Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.
One of the best work-from-home jobs of 2024 is to become a transcriptionist.
This career requires little to no prior experience and allows you to make a consistent income online while getting to set your own hours.
However, you may be wondering how to get started with transcription. If you are, you’re in the right place.
This blog is a full guide on how to become a transcriptionist and make money on your own terms. Stick around to the end and you will be equipped with the knowledge you need to become a transcriptionist.
What Is Transcription
Transcription is the skill of converting a video or audio file into a written document. It requires stellar listening skills, a good typing speed, and a good command of the English language to accurately transform audio or video files into text.
Even though generative AI has made advances when it comes to transcription, there is still a great demand for human transcriptionists.
This is because transcription work requires more than just listening and typing. Unlike AI, a human transcriptionist can navigate the intricacies of varied accents and dialects and identify multiple speakers alongside understanding non-verbal cues.
In addition, a human transcriptionist can offer complementary services such as editing, proofreading, and formatting to ensure the final transcript is spick and span and ready for use.
Transcription offers a lot of flexibility in terms of working hours and pay.
As a work-from-home transcriptionist, you have the freedom to set whatever hours work for you. You can choose to work in the evenings, in the morning, or even on specific days of the week.
What Does A Transcriptionist Do?
A transcriptionist listens to and types out audio or video recordings into a written format known as a transcript.
Here are the key roles of a transcriptionist.
- Listening carefully to the recording and accurately typing out the spoken words
- Reviewing the transcribed text to ensure it is free of mistakes
- Formatting the transcribed text to make it easy to read. Formatting may also require adherence to the client/company’s formatting guidelines
- Meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work
The Three Types of Transcription
Transcription is a broad industry that involves multiple types of transcriptionists. The three main types of transcription are general transcription, medical transcription, and legal transcription.
Other types include academic transcription and captioning/subtitling.
As a beginner, it’s advisable to start by looking into general transcription. General transcription jobs have very low entry requirements and usually don’t require any prior experience or certification.
If you choose to go into the legal and medical fields, you will most likely require a license or completion of a certification program.
Legal and medical transcription jobs generally pay better than general transcription but are harder to get started with, especially for beginners.
1. General Transcription
General transcription involves transcribing audio files for general or non-specific topics.
As a general transcriptionist, you can work on projects ranging from recordings of meetings, conversations, sports commentary, podcast interviews, college lectures, speeches, forum discussions, and many more.
The only requirement to be a general transcriptionist is to have a lot of general information about things like the weather, sports, cars, food, news, entertainment, and world events.
General transcriptionists also require stellar listening and typing skills, alongside a good command of the English language to ensure the accuracy of the final product.
2. Legal Transcription
As the name suggests, Legal Transcription involves transcribing audio or video recordings in the legal field.
Legal transcriptionists transcribe court proceedings, depositions, trials, and other court-related proceedings. These transcriptionists work for courts, law firms, or corporate legal departments.
This type of transcription job usually requires a state license or certification. Some legal transcriptionists can work remotely, but most are required to work on-site where they transcribe proceedings in real-time.
Alongside, good listening and typing skills, legal transcriptionists need to have a wealth of knowledge of legal terminology and legal procedures.
3. Medical Transcription
Medical transcription involves listening to audio recordings of doctors and other health professionals and transforming them into written reports.
Medical transcriptionists work for healthcare facilities including hospitals, clinics, and price practices. While they can work from home, they also work on-site depending on the company.
Medical transcriptionists need to understand medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, medical procedures, and healthcare documentation.
Did you know you can make over $4000 a month with a print-on-demand business? Click here to learn how to get started today.
How Much Do Transcriptionists Make?
The average base pay for a transcriptionist in the United States ranges between $16 to $23.
However, compensation for transcription work varies greatly depending on factors such as speed, experience, location, and the company you work for.
Beginner online transcriptionists may only make about $10 an hour, but there is a potential to earn over $25 as you gain more experience and qualify for better-paying jobs.
It’s also important to note that companies pay freelance transcriptionists based on the audio hour. This means they compensate you for transcribing a full hour’s worth of audio, regardless of how much time you took to complete the job.
For a beginner, the pay for transcription work can seem meager, but as you advance and polish your skills, you can potentially build a roster of high-paying clients and make a career out of transcription.
What’s Required To Get Started As A Transcriptionist?
Listening to audio files and typing out what you hear may seem simple, but transcription work is a lot more complicated.
You will require a combination of technical skills, personal skills, and quality equipment to ensure high-quality output.
Here are the most important requirements for a transcriptionist.
1. Skills
⁛ Listening Skills
Listening actively is a crucial skill for transcriptionists. It involves paying close attention to the audio recording to decipher the context of the conversation, the words, being said, multiple speakers (if any), and speaker accents/dialects.
To be able to achieve this, you will need a good concentration span and a quiet dedicated workspace without many distractions.
⁛ Typing Skills
Transcriptionists must have the ability to type fast, with a recommended speed of at least 60 words per minute.
Since transcription mostly involves typing, having a fast typing speed is one of the most important skills a transcriptionist requires. You must be able to type fast and accurately, keeping up with the pace of the recording while ensuring accuracy in your work.
You can consider taking an online typing test to determine what your typing skills look like.
⁛ Research Skills
Transcriptionists need to do constant research to ensure the accuracy of the transcribed text. This involves looking up unknown words, and industry-specific terminologies, and researching to determine the contexts of the recordings
Research skills are crucial for a transcriptionist. One needs to do thorough and accurate research to ensure high-quality work in the final transcript.
⁛ Computer Skills
Most transcription work is done on a computer. This necessitates that transcriptionists be familiar with computer software and hardware.
Transcriptionists need to know how to work with word processing software alongside knowing their way around keyboards, foot pedals, and mice.
2. Equipment
The second crucial requirement to getting started as a transcriptionist is equipment.
With the right equipment, you can maximize your productivity and quickly elevate your transcription business to make even more money.
Here are the most important pieces of equipment for transcriptionists;
- PC or laptop
- Headphones
- Foot Pedal
- Keyboard
- Ergonomic Chair
- High-speed Internet
- Transcription software like Express Scribe
How To Become A Transcriptionist In 5 Steps
You might have all the information in the world about transcription but still be wondering how exactly to get started.
Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to become a transcriptionist.
Step 1: Get Training
Before you get started, it’s important to get the proper training to understand the ins and outs of transcription work and to know how to use transcription tools and software for maximum productivity.
One of the best online platforms to learn transcription is The Transcription Certification Institute. This platform offers beginners transcription training, certification, and a guaranteed internship with a reputable company as soon as you graduate.
In addition, they give you access to their regularly updated job board where you can find hundreds of transcription jobs and start making money immediately.
Click Here To Enroll For Training Today
Step 2: Practice Your Listening And Typing Skills
After you’ve received the proper training, the next step is to practice and improve your listening and typing skills.
Listening and typing are the most crucial skills a transcriptionist needs. These two skills determine your speed and the quality of your work and can therefore dictate how much you earn.
This is why it’s important to practice and improve your active listening and fast typing skills.
Step 3: Prepare Your Resume
Once you are confident with your listening and typing skills and have received the proper training, it’s time to update your resume.
Having a good resume that highlights your abilities such as the skills above will help you land high-paying jobs. Even though some online platforms don’t require a resume when applying for jobs, having one can still come in handy when looking for transcription work.
Step 4: Apply To Transcription Jobs
Once you’ve secured your certification, excellent listening and typing skills, and a good resume, the next step is to start applying for jobs.
You can find thousands of transcription jobs on online transcription companies. (We’ll discuss them below).
These platforms will help you land your first jobs and you can later establish your own freelance transcription practice and upgrade to higher-paying clients.
Step 5: Build Your Portfolio
As you gain experience and improve your skills, it’s important to build a portfolio where you can showcase your work and skills to potential clients.
Having a portfolio can be a great way to launch your private transcription practice and not have to depend on platforms for work any longer.
Where To Find Beginner Transcription Jobs
The following online transcription platforms are always looking for new hires and they can be a great place to practice your transcription skills, make money, and elevate your practice.
In most cases, these companies do not require any sophisticated equipment like foot pedals or transcription software. You can get started as long as you have a laptop and a good internet connection.
Before you get assigned paid work, you will be required to pass a short assessment test. These tests are usually pretty simple and you don’t require any prior transcription experience to pass and be accepted.
Here are the best online transcription platforms to get started with;
You can earn $1000 plus every month selling printables on Etsy. Printables are super simple to make and they require no prior skills or experience. Click here to learn how to get started. (It’s FREE)
Conclusion
Transcription is one of the most profitable work-from-home careers of the digital age.
With only a computer and a good internet connection, you can make money from wherever you like. Be it in your living room or at your favorite cafe, transcription allows you complete location independence.
To get started as a transcriptionist, you need to get proper training, practice your listening and typing skills, prepare a resume, and apply for jobs on transcription platforms.
We hope that this ultimate guide has given you a good starting point for your transcription journey. If you found it helpful, remember to share it with your friends and leave a comment below.
