Graduate Experiences
Career Step graduates get jobs! Read what some of our graduates are saying:
Career Step is an excellent course for anyone looking to add to his or her income or someone who is looking to work from home. I would, and have, recommended this program to anyone who is motivated and ready to change their present circumstances, whatever they may be.
I found this online course to be the best way for me to learn. When I didn't understand something the first time I was able to sit with it and let it and let it sink in. If I was in a classroom setting I may not have done so well. When working at your own pace you have the time to fully understand without feeling rushed. This was a great course. The support system with staff and fellow students was phenomenal. I highly recommend this course!
I started Career Step's online MT training program because I wanted to change my career from working as an RN to being able to work from home. Little did I know how rewarding I would find the course!…The day I submitted my Final Exam for grading was a real milestone. Several days later when I opened the email that contained my final grade, I actually burst into tears to see that I had graduated with high honors! Thank you, Career Step!
When I went for my interview, because of my thorough Career Step training, I was hired on the spot. The company owner was amazed at my transcription skills compared to applications from local schools/colleges. I really like being a medical transcriptionist, and I am so excited to have a career where I can work from my home.
Deciding to take the Medical Transcription course through Career Step has been a life-changing event. Living as I do in a rural area, obtaining work has always been a problem and the possibility of being able to work from home was an option I had to pursue. I am so glad that I did. As I worked through the transcription portion of the course . . . the fact that these were real people with real problems kept me working to find the correct names and spellings of their afflictions. I am proud to be a graduate and highly recommend the course.
I graduated with High Honors and was very fortunate to find a job to fit my requirements perfectly within the first month. While I found the course to be exactly what it was advertised to be and I was very please with the training I received, I cannot say enough about Graduate Support! I was not expecting the level of involvement with my job search that Career Step provided. In my opinion, Career Step does not consider you to have completed the course until you have found employment!
I was able to get a job within 3 weeks of graduating, which was largely related to the Career Step name on my resume. I have talked to people and read that many new grads from other schools are looking for work for 4 to 6 months. I love my job and, while I am still learning the details of the job, I was well prepared for the work!
I started the course at 50 years old and I was not sure I could learn everything necessary to become a working MT. The course outlined everything clearly and with a lot of hard work I became a High Honors graduate and 2 weeks later got my first job. If I can do it, so can you!
Overall, I was very pleased with everything that Career Step had to offer. I was attracted to Career Step because I am a military spouse, and I was looking for a new career that would be easy to transfer, as my family transfers from one base to another . . . Now my life looks like it is going to be profitable and a lot of fun with my new medical transcription jobs . . . Thank you, Career Step, for everything that you do.
I was quite hesitant about taking a course online. I took one many years ago, and it didn't lead to anything. After starting Career Step, I knew I was in good hands. The course takes you where you need to go, one step at a time…The practical experience provided in the course was excellent.
The Career Step course has really prepared me for the MT field. My sister has been working as an MT for 15 years and is amazed how prepared I am to begin working! Thank you!
(Penny, Commerce City, CO) - I have to give the course the credit. The AAPC test was tough, but not as tough as the final test of the course. When I was called in to test for a position, I was very well qualified to take [their pre-employment] test and did get the first job I was called in for. My employers are very satisfied with my level of knowledge, especially considering, I had never been a "coder" before. I learned so much in the course and all of it has served me well. I tell anyone that is interested in becoming a coder to check into the course!
(Rachel, Stilesville, IN) - I currently work for a national healthcare consulting company and thanks to the Career Step program my career is advancing very rapidly... I am taking the AAPC exam in the next few weeks and I feel very comfortable thanks to the Career Step program. Without Career Step I never would have been ready for the national exam. The setup of the program was very user friendly and if I ever had a question it was answered in a very prompt manner. I have referred others to the program... THANK YOU CAREER STEP!!!!
(Nancy, Arvada, CO) - I was very fortunate to be hired as a coder just as I was finishing up the course and before I passed my certification exam. I have worked for Ameripath, a pathology lab for almost 18 months now as a medical coder.
(Stephen, Smithfield, RI) - I am working as a Coding Tech at Rhode Island Hospital. The experience with Career Step was a wonderful one. I was working two jobs and raising my newborn son while taking these courses, and the program is so convenient that even I was able to find the appropriate time. [My questions] always received a prompt response from Randy Johnson and [the rest of the staff], and I'd like to thank them for that.
(Sadie, Arvada, CO) - I appreciate all that Career Step did for me to accomplish my goal [to become] a coder.
Chris Foster, a Manager for EGOS, a Career Step Academic Partner that offers our Medical Coding Program through their school related this information about his students and graduates:
"I am getting VERY positive feedback... Grads from other programs are unable to sit for the certification test and are told by their schools to go out and TRY to get a job, work for a year or two, and then take the test. Their programs are 6 months, in classrooms, and cost between $9,500 and $10,000. SHAME ON THEM!! My grads have said that those students don't have a clue about what to do on the job and are frustrated and unhappy. My [Career Step] grads feel good about the education they got and are happy with their jobs!
More excellent news! Kaiser Medical visited EGOS in the Spring to do some mock interviewing. They kept resumes for all our students they interviewed with and called to offer ALL of them jobs.
FAQ
Other FAQ's
What skills and experience do I need to enter a Career Step career training program?
There are no specific skills required of students enrolling in Career Step's training programs; however, students are required to have a high school diploma or the equivalent. It is not necessary to have prior experience in either medical transcription or coding and billing.
Is Career Step accredited?
Accreditation is a peer review process extensively used in education. Career Step has not sought to be accredited (1) because of the expense, (2) because its program is competency based, (3) because traditional approaches to training medical transcriptionists are often both accredited and inadequate, (4) because external reviewers are unlikely to offer suggestions for improving our program, and finally, (5) because there is no commonly shared definition of shared content nor a professional organization at present by means of which content codification could be engineered or by means of which students could transfer from one program to another.
However, Career Step’s Medical Transcription training program is approved by the Association for Healthcare Documentation (AHDI), a prominent medical transcription industry association.
CAREER STEP IS REGISTERED UNDER THE UTAH POSTSECONDARY PROPRIETARY SCHOOL ACT (Title 13, Chapter 34, Utah Code).
Registration under the Utah Postsecondary Proprietary School Act does not mean that the State of Utah supervises, recommends, nor accredits the institution. It is the student's responsibility to determine whether credits, degrees, or certificates from the institution will transfer to other institutions or meet employers' training requirements. This can be done by calling the prospective school or employer.
Career Step satisfies all the conditions to operate legally in the State of Utah.
What are the benefits of training with Career Step’s online course
With Career Step’s online training you will:
- Gain practical experience
- You’ll train hands-on with real patient records, preparing you for the workplace.
- Receive instantaneous feedback and grading
- You won’t have to wait on slow instructors or other students’ disruptions. With instant feedback on all of your work, you will quickly master each skill and progress through the course.
- Network with other students and make new friends
- You’ll enjoy access to a vibrant online community of students, graduates, employers, and industry experts through online forums and chat rooms.
- Train at home or on the go, and set your own pace
- You’ll have 24/7 access to the course materials, giving you the freedom and flexibility to train whenever or wherever is convenient for you, so you can learn at your own pace.
- Online skill assessments that reflect employer hiring exams
- You’ll be better prepared for the post-graduation job market because the Career Step skill assessment tests are similar to those used by employers to hire new employees. In fact, Career Step is the industry’s leading provider of pre-employment testing.
- Gain practical experience
What payment options does Career Step offer?
Career Step accepts personal checks, cashiers checks, money orders, American Express, Discover, Visa, and MasterCard for payments made under all payment plans.
Career Step offers two convenient payment options:
- Up-front Payment - Receive an addition $100 off for choosing the up-front payment option.
- Installment Option - Spread the cost over four months, with no interest! The cost of shipping and handling and sales tax (only applicable for UT, OH, and NC residents) are added to the first payment. Each monthly payment can be paid by credit card or monthly invoice.
For more information on these payment options, please contact an enrollment counselor at 1-800-246-7837 or info@careerstep.com.
What is your refund policy?
If, for any reason, a student withdraws within fourteen (14) days after the initial access to online program materials has been granted, his/her money shall be refunded IN FULL, less a $50 application fee and the nonrefundable shipping and handling fee, and the Enrollment Agreement shall be rescinded. Under this policy the student must return any and all program materials and supplies received from the school before receiving the refund. Dates regarding receipt of the program will be based on the date of email with password and login for the online program. The student must notify Career Step by telephone before the fourteenth (14th) day to receive a return code, and returned materials must be sent to Career Step at the student's expense, insured and tracked through the carrier. The student will be assessed a fee of $10.00 per book for minor damage or retail price of book ($8.00 to $95.00 per book) if materials are returned written in, damaged, or destroyed. Pack returned materials to prevent damage.
If, for any reason, a student withdraws after the initial fourteen (14) day review period, the cost of the program materials is nonrefundable. The portion of the program fee attributable to tuition is $100 for all programs. Tuition only is refundable up to sixty (60) days after the date of enrollment. Any Student withdrawing under these terms terminates his/her enrollment and his/her right to transfer the program materials.
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What are the computer requirements of your programs?
Minimum computer system specifications
Hardware:
- 56 Kbps modem (Broadband: DSL or cable modem recommended) with active internet access
- Super VGA (1024x768) or higher resolution adapter and monitor
- Sound card and speakers (headphone port recommended)
- Available USB port (for Medical Transcription, CMT Exam Prep, and RMT Exam Prep)
Software:
- Adobe Flash version 10 or higher recommended
- Windows Media Player or Quicktime Player
- PDF reader
Browser:
- Internet Explorer 7.x/8.x
- Firefox 3.x *
- Safari 4.x or greater (Mac only)*
- Javascript and cookies must be enabled
Operating System:
- Windows XP®, Vista®, 7 (with latest service pack) OR
- Mac OS X 10.4.11 or greater/10.5/10.6.x*
*Note: The Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing course includes hands-on training with 3M® encoding software, which is only compatible with Internet Explorer 7.x or 8.x. Students using the noted operating systems and/or browsers can access all other program material, and students can complete the practical sections of the course with the included industry-standard codebooks.
What type of student support does Career Step offer?
Career Step has support teams dedicated to your success, who are easy to reach and quick to respond to your questions and concerns. They also have the reputation for providing a personal touch to your online learning experience, offering a little boost or pep talk when you need it most. The student support team includes counselors who have worked in the industry as medical transcriptionists or medical coders, so they are uniquely qualified to answer your questions about both the curriculum and the industry. The technical support team will help you with any technical or computer issues you may encounter within the program.
It is our mission to help you achieve your educational goals and quickly transition to employment. To accomplish this mission, Career Step partners with industry employers and institutions, and these strong relationships often lead to preferential status for Career Step graduates applying for employment. Students who enroll with the recommended Platinum level of enrollment receive additional placement assistance resources including a personal consultation with a career counselor, new job opening notifications, personalized interview tutorials, resume tips, and access to Career Step's help hotline for a full year after graduation.
How soon will I receive my materials?
It takes about one business day to process the application, depending on method of payment (mail/phone). Once the payment is processed the course materials are shipped via UPS ground. The average wait is about 7-10 days. Additional shipping charges apply and are due with your first payment.
Once the password is emailed, the student may start the course immediately.
