Your Step-by-Step Guide to the CMT Exam

You figured it out as a toddler—the most effective way to get where you wanted to go was to put one foot in front of the other. Just take one step at a time. Eventually, however, you wanted to do more than just ambulate. You wanted to twirl, to shimmy, to foxtrot, to Hustle, maybe even Macarena. And although that movement seemed more difficult at first, you quickly learned that the same principle applied. Just take it one step at a time.

Now it's time to apply that wisdom to your career. If you've gone as far as your current course can take you, it's time to spiff up your repertoire with a bold new step—earning your certified medical transcriptionist (CMT) credential. ADVANCE is here to walk you through it—one step at a time.

Get Out on the Floor
The first move is simply making the commitment to get credentialed. If you need some motivation, consider this: according to the results of ADVANCE's 2000 salary survey, the average medical transcriptionist made $27,656 last year, whereas the average CMT made $37,257. So there is certainly a financial incentive. This may be due to the fact that the credential can increase your marketability and open up your options.

"I am more inclined to hire a CMT because the credential provides assurance that they are continuing their education," stated Lea Minkley, CMT, owner of Accutranz Medical Transcription Services Inc. in Jacksonville, FL. "Certainly, there are uncredentialed medical transcriptionists (MTs) who are equally committed to staying current, but the CMT is almost like a guarantee."

But perhaps the greatest reason to obtain your CMT credential is that certification raises the bar for the entire profession. "The CMT credential is very important to establishing transcription as a profession," stated Carrie Donathan, CMT, a quality assurance team leader for HealthScribe, headquartered in Sterling, VA, and former member of the Certification Committee. "By setting standards, we can begin to weed out some of the people who just decide to hang out their MT shingle without experience or training. It will promote professional respect."

Prepare and Practice
Once you've made the commitment to getting your credential, your next step is to gather information. The American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT), which administers the exam, offers a variety of resources on its Web site, www.aamt.org (click on Certification). Dates for the exam, registration information and forms, and a comprehensive Candidate Handbook can all be obtained on the Internet or by calling AAMT's Medical Transcription Certification Commission (MTCC) at (800) 578-9823 or by sending an e-mail to mtcc@aamt.org.

The organization also offers self-assessment products that mirror the two-part certification exam. Part I is multiple choice. Part II is a work simulation. There are two assessment tests available for Part II. Each practice test can be ordered by phone or over the Internet and costs $35. A package containing all three products is also available for $90.

"The self-assessments are very helpful in that they can help you establish where you are on the learning curve," stated Donathan. "They can help you identify areas you may be weak in and can give you a feel for the exam experience."

If you have trouble with the self-test, you may want to consider joining or starting a study group. "Group study gives you the benefit of other people's knowledge and experience," explained Beth Sutherland, CMT, a home-based MT and member of the Certification Commission. "People may ask questions that you never thought of, or be able to provide answers you didn't know how to find. Plus, there's the element of support it provides."

How do you go about finding a study group? If you graduated from an MT training program, your alma mater may be a good place to start. Sutherland, for example, runs a study group for students at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, where she teaches MTs.

If you do not have access to a training program in your area, contact your "Cert Connector." Cert Connectors are AAMT members who volunteer to help MTs in their area navigate the certification process. Contact information for Cert Connectors is available through your local chapter or by contacting MTCC. "They can help you find a study group or mentor, answer questions you have about the process and may be able to put you in touch with others in your area who have taken or will be taking the exam," stated Sutherland.

Taking Part I
Once you've found a study group or mentor, relax and take your time. You can take the first part of the exam whenever you feel ready. This portion of the exam is administered through Assessment Systems Inc. (ASI), which has locations throughout the country. To find the test center near you, call ASI at (800) 274-8719. Call the same number to schedule your exam. You must reserve your date and time at least three business days in advance and be sure to specify that you are taking the AAMT certification exam. You will need to provide ASI with your name, address, daytime phone number, date of birth and social security number, so be sure to have that information handy when you pick up the phone. You'll also want to have pen and paper handy to record your confirmation number and the date and time of your exam. (There's a $75 charge for no-shows.)

The day of the exam, you'll need to bring your confirmation number, two forms of identification (both must have your signature, at least one must have your photo), and a certified check, cashier's check or money order in the amount of $150. ASI will not accept cash, personal checks or credit cards. Do not bring reference books or notes, as you will not be permitted to use them.

The multiple-choice exam is delivered electronically and scored almost instantly. A computer will ask you 120 questions. You will have three hours to answer them. Topics covered include: medical terminology; English language and usage; anatomy and physiology; diseases processes; health care record; and professional development. If you score 85 points or above, the results will simply read "pass." If you score lower, you will be given your numerical score and a breakdown of how you performed in each of the test areas to better help you focus your efforts when preparing to retest.

Passing candidates will have their pictures taken digitally and added to a report showing their test results. You must submit a copy of this report with your application to take Part II.

Taking Part II
Once you have passed Part I, you can begin preparations for Part II. But don't rest on your Part I laurels too long—you have exactly two years after passing the multiple choice section to also pass the work simulation section. This section of the test is only offered three times per year on the third weekends of February, June and October. You may choose to take the test on Thursday at 6:00 p.m., Friday at 9:00 a.m. or Saturday at 9:00 a.m. You must register with MTCC at least two months prior to taking Part II.

"There is a lot of paperwork involved," cautioned Donathan. "You don't want to cut it too close. You want to give yourself enough time that you can retake it again if necessary."

When you apply to take the final section, you must tell MTCC where you plan to take it and who will be your proctor. You're responsible for making these arrangements yourself, but your Cert Connector can help. The test must be proctored by a reliable, independent third-party with whom you have no close professional or personal connection.

"It does not have to be an MT," stated Sutherland. "But it must be a professional person who has no vested interest in your performance on the test."

Your Cert Connector, local association members and colleagues are all good resources through which to find a proctor. "My sister is a teacher in a private school," offered Donathan. "She proctors members of my local association frequently."

The site for the exam should be a professional site equipped with a computer (preferably non-networked) and a printer in the same room. You may not take the exam in a home office (although an exemption may be made for MTs with special physical needs, under the Americans With Disabilities Act). Aim for a location with minimal distractions. Up to three candidates may share the same site and proctor.

As with Part I, you will need to bring identification with you to the test site. Payment of the $150 fee, however, must be submitted to MTCC with the registration materials and may be paid by certified check, money order or credit card. You are responsible for making sure that you have all necessary equipment and materials including a headset, standard-size or microcassette transcriber and plain paper. You are permitted to use references, including electronic dictionaries and spellcheckers in this part of the exam. Be sure to double-check all equipment to make sure it works, that there's enough toner in the printer, etc.

In Part II of the exam, you will be required to transcribe 15 minutes of dictation. The dictation covers a variety of report styles and specialties. Although there are three hours allotted for testing, you have exactly two hours to transcribe, proofread and print the reports.

After you have completed Part II, it is put through the marking and grading process (all are CMTs). Approximately 10 weeks later, you will receive your results. Again, if you score less than 85 points you will be told your numerical score along with diagnostic information about your performance. But if you score 85 or higher, you will receive a letter congratulating you on becoming a CMT.

Victory Dance!
Once you receive your credential, there is still more to be done. First up: reward yourself! Commemorate the event with a purchase, large or small, practical or frivolous, that will serve as a permanent reminder of your accomplishment.

Make sure to renovate all your business forms to reflect your new status. Letterhead, business cards, your e-mail autosignature and anything else that bears your name should appear with a CMT.

According to Minkley, the best time to begin marketing your new credential is immediately after receiving it. "When you get your certification packet, take the time to send out the press releases included," she advised. "Send them to your clients and/or employer and your local organization. It's critical to let people know as soon as you pass your test."

Minkley also recommends proudly wearing your CMT pin in any venue where you want to "express your professionalism and commitment to excellence." In addition, she advocates displaying your CMT certificate in a nice frame in a prominent location.

And keep in mind, the CMT is not a lifetime designation. To maintain it, you must be recertified every three years by accumulating 30 approved continuing education credits and paying a modest recertification fee. It's not as daunting as it sounds, and as Minkley pointed out earlier, this commitment to continued learning is one of the things that sets a CMT apart.

"Things are changing so rapidly, and CMTs have made the commitment to keep up with these changes," stated Sutherland. "Certification is vitally important, and I don't understand how anyone could think otherwise."

Gretchen Berry is an associate editor at ADVANCE.