Medical transcription is one of the India's sunrise industries and is expected to create thousands of jobs each year. Contrary to popular perception, medical transcription is not a dull job where you just type out what is dictated; it is rather challenging.

Besides, home-based medical transcription is a boon if you have kids and are unable to pursue a traditional nine to five job. You avoid the stress of the daily commute as well as balance your work and personal priorities.

Basic Skills

• Do you have little or no problem understanding American accents?
  
• Do your friends consider you a good listener?
  
• Are you computer literate?

If you answered yes to all three questions, you're one step ahead.

Besides this, it would also help if you have a sound knowledge of medical terminology and can speak English fluently.

Specialised Skills

It is very important that you undergo specialised training in the field before you actually get down to work. There are a few medical transcription training institutes across India. Besides, many companies who provide medical transcription services also recruit freshers and provide training in-house. The usual duration of medical transcription courses is around six months.

Some institutes and companies that provide medical transcription training are;

• Acusis Software India Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
  
• Novatech Institute of Teleworking (corporate member or American Association of Medical Transcription (AAMT)), Bangalore
  
• Focus Infosys, Bangalore
  
• Induj Infotech Ltd. (a division of S. Kumars), Mumbai

Before you sign up for a course, though, make sure the training organisation is a recognised institution. In addition, it is always preferable to train from an organisation that provides medical transcription services.

Medical Transcription Toolbox

• Pentium IV computer supported by an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) Windows 2000 or a more recent operating system
  
• An Internet connection
  
• A headset
  
• A good pair of speakers
  
• A foot pedal