Medical Transcriptionist

Career Diploma 7 months

Medical Transcriptionist Training

If you're interested in a healthcare career and would like the option to work from home, our flexible online Medical Transcriptionist Training Program can help you prepare to become a medical transcriptionist, and you can study at your own pace.

Learn the foundational knowledge necessary for working in healthcare, from terminology to electronic medical records.
Prepare to sit for the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) exam offered by AHDI, which can help you stand out when applying for jobs.
Our online programs are flexible enough for you to finish them at a pace that works for you, based on how much time you can dedicate to your coursework each week.

Accredited

Online

Self Paced

Cost of Program

$789

$1,039 Save $250

$59/month, Start for as low as $20

Request Info Enroll Now

1-800-471-3232 (9AM - 9PM ET)

medical transcriptionist wearing headset working at desktop computer.

What You Will Learn

How to transcribe and interpret dictation into diagnostic test results, operative reports, referral letters, medical reports, and other documents.
Translate medical abbreviations and jargon into the appropriate long form.
How to use common transcription software.
How to enter electronic health records into appropriate databases.

Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Medical Transcriptionist Career Outcomes

Medical Transcriptionist

AVG SALARY*

$37,550/yr

JOB GROWTH*

7,400/yr until 2034

Graduates of Penn Foster's Medical Transcriptionist Training Program have gone on to start careers in medical offices, hospital settings, or flexible careers working from home.

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in certain fields are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your program. See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information. Penn Foster College is not approved or regulated as a school by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

A person in a suit and tie wearing a lab coat and a stethoscope, holding an ipad and gesturing to another person with folded hands

What Healthcare Career is Right for You?

Medical Transcriptionist Training Curriculum

9 courses
52.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
26 exams
4 graded projects

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 7 months
Average time = 11 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

As part of our Medical Transcriptionist Training Program course curriculum, you'll learn the foundational skills that can help you prepare to start a successful career in the field. Your courses include:

Medical Billing and Health Insurance
Body Systems, Anatomy, and Medical Terminology
Medical Transcription

Non-US residents: This is a United States-based institution with course materials that are geared toward US job and labor standards. Learners from outside of the US may find that some information and materials will differ from the current standards of their country. Please note, the materials for this program are in English and use the Imperial unit of measurement, not the metric system.

Show Full Curriculum

Not sure if the Penn Foster program you’re interested in will fit your budget?

Use our Tuition Calculator to estimate your total tuition costs to help you decide what payment plan works best for you.

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Medical Transcriptionist Success Stories

Learn more about the Penn Foster experience from students who have completed our online courses.

View Student Success Stories

Kathleen A.

Penn Foster Graduate 2018

“Penn Foster’s programs and courses provide students with the opportunity to learn about new possibilities for their future and families. These courses are designed for self-paced learning. I recommend these courses to anyone who is interested.”

Looking for healthcare training for your workers?

Penn Foster currently works with hundreds of leading employers to meet their unique organizational needs.

Learn More

Medical Transcriptionist Training Tuition

Our Medical Transcription Training Program tuition is meant to be affordable for your budget. Choose from a customized payment plan and take the next steps toward a job you want today.

Option 1: Pay in full

Cost of Program¹

$789

$1,039 Save $250

Best price. Best value.
Pay the full cost today
No monthly payments

Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program¹

$939

$1,039 Save $100

Pay $59 per month
Start for $20 down
All major credit and debit cards accepted

Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program¹

$1,039

Pay $59 per month
Start for $49 down
Mail your payments

Enroll Now

Our Proven Healthcare Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

Enroll anytime
No exam due dates
Self-paced

Interactive

Digital study guides
Self-check quizzes
Online access to industry software

Connected

24/7 access to online resources
Learning Resource Center
Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

Expert faculty
Dedicated student services
Robust learning resources

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Medical Transcriptionist Training FAQs

How do I become a certified medical transcriptionist?

Post-secondary education and training is often the first step toward becoming a medical transcriptionist. Employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed medical transcription classes and getting certified, while not required, can help you stand out among other job applicants. While certification isn't a requirement for employment, transcriptionists can sit for the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) exam offered by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI).

What does a medical transcriptionist do?

Medical transcriptionists listen to voice recordings that physicians and other healthcare workers make and convert them into written reports. When transcribing reports, they're responsible for interpreting medical terminology and abbreviations, creating clear patient medical histories, discharge paperwork, and more.

What is the career outlook for a medical transcriptionist?

43,900 medical transcriptionist jobs were added in 2024, and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) projects that 7,400 new medical transcriptionist jobs will be added every year through 2034.* Medical transcriptionists play an important part in a healthcare team, translating and transcribing voice memos from physicians. As more patients and an aging population seek healthcare services, there will likely be more data and notes that need transcribing. However, it's important to note that, with technological advancement, some physicians and healthcare providers have begun to rely on speech recognition software versus hiring transcriptionists. Additionally, medical transcriptionists often have the option of working flexible schedules from home.

What will I learn in order to become a medical transcriptionist?

To become a transcriptionist, you'll learn the basics of medical office procedures, medical terminology, billing, and medical transcription.

What is the average salary for a medical transcriptionist?

According to the BLS, the national average salary for a medical transcriptionist is $37,550, or $18.05 per hour.* Wages vary based on location and experience.

Sources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, "Medical Transcriptionists." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed October 24, 2025.

Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.

Disclaimers:

¹ Depending on where you live, you may be charged taxes in addition to the total cost of your program.