FAQ

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. What are the advantages of the Platinum program?

   Career Step offers a Gold Level Enrollment and a Platinum Level Enrollment program. Both options contain an excellent self-directed course of study. Each program’s specific Enrollment Options/Pricing page provides more information on which materials and services are included with each enrollment option.

   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.

5. 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:

   1. Up-front Payment - Receive an addition $100 off for choosing the up-front payment option.
   2. 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.

   You may also be eligible for a Sallie Mae Career Training Loan. Sallie Mae is the nation's leading provider of student loans, helping millions of Americans achieve their dream of a higher education. To learn more about Sallie Mae, please visit their website at http://salliemae.com.

   If you would like to learn more about the process of how to apply for a Career Training loan with Sallie Mae, please contact one of our financial aid counselors at 1-800-246-7837 ext. 709 or at financialaid@careerstep.com.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Can I upgrade to the Platinum program?

    Career Step allows and encourages all students to upgrade to the Platinum program at anytime, provided, of course, that enrollment is current.