One of the most sought-after work from home jobs today is transcription. In fact, a transcriptionist job online is everywhere, but finding the right one is the challenging part.
Over the years, transcription has grown its popularity, and it continues to grow with a lot more people and companies needing the expertise of transcriptionists to turn audio/video files into a written form. Thanks to digital developments, finding people to do the work has become a lot easier these days. Also, there is an increasing number of transcription companies that offer remote jobs for transcribers, making it all the more popular among work from home workers.
Transcription job online is very ideal for stay at home moms or anyone who wish to make money right at the comfort of their home. Also, like some work from home jobs, it also offers work schedule flexibility, which means you can work on a file anytime you want, unless specified by the file owner. Most transcription companies also allow you to work anywhere you want to as long as you meet deadlines, and you do the tasks accurately.
Generally, people though the transcription job is easy. While there is a little truth to that, the job can actually be quite challenging especially for beginners. You need to be fast in typing, and keep up with the required words per minute to ensure you keep your job. Later on, we are going to share with you some of the basic skills and technical requirements you need in order to be a transcriptionist.
Meanwhile, let’s define what transcription is all about first.
Definition of Transcription
As the name suggests, transcription is about typing. It refers to the process of converting an audio or video file into a written document. Unlike closed captions that are time-coded to the video, transcripts are simple texts without any time information needed.
Transcription job is the best option when it comes to making audio-only programs like radio shows and podcasts become more accessible to people with disability particularly the deaf or people with hearing problems. Meanwhile, transcription complements closed-captioning when it comes to video files.
Types of Transcription Jobs
If you are looking for a transcriptionist job online, you must be aware that there are three types of transcription jobs. These are the following:
- General Transcription – This type of transcription job refers to listening to audio files and converting them into written documents. General transcription requires the ability to listen carefully to the file given even when the quality of the file is questionable or may have a heavy accent. Ensuring an accurate report is very vital. General transcriptionists work on audio files like speeches, meetings, podcasts, etc.
- Medical Transcription – Medical transcription is one of the two specialized transcription jobs. Anyone who wants to work as a medical transcriptionist must acquire certain training and certifications first. Medical transcriptionists transcribe doctor recorded reports into text reports. In addition, medical transcriptionists may use speech recognition technology to review and edit the documents.
To be a medical transcriptionist, you must be familiar with medical terminologies, privacy requirements since you are dealing with confidential and sensitive patient records, as well as legal standards and conditions. You must also be very keen on details.
While there are companies that welcome medical transcriptionists without previous experience as long as they have certifications or have had recent medical transcription training, most companies prefer the experienced ones.
Back in the old times, medical transcriptionists work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other medical institutions.
- Legal Transcription – Legal transcription is another specialized transcription job. Like medical transcriptionists, to be a legal transcriptionist you must be knowledgeable about this field, particularly legal terms. You must also have an excellent command of the English language. Thus, being a native speaker or having English as your primary language is a plus for this job. As a legal transcriptionist, your job is to create and edit legal documents from a legal professional’s dictation.
Of all these three types of transcription jobs, if you want to make more money, you better pursue either medical or legal transcription. As the saying goes, it’s where the money is.
Requirements for Transcription Jobs
To qualify for any transcriptionist job online, you must possess the following skills and traits:
– Fast typing speed (although the required words per minute vary on a company-to-company basis, most companies require at least 60 words per minute)
– Very good command of the English language
– Excellent grammar and communication skills
– Attention to detail
– Accurate
– Reliable
– Efficient
– Multi-tasker
– Years of experience
– Certifications and training (particularly if you are aiming for medical transcription)
– University degree is an advantage but not required
Knowing all these will help you prepare for the job. Also, it will help you gauge whether or not you are fit for it.
Types of Transcripts
A lot of people thought that when we say transcription, it comes in just one form. Well, apparently, it’s not the case. In fact, there are three types of transcripts, and these are:
– Verbatim – The very common of all types of transcripts is the verbatim format. When we say verbatim, it basically means creating transcripts in literal form – meaning every phrase and utterance in the file is included.
– Modified Verbatim – Some companies prefer the modified version of the verbatim transcript. Basically, it means the document is minimally cleaned or edited.
– Clean Read or Intelligent Verbatim – This type of transcript basically refers to the omission of false starts and stutters, while keeping the flavor of the speech, without changing or missing any important detail.
Technical Requirements
Apart from meeting the company’s qualifications, you must also meet the required equipment for the job, which includes the following:
– Reliable desktop or laptop computer
– High-speed internet connection
– High-quality headphones preferably the one with the noise-canceling feature
– Transcription software (while you can download your own, some companies prefer their transcriptionists to use their own software)
In addition to these basic requirements for the job, if you see yourself taking this job seriously for a long time, we highly recommend investing in the following equipment as well:
– Foot pedal (the secret to any transcriptionist’s efficiency)
– Ergonomic chair and desk (for comfortability purposes)
– Ergonomic keyboard and mouse (since you will be working mostly using your computer)
Salary of a Transcriptionist
How much you make as a transcriptionist varies depending on several factors like your years of experience, your expertise, the type of transcription job you’re in, as well as the company you are working for.
But to give you an idea, as a beginner general transcriptionist, you should earn at least $10 to $20 per audio hour. However, if you are working as a medical or legal transcriptionist, your pay rate must be higher. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most medical transcriptionists make a mean annual wage of $35,120.
Companies That Offer Transcription Job Online
Now that you already know some of the basic information you need to know about the transcription world, let’s move on to (probably) your most awaited part.
Here are some of the companies that provide transcriptionist job online:
- Rev
Rev is very popular when it comes to transcription. Rev mostly offers transcription jobs related to general transcription. What we like in particular about Rev, and probably the reason why they are popular is that they accept both new and professional transcriptionists from anywhere in the world. So, if you are a beginner in this field, Rev is very ideal for you.
To qualify as a Rev transcriptionist, you must possess a very good command of the English language, and you must have the ability to follow guidelines accordingly. In addition, you must also follow the Style Guide, and you must take and pass the company’s online assessment test.
Once you are in, according to the Rev’s website, you will get to earn around $245 monthly.
- Tigerfish
Tigerfish is another company that accepts beginners in the transcription world. However, you must be from the United States and must take and pass the three tests they have prepared to get hired for the job.
Like most companies that offer a transcriptionist job online, Tigerfish offers a flexible working schedule. As with the payment rate, the company pays an estimated $0.005 per word.
- TranscribeMe
TranscribeMe is also very popular in the transcription world. The company offers a variety of transcription jobs – be it medical, legal, or general transcription – for both beginner and professional transcriptionists.
To qualify as a transcriptionist for TranscribeMe, you must be able to pass their transcription assessment test, which helps the company gauge your accuracy and audio skills. Once you are hired, you will have to go through a style guide and training before you start working on a project or a file.
As with the payment rate, TranscribeMe pays around $20 per audio hour.
- Pacific Transcription
Pacific transcription offers a variety of transcription jobs in legal, medical, and general transcription. Unlike other companies, they specifically prefer transcriptionists with previous transcription work experience. Also, you need to have at least 60 words per minute typing speed to qualify for the job.
In addition, the company employs transcriptionists from different countries in the world like Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, it is not specified how much their transcriptionists earn.
- GMR Transcription
GMR Transcription is a company that hires both beginners and professional transcriptionists. They too offer a variety of transcription jobs – genera, legal, and medical. If you are interested to apply in this company, all you have to do is send out your application through their website, and then take and pass an audio test.
Once hired, expect to get paid between $0.70 and $1.25 per audio minute. Apart from transcription jobs, GMR Transcription also hires Spanish translators.
- Terescription
If you are interested to work on transcription jobs related to the entertainment industry, then Terescription is perfect for you. Your job will include transcribing media files.
To start working for the company, you will need to register online through their company website, and then download a sample test to test grammar, accuracy, as well as English skills. You must also meet their basic requirements, which include having a high-speed internet connection, reliable laptop computer, high-quality headphones, and a foot pedal. You must also be residing in the US to get hired.
- AccuTran Global
If you wish to work as a medical or general transcriptionist, then you may want to consider working for AccuTran Global. However, you must meet their requirements, which include having a minimum typing speed of 60 words per minute, a good command for the English language, and if you wish to be a medical transcriptionist, you must have knowledge of the medical field. In addition, you must pass their transcription test after applying online.
Working as a transcriptionist for AccuTran Global will make you earn around $0.005 per word. You will also get to enjoy a flexible working schedule.
- Quicktate
Quicktate offers you a variety of transcription jobs from voicemail messages to audio files, conference calls to legal and medical filed, and a lot more. The company lets you work anytime you want. All you have to do is log in on the website, and start doing tasks you feel like doing.
To qualify for the transcription job, you must be very good in spelling and punctuation, and a previous transcription work experience. You will also need to go through a series of tests before you get hired by this company. Although the process may seem challenging, it’s all worth it.
- Appenscribe
Appenscribe is a company that is open to hiring newbies in the transcription industry. What we like about Appenscribe is that the process of application is very simple.
To get it, you will need to fill out your details online, and take a few assessment tests to help the company gauge your accuracy level. The company hires transcriptionists from anywhere in the world.
As with the payment rate, the company pays around $0.00r per word. The company lets you work at your own pace and time just like most transcription companies out there.
- Scribie
Scribie is another famous transcription company that hires both newbies and pros in the industry. The company lets their transcriptionists work on several audio files like podcasts and interviews, as well as video files.
If you are interested to work for Scribie, you may apply through their website, and wait until you get an invitation to take a transcription test. Once you pass the test, you can immediately start working on projects or files.
While you get to have a flexible working schedule, the thing with Scribie is that work comes on a first-serve basis. Transcriptionists working at Scribie gets to earn around $10 per audio hour.
- Daily Transcription
Whether you are a beginner or a pro in transcription, you are welcome to apply at Daily Transcription. The company hires transcriptionists for different post-production, academic, as well as legal transcription projects.
However, the work that Daily Transcription provides is on an on-call or as-needed basis, which means, if you want a regular transcription gig this may not be the perfect company for you. Also, the company is restricted to recruit people from the US and Canada only.
To get into Daily Transcription, you will need to fill out an online form and take the transcription test. Once you pass the test, you can immediately start working on projects – if there’s available.
- Casting Words
Casting Words offers freelance transcription jobs to anyone from specified countries like the US and Canada. Like most transcription companies, Casting Words offer a very flexible work schedule, which means you can work on any project anytime you want and anywhere you want to work on.
To qualify for the company’s transcriptionist job online, you need to complete online registration. Once done, you will be asked to take a transcription test, which will help you understand the Style Guide.
With regards to the payment rate, Casting Words pays around 8 cents to a dollar per audio minute.
- GoTranscript
GoTranscript is also one of the most sought-after transcription companies worldwide. Perhaps that is because the company welcomes anyone from all over the world to work for them. The company hires freelance transcriptionists even without that much experience working as one. This makes the company ideal for those who are just starting out their transcription careers.
Like most transcription companies, GoTranscript also looks for transcribers who have fast typing speed, a multi-tasker, accurate, and reliable. While work experience is an advantage, it is not really necessary.
GoTranscript’s pay rate is quite competitive at $0.60 per audio or video minute. If you want to work for the company, all you have to do is go to their website, hit the apply button, and then take and pass the transcription test.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there really is a career in transcription. And yes, there are way too many companies that offer transcriptionist jobs online! To be honest, it’s really just up to you to decide what particular transcription job you want to pursue, and what company you will work for.
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