What is Medical Transcription Program Approval?

The medical transcription program approval process was instituted by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) to encourage compliance with AHDI’s Model Curriculum for Medical Transcription, maintain sound educational programming, produce competent entry-level medical transcriptionists, and provide assurance to the public of consistency and quality outcomes for medical transcription education. Programs must comply with specific educational and institutional criteria as established by AHDI. There is no formal accreditation process for medical transcription programs.

Approved Programs

Medical Transcription programs that have been approved by AHDI and AHIMA can be found here. AHDI recommends these programs to all potential students seeking an education in the medical transcription industry. A successful career starts with a solid education, and students are encouraged to analyze their options carefully. Some programs offer multiple levels or tiers. It is important for the potential student to know which level or tier has been approved. AHDI-approved educational programs may display the following logo to denote their approval status.

Approval Process

An educational program applying for approval by AHDI and AHIMA must send a letter of intent and a one-page curriculum synopsis to:

AHDI Education Program Review Team
4230 Kiernan Ave.
Suite 130
Modesto, CA 95356

Or via email to edapproval@ahdionline.org.

Eligible programs will then be asked to submit a Gap Analysis along with a $200 deposit. The Gap Analysis will be reviewed by a team of peer reviewers, who will provide feedback as to whether or not the program is ready to proceed with the application process and submission of the required accompanying materials and fees.

Letter of Intent

Gap Analysis (PDF or DOC)

Medical Transcription Program Approval Manual

AHDI Guidelines for School Announcement

Appendix E Program Source Sequence Grid

Appendix F Required Textbooks, Materials, and Resources Table

Funding Checklist

SUM Program Report Inventory with Lengths

Program Sponsor Fact Sheet

Model Curriculum for Medical Transcription

The Model Curriculum for Medical Transcription was initially developed by AHDI to assist educational institutions in the development of medical transcription educational programs. This curriculum has been revised by the Education Program Approval Task Force of AHDI. The materials are intended solely as a guide and carry no explicit or implicit assurances of approval. A program intending to achieve program approval will need to have their program based on our curriculum.

Competency Profile for MT Education Programs

Model Curriculum for Medical Transcription

Education Approval Peer Reviewers

Each educational program that submits materials for approval has two peer reviewers who evaluate program materials before it goes to the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs. A peer reviewer will evaluate all documents submitted for accuracy and completeness. The volunteer position of a peer reviewer is not easy but very rewarding. For more information download the following documents:

Peer Reviewer Job Description

Peer Reviewer Application

Peer Review Confidentiality Agreement

Education Approval - Governing Bodies

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is the national association of health information management professionals. The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) is the accreditation organization of AHIMA, offering specialized programmatic accreditation in health informatics and information management. Approval for Medical Transcription Programs will be granted by AHIMA’s Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP) in cooperation with AHDI, under the general supervision of CAHIIM.