the job. It will also give you a competitive edge in the job market. The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity lists approved medical transcription programs. This is not a necessary step, but getting credentialed will give you a competitive edge in the job market. There are two certifications available to medical transcriptionists: Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) and Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS). The RHDS certification is available to medical transcriptionists who are just starting out in their careers. Earning the CHDS certification requires two years of experience. Both certifications are offered through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). The RHDS and CHDS exams are offered at various centers throughout the United States. You can also take the test online.  The RHDS exam will test your basic knowledge of medical terminology, as well as your English language abilities, including grammar and punctuation. The CHDS exam will test advanced knowledge of medical terminology, as well as your ability to make use of professional reference materials.  AHDI offers preparation materials on their website.

What is a summary?
Earn your high school diploma or GED. Assess your typing speed. Earn an Associates Degree or Certificate in medical transcription. Choose your credentials. Take the test.