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Practitioners seeking employment in medical transcription should be fully informed about the state of the industry, the market value for transcription services, billing and compensation methodologies, industry standards, credentialing requirements, and the role and impact of emerging technologies in order to make empowered employment decisions.

The following is a checklist of things to research and consider prior to initiating your job search:

• Understand the evolving state of the industry. How informed are you about changes occurring in the industry? Are you prepared for the technology changes that lie ahead? Knowing how the role of the healthcare documentation specialist is being impacted by technology, consumer demand for information, and changes in healthcare delivery will enable you to prepare for the future and your evolving role within that future. Read more here:
  
  The Future of Medical Transcription
  
  
• Be informed about wages and compensation. Are you prepared to negotiate a salary or wage based on industry trends and drivers? Do you know the right questions to ask in a job negotiation that will yield compensation definitions you can verify and understand? Are you informed about the average wages for MTs in the US and in your geographic location? Read more here:
  
  Full Disclosure in Medical Transcription Compensation
  
  US Department of Labor Wage Statistics for MT
  
  
• Be prepared for the challenges of working from home. If you are seeking remote employment from an at-home location, understand that industry employers have high expectations of all employees, whether on site or at home. Be sure to carefully consider the work setting that will enable you to be the most successful, productive, and well compensated. Read more here:
  
  Working from Home
  
  
• Understand the role of the employee vs. independent contractor. Before considering at-home work under either definition, be informed about the definitions, expectations and restrictions as identified by the Internal Revenue Service for each of these labor classifications. Negotiations with a potential employer or client should be driven by this understanding. Read more here:
  
  Employee vs. Independent Contractor
  
  
• Consider credentialing to enhance your employable skill set. Industry employers are looking for the most highly skilled, reliable practitioners to help them meet the documentation demands of the industry. Many have demonstrated a hiring and compensation preference for applicants who are credentialed for either a level-1 or level-2 work setting. To ensure the best opportunities for employment and compensation, consider seeking the credential that will verify your skill set to potential employers. Read more here:
  
  Credentials and Designations
  
  

Finding a Job

When you have done your homework and prepared yourself well for new or different employment in the industry, seek your next job from the following list of resources:

AHDI Career Connection

AHDI Corporate Member Directory

Employment Opportunities for MT Graduates: If you are a student who will be graduating and seeking employment in the near future or you are a recent graduate who may be struggling to find employment, this page may be helpful to you.