How long does medical transcriptionist training take in Arkansas?

Most paths into the medical transcriptionist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for medical transcriptionists in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in Arkansas (2026)

Q: How much do medical transcriptionists earn in Arkansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical transcriptionists in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $35,100. Employment concentration in Arkansas is roughly 0.82 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for medical transcriptionists in Arkansas?

Arkansas currently employs approximately 280 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -4.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas employs about 280 medical transcriptionists earning a median $35,100 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most medical transcriptionists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Arkansas.

Key Facts

Median wage (Arkansas): $35,100/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Arkansas: 280 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.82x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: -4.9% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Medical Transcriptionist Schools in Arkansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Dallas College	60.4	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	Yes*	296 mi
2	Illinois Eastern Community Colleges	57.4	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	Yes*	351 mi
3	Black River Technical College	55.3	Contact school for pricing	$48,715	43%	Yes*	119 mi
4	Kaskaskia College	54.8	$4,800 - $12,570	$48,104	49%	Yes*	304 mi
5	Southern Arkansas University Tech	54.0	Contact school for pricing	$50,478	62%	Yes*	95 mi
6	Richland Community College	53.4	Contact school for pricing	$51,785	52%	Yes*	390 mi
7	Lake Land College	53.4	$4,415 - $14,301	$48,594	56%	—	378 mi
8	Snead State Community College	53.0	Contact school for pricing	$43,544	49%	Yes*	357 mi
9	Rend Lake College	45.9	Contact school for pricing	$46,506	62%	—	290 mi
10	Butler Community College	44.9	Contact school for pricing	$46,569	31%	Yes*	319 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Arkansas employs approximately 280 medical transcriptionists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,100 ¹. Nationally, medical transcriptionist employment is projected to grow -4.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a medical transcriptionist in Arkansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Medical Transcriptionist Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Medical Transcriptionists Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical transcriptionists wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	330	$47,470	$43,860	$23,130	$62,420
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	90	$32,130	$34,400	$27,160	$46,640
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	N/A	$36,880	$40,010	$32,410	$49,810

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Arkansas): $35,100 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in Arkansas

How to become a medical transcriptionist in Arkansas? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for medical transcriptionists in Arkansas.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do medical transcriptionists earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists in Arkansas is $35,100 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $27,160 and experienced professionals can earn $47,020 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in Arkansas

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arkansas training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Arkansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to medical transcriptionists in Arkansas before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for medical transcriptionists in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 280 medical transcriptionists ¹. Nationally, medical transcriptionist employment is projected to grow -4.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Arkansas.

How much do medical transcriptionists earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists in Arkansas is $35,100, which is $2,450 below the national median of $37,550 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arkansas

Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)