More and more students are enjoying the benefits of online education programs when preparing themselves for careers in medical transcription, taking advantage of the programs’ flexible schedules and the ability to study from home. However, before you decide to embark on your journey through medical transcription online, it is important that you determine how much each course will cost and how long it will take you to complete the program. Here we will discuss both the cost and length of online medical transcription programs.

Cost of an Online Medical Transcription Program

Program costs vary from school to school, but one example provided here of the program costs from the following top school may be useful in helping potential students determine what the overall cost of their online education might be. Kaplan University’s associate’s degree program in medical transcription, for example, costs $353 per credit hour and requires its students to complete 90 credit hours. That totals out to $31,770 for the entire program. Keep in mind, though, that you may pay significantly less for a program like this if you are transferring in credit hours from other schools or if you are a military veteran.

There are also other charges to keep in mind for programs like these. In addition to the program cost, Kaplan assesses a one-time program fee of $300, and a $100 technology fee each term, so look carefully at the online school of your choice to see what extra fees apply on top of your basic program costs.

Length of an Online Medical Transcription Program

The length of the program will depend on whether you decide to pursue a 1-year certificate or a 2-year associate’s degree in medical transcription. The online medical transcription program at Williston State College, which culminates in an associate’s degree, is designed to take about two years, but also includes a six-week internship.

It is important to remember that many two-year associate’s degree programs require the student to take on a full course load to complete the online program in two years. If your current career or other daily responsibilities keep you from taking on a full load, it may take longer than the standard two years to finish the program. It may also take some students less than two years to complete an associate’s program if they are transferring in core credit hours from another school.