How to Get Transcription Jobs with NO Experience and NO Certification?

Can you get online transcription jobs from home with no experience and no certification?

Yes, you can get transcription jobs even if you have no transcription experience and don't have a transcription certification. Read on to find out how.

What is transcription?

Transcription is listening to an audio or video recording and typing what's being said on the recording.

Of course, you'll need some skills and be able to do the transcription work.

“No experience” means that you don't necessarily need to have transcription experience.

Yes, you can get SOME general, non-medical transcription work without having previous transcription experience.

You'll notice that the transcription companies that accept people without experience usually offer low pay. But you have to start somewhere. And after building some experience, you will be able to get more job opportunities and better pay.

If you want to speed up the learning curve and get the better paying jobs faster, I recommend taking a good transcription course like this one.

Ready to get better paying transcription jobs?

Get this detailed, online, multi-media general transcription course now
I recommend checking out this course that will teach you how to transcribe and how to find high-paying transcription jobs. The course includes typing drills, transcription skills, transcription formats, grammar skills, lots of practice files and much more.

Check out my free mini-course to find out more about starting a transcription career
and get better paid transcription jobs.

The no-experience transcription jobs are non-medical transcription jobs. There are several types of transcription jobs, including medical transcription, legal transcription and general transcription.

To get medical transcription jobs and become a medical transcriptionist, you need to learn medical terminology or have other experience in the medical field. You also need at least two years of experience in a hospital or medical facility before someone will give you medical transcription work from home. If you're interested in medical transcription, check out this medical transcription training.

Legal transcription deals with the legal industry and legal topics and you need to know legal terminology and formats. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a Legal Transcriptionist can earn around $60,000 per year. 

General transcription is the easiest type of transcription to get started in.

The average annual income for a general transcriptionist is currently around $45,000.  ZipRecruiter's numbers show just under $40,000/year.

Here's why general transcription is easier:

• General transcription generally does not involve complex terminology. You can become familiar with the vocabulary of the industries you want to work for by visiting websites and reading industry newsletters and articles. And you can look up unfamiliar words online.
• Contrary to medical transcription jobs, you don’t need to know medical terminology to do general transcription.
• You don’t need special training to get general transcription jobs. However, I do recommend taking a good specialized transcription course because it will speed up the learning curve and you'll be able to get better paying jobs faster.

Ready to get started in general transcription
and get better paying transcription jobs?

Get this detailed, online, multi-media general transcription course now

3 Easy Ways to Get Started in Transcription

1. Check out crowdsourcing

1 – Mechanical Turk (MTurk)
https://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome
You'll do small transcription jobs. MTurk is a micro-labor site owned by Amazon that offers HITs, or Human Intelligence Tasks. Micro-labor means you often get paid per piece or task you complete.

2 – CastingWords
Read my review of CastingWords

If you can type quickly and accurately, you can get transcription work from CastingWords.
You have to sign up with Mechanical Turk where CastingWords posts all of their jobs. You can search for CastingWords to see their specific assignments.

2. Work for transcription companies

Working for transcription companies is one of the easiest way to get started in general transcription and get transcription work from home. Here are some companies that make it easy for you to start your transcription career.

• These companies do NOT require any formal education or experience as a transcriptionist.
• You will often be put on a waiting list and they'll contact you when they have transcription work available.
• You need to follow their instructions and adhere to a style guide they provide.
• You can use the free ExpressScribe software with companies. And some companies provide their own software.
• Those companies pay very little but working for them will help you build up some experience when you're new to transcription.

Transcription companies that recruit transcribers
without experience

Transcription companies that accept beginners include Scribie, QuickTate & iDictate, TranscribeMe, SpeechPad, CastingWords, AppenScribe, Rev.com, GoTranscript, GMR, Tigerfish and others.

You don't need previous transcription experience to work for those companies but you have to pass a test.

3 – Quicktate – Most of the work involves transcribing short voicemail messages
https://typists.quicktate.com/transcribers/signup
http://www.quicktate.com/
Read my review of QuickTate and iDictate

4 – Scribie
https://scribie.com/
Click here to apply for transcription work with Scribie
Read my review of Scribie 

Scribie is one of the easiest places to get accepted – especially if you're a fast typist. The pay is one of the lowest. There are other transcription companies that pay much better — even for newbies. It’s a good place to learn transcription as you can see your work after it has been reviewed. Payment method: PayPal

5 – TranscribeMe
https://workhub.transcribeme.com/Account/Register
Click here to apply for transcription work with TranscribeMe
Read my review of TranscribeMe 

TranscribeMe is one of the best transcription companies for beginners. TranscribeMe is very newbie friendly and is similar to Quicktate or Scribie. TranscribeMe offers the most competitive pay scale compared to similar companies. They pay from $20+ per audio hour. You have to pass a short grammar test and transcribe a short audio. Payment method: PayPal

6 – SpeechPad
Click here to apply for transcription work with SpeechPad
Read my review of SpeechPad

Speechpad is the best transcription company for poeple with no transcription experience. No experience needed but you need to pass a test. You can retake the test if you don’t pass. They employ transcribers in English-speaking countries only and the majority of their transcribers are located in the US.  You must have a typing speed of at least 40 words per minute. Make up to $1.50 per Minute Transcribing with Speechpad!

The pay is better than similar companies the the audio are typically good quality.  Transcription jobs pay from $0.25/min (or $15 per audio hour) for entry-level work to $1.00/min for work that requires more experience. Captioning jobs pay between $.30/min and $1.00/min. You can get gradually promoted to doing rush jobs and to spot check jobs if you're providing quality transcripts. Spot check jobs pay up to $1.50/audio minute. Workers mention that many transcription jobs range from $0.25 per audio minute up to $0.75 which is much more than some similar sites pay. They pay twice a week through Paypal and they always pay on 

7 – Tigerfish
http://tigerfish.com/applicants/
Read my review of TigerFish (recruits beginners but tests are NOT easy)

8 – GoTranscript
Read my review of GoTranscript
Click here to apply for transcription work with GoTranscript

GoTranscript hires worldwide and offers a variety of transcription work from research transcription to law enforcement transcription. You don’t need to have any transcription experience – but you need to have good English skills. There is no minimum typing speed required. You can choose which jobs you want to work on. Workers report that they always pay on time, provide an easy system, and are a good company to work with.  GoTranscript pays weekly through PayPal for all completed work. 

GoTranscript pays transcribers up to $0.60 per audio or video minute. You can earn up to $1200 per month. You will be given a short test and they will email to tell you if you are accepted or not.

9 – AppenScribe
Read my review of AppenScribe

10 – GMR
Click here to apply for transcription work with GMR
Read my review of GMR 

GMR only accepts US-based residents. You will have to pass a short transcription test to be accepted to work for them. They don’t require transcription experience but have a very strict grading policy and require 98% accuracy. The pay is higher than average. If you're fluent in Spanish or some other languages, you will be able to receive a higher pay than English transcribers. It's a good company to work for but if you're a total beginner, I recommend trying some of the other companies mentioned here that have easier tests.

11 – Rev
Click here to apply for transcription work with Rev
https://www.rev.com/freelancers/transcription 

Rev is a well-known transcription company that recruits work from home transcriptionists and captioners. (their website indicated that they were not accepting applications from my location but you should check their site and see if they currently have opening for your location). Payment method: PayPal.

12 – SpeakWrite
Click here to apply for transcription work with SpeakWrite
Read my review of SpeakWrite

This company has general typists jobs  and legal transcription jobs.

General typists jobs: Must have 1+ years of transcription OR word processing experience in an office environment within the last five years. Experience and good working knowledge in the creation of formal correspondence, memos and reports. Must be able to type at least 60 words per minute with 90% or better accuracy.

SpeakWrite often hires legal transcribers. Requirements are steeper for legal transcription jobs: You must have work experience and you pass a typing test. You have to be a US or Canadian legal resident.  Legal transcriptionists working for SpeakWrite can be able to earn from $400 to $3,000 in a month.

13 – Daily Transcription
Click here to apply for transcription work with Daily Transcription
https://www.dailytranscription.com/career-english/

Daily Transcription provides transcription to entertainment, corporate, and legal industries and to academic institutions. Pays weekly. They mention that they pay higher rates than their competitors: Rev, Transcribeme, Scribie and many more. Starting rates are $0.75 -$0.85 per audio minute.  They also mention that their top transcriptionist makes anywhere from $250- $950 per week. They pay by check.

You must be 18 years of age or older to apply. You must reside in the U.S., Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, or South Africa and speak and write native “American English.” If you are native in two or more languages, you can contact them to be considered for our translation department, but again. I haven't done extensive research on this company but read somewhere that the application is quick and easy and you only have to take a transcription test.

More tips on getting transcription jobs

Although having transcription experience or having transcription training will give you an advantage (better pay and more job opportunities) over people who don't, it’s not a requirement for some companies.

Of course, not all transcription companies will recruit people who don’t have transcription experience but some companies are willing to give transcription jobs to inexperienced people as long as they meet their qualifications and pass their tests.

Transcription companies look for reliable professionals who can follow instructions and deliver transcripts accurately and timely. That's why it's important to follow their instructions exactly when applying for transcription jobs and taking transcription tests.

Before taking any tests, read my article, How to Pass Transcription Tests

• You will typically have to fill in an application form and take one or more tests to prove your qualifications.
• All companies require excellent typing, English, grammar and listening skills. Some companies will let you get started with a minimum typing speed of 40 words per minute while others require a higher speed. Remember that accuracy is even more important than speed.
• Some companies will want to get your resume. Emphasize your skills on the application and in your resume. Mention your typing, English and grammar skills and any qualifications, experience and benefits you can bring to the transcription job. Mention any relevant industry knowledge.
• Native-English speaking people will typically have an advantage. Some companies will recruit people from different countries while others will many transcription companies will only recruit people from English speaking countries. They feel that native-English speakers from the US, UK, Canada or Australia can better understand different accents, dialects, slang, jargon and culture and country-specific nuances. General transcription can be more challenging for non-native speakers to learn because it covers a wide variety of topics and vocabulary that will vary with each industry.

Check out transcription companies mentioned on my blog, check their requirements and apply with transcription companies who accept new transcriptionists with no transcription experience.

3. Freelance sites & freelance job sites

Another way to get transcription jobs is by bidding for work on freelance sites. Here are some tips to get transcription work through freelance sites:

• Only bid on projects you are qualified for.
• Mention that you are qualified for transcription work and are looking for opportunities to demonstrate your expertise and establish your reputation as a skilled transcriptionist.
• Bidding low will increase your chances to being selected and get the experience you need to get better paid transcription jobs in the future.

Job sites provide you with the opportunity to gain freelance jobs. The downside to getting work from freelance job sites is that they often don't pay well. However, if you're looking to build your portfolio and your experience then the pay is secondary. You can quickly get the experience that you need through freelance sites.

I do recommend that you work for some transcription companies for a while before getting your own clients and before getting work on freelance sites.

Here are some of the popular freelance jobs sites:

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• Fiverr
• Guru
• Upwork
• Freelancer
• People Per Hour

Start with easy transcription jobs

You can start with easy transcription jobs such as transcribing single dictations, voice mail messages, phone calls and simple interviews with two people before moving on to more complex jobs such as seminars and other jobs that involve many speakers.

Prepare yourself

Before applying and testing for companies, you must prepare yourself and practice to increase your chances of being accepted. Using general transcription practice files is one of the best ways to practice transcription. You can find transcription practice files here.

Want to learn more about starting a career in transcription?

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Transcription Resources

• FREE General Transcription Mini-Course
• Detailed, multi-media general transcription course
• Legal Transcription Course.
• Medical transcription course.
• If you are serious about doing transcription from home, check out this complete transcription starter kit at Amazon. The kit includes Express Scribe Pro transcription software, USB Foot Pedal and USB Transcription Headset!
• Online spelling and grammar checker: Grammarly
• Practice general transcription with transcription practice files.
• Find Remote and Flexible jobs with FlexJobs!

Disclaimer: If you purchase a product through a referral link, I will get a commission at NO extra cost to you and it helps me to keep providing you with quality information.