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I began learning medical transcription WAY back in 1980, when your only option was on-the-job training. I had worked in a doctor's office but had never done transcription before when I applied at an OB/GYN clinic. When the physician asked me if I knew how, I had to admit that I didn't, but he just said: "You'll learn." So the very sweet and patient lady who was doing it before me was my original teacher.
From there, I took a part-time job at the local hospital (in those days, they were desperate for anyone who even knew how to operate a Dictaphone and had any kind of medical office experience), then later a bigger hospital in another city (again, this hospital wanted a full-time MT but all I could offer was part-time, but they were desperate so I could practically just state what days I would work and they accepted as long as one day included a weekend day). This was the first place I found that you could work at home, which I tried for one summer.
Then we moved again, and by that time, the Internet was in place and national distance jobs were available. So after working at various services, small and large, I gained broader experience from larger hospitals and more specialties. I now work for my local hospital from home -- the best job so far. There have been many ups and downs, the latest being the ever-constant fear of my hospital outsourcing to one of the gigantic transcription services. I'm hoping I can hold on physically, mentally and salary-wise until retirement (which at this point looks like is in the distant future).
I loved working at home when my kids were young. But I will warn anyone looking into this, you have to be prepared to work odd hours, working around your kids' schedules. Even though my sons were at an independent age, during the summer when they were home from school, it was pretty chaotic. And one time when my son placed my Mother's Day card on my keyboard, telling me: "I knew you'd find it first thing if I put it there." -- I realized that when your office/work is in your home environment, it can take over your life.
