North Carolina

Medical Transcriptionist Professionals in North Carolina

Working as a medical transcriptionist would make you an important part of the healthcare system. If you think you have good listening and writing skills, an attention to detail and the ability to understand complex terminology, a career in this field might be suitable for you.

Medical transcriptionists are responsible for both transcribing audio recordings provided by doctors and other medical professionals and editing documents created using voice recognition software. In order to complete these tasks sufficiently, one must have a good working knowledge of anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, medical abbreviations, pharmacology and various word processing and health information software systems. Transcriptionists will also need to know how to research using appropriate reference materials and meet legal and confidentiality requirements for documentation.

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Regulations for Medical Transcriptionists North Carolina

You will not need to obtain a license to work as a medical transcriptionist in North Carolina, nor is there a specific oversight board in the state for this profession. A high school diploma or equivalent will be necessary, as will graduation from an appropriate training program. Training programs generally take the form of certificate programs with up to one year of education required in order to graduate and begin work in the field.

Programs in North Carolina for Medical Transcriptionists

Only one school in North Carolina offers a training program for medical transcriptionists, and it is an online offering:

  • University of North Carolina in Wilmington offers an online course in medical transcription. Students will complete 24 course-hours over either a six-week or three-month period, depending on their schedule and ability to work independently. The course covers the basics of medical transcription including the nine main report types and their components, grammar usage, clinical knowledge, the specifics of major diseases, and dictation. Graduates will be prepared to seek employment through either a transcription contracting agency or through self-employment.

Career Advancement and Special Certifications

While there is no need to obtain specialized credentialing to work in the field, it can help boost your resume and inspire confidence in potential employers. One organization through which medical transcriptionists may obtain specialized credentials is the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). In order to earn the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) credential through the AHDI, you will need to pass an examination consisting of multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank audio questions and a sample transcription.

Medical Transcription Growth Projections and Salaries in North Carolina

While the career is experiencing a decline nationwide, according to data from Projections Central, North Carolina can expect to see a small amount of growth with a projected 0.8 percent increase in this job market between the years 2016 and 2026. This translates to 150 new job openings expected yearly within the state. The Jacksonville area, in particular, is listed as one of the highest concentrated metropolitan areas for medical transcription employment in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Annual salaries for medical transcriptionists within the state compare less favorably with the national average. North Carolina transcriptionists reported a mean annual salary of $34,050 in 2018, compared to a reported mean of $36,350 nationwide, according to data collected by the BLS. Medical transcriptionists should expect the highest wages to come from local governments, accounting and tax preparation firms, medical and diagnostic laboratories, dental offices, and medical and surgical hospitals.

North Carolina Opportunities for Medical Transcriptionists

While many medical transcriptionists choose to be self-employed, the highest concentrations of transcriptionists can be found in business support services (like contractors), physicians’ offices, general medical and surgical hospitals, offices of other healthcare practitioners and employment services. A few possible employers in North Carolina include Frye Regional Medical Center, Quest Diagnostics, Medely, Favorite Healthcare Staffing, Affordable Dentures and Implants, and My Dental Career.