Let’s talk about transcription certifications. Is getting certified necessary? Which certification programs are worth the time and money? Read on for answers to those questions and more!
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Do I really need a transcription certification?
It’s relatively easy to start freelancing as a transcriptionist without being certified, albeit for lower pay. However, as you start to gain experience and learn on the job, you may wonder, “Is getting certified as a transcriptionist even necessary?” It’s been my experience that anyone who wants to grow their business or start their own transcription company should definitely get certified. And here’s why:
- Increase Your Skill Set – Learning new things and refining the skills you already have is never a bad thing. And I know from experience that you’ll need to rely on those advanced skills in order to ensure your transcribers are producing top-quality transcripts. Plus, the extra practice will help you increase efficiency and reduce your turnaround time, which allows you to make more money!
- Affirm Your Professionalism and Expertise– Certification earns you immediate credibility with prospective clients and confirms that you truly do have the experience, skills, and expertise to run your company in accordance with industry standards and best practices. This makes it easier for you to onboard new clients and possibly justify a higher than average price.
- Prepare for Transcription Credentials- The best certification programs prepare you for credential exams. Transcription associations offer industry credentials that set you apart as educated, experienced, and dedicated to a career in transcription. A few credentials are recognized worldwide, some are specific to a particular type of transcription (like broadcast captioning or court reporting), and several require continuing education (like medical transcription). Learn more about the credentials that each association offers in my article, Boost Your Career by Joining a Transcription Association.
When you search for transcription certifications, you’ll find a long list. Unfortunately, most of them are for beginners just starting out as freelancers. In this article, I’m sharing credible programs designed around industry best practices to take experienced transcribers to the next level. All of the courses listed below are comprehensive and include everything from basic grammar and word processing to hands-on practice with a wide variety of audio files that contain bad audio, accented English, and more. They also cover transcription company startup basics, with lessons on contracts, taxes, and privacy. And I love that they are self-paced with no deadline to finish, so you can study and practice at your own pace.
Transcribe Anywhere
Transcribe Anywhere offers several certifications and all of them are approved by AAERT. They offer certifications in general and legal transcription. The final exams are graded by a human who gives you feedback on your test results. The legal course prepares you for two of AAERTs credential exams, the Electronic Transcriber Certification and the Certified Deposition Reporter. Their website offers all of the information you need to decide if any of their courses are right for you. You can review the syllabus and videos for each course, as well as take an introductory free course to determine whether their program will suit your learning style.
Transcription Certification Institute
The Transcription Certification Institute only offers a general transcription certification. However, the program covers basics as well as advanced skills like how to transcribe interruptive dialogue and what privacy policies you’ll need to implement when starting your transcription company. They also offer an internship, which likely would not be necessary for an experienced transcriber starting their own company. However, participating in the internship could give you real-world experience in an area of transcription that is new to you and it would be a great way to broaden your hands-on experience or see if a particular niche will be a good fit for you. Then, as your company grows and you need to hire, TCI can provide you with certified transcriber interns. Their interns will transcribe five hours of audio unpaid and you will be required to give the interns a letter of reference.
Learn to Transcribe Academy
Learn to Transcribe offers several programs, including mini-courses on individual topics. While their mini-courses are beginner-level, I do recommend the Legal Transcription with Paid Apprenticeship, which prepares you for the AAERTs Certified Electronic Transcriber credential exam. The apprenticeship program is optional and they offer scholarships. If you do the apprenticeship, you’ll be paid to transcribe for a company for 30 days. Once you start your own company, you can apply to hire apprentices through their program as well.
The benefits of getting certified far outweigh the minimal expense and time required. I encourage you to get started today because the sooner you get certified, the sooner you can start making more money. I also recommend you check out my guide, “How to Start a Transcription Company in 30 Days.” My guide breaks down startup tasks into easy and manageable pieces. It’s also packed with tools, resources, and best practices for getting started. Download the free guide and follow my blog for more tips and resources.
