Please take in the spirit offered... sm

Just reading your post and replies, I am lead to believe you have NOT compelted any MT training. If you have, then this does not apply.

As an MTSO and an editor for a national your post is very alarming, so please research well before making your decision.

1. Being an MT is not an on and off again job. It is an everyday job. It is a job you have to really work hard. It is not a "extra income is great job" at all. You are handling legal medial reports, and yes, you are responsible for what you type. We are also responsible for catching doc errors and flagging them.

2. To learn, you must commit. You cannot sporadically work at anything and be proficient. If you cannot work a set schedule, be it your own or required for an account, then you are not a vauable asset. Nobody has the time for someone to work just a couple of hours when they see fit...the work must be done and that is why even ICs have to submit a schedule or say how many minutes of work they will accept a day. As stated before, an IC can set their own hours, but most new MTs need a full 8 if not more to complete a fraction of the min. work to learn starting out.

3. Please keep in mind that starting out, you will easily spend 8 hours doing what we can do in a fraction of the time...it is a hard road and there is much to be learned after your degree and especially if a home course. The majority of MTs will tell you that those of us at the top of our programs still had mountains to climb when the first job was landed and each day we continually absorb a lot of information as the medical field is continually changing.

4. 1000 lines...the neverending debate. These days, 1000 in 8 is low...1200-1500 in 8 is for professional FT MTs, but again, that takes a lot of time learning and buliding. Nobody can do it overnight.

This is a VERY personal rewarding profession. If you choose this profession, best of luck to you. However, please be sure you have time needed to fully learn as you sound busy already and nothing an MT does is just a few hours a day, the majority of PT IC positions still require 4 hours a day.

Follow Ups:

• This MTSO understands - this is an excellent post 11:18:42 02/25/05 (0)
• thank you for your input (more) - on the fence 23:27:23 02/24/05 (3)
  • Answers to your last post inside..sm - Only honest 01:40:44 02/25/05 (2)
    • Thanks, how about career step (more) - still doing the balancing act 08:08:41 02/25/05 (1)
      • It is a lot, but you will know if it is ..sm - For you 01:43:44 02/26/05 (0)