How to hire a medical language specialist

How to hire a medical language specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step medical language specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a medical language specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new medical language specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the medical language specialist you need to hire. Certain medical language specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A medical language specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, medical language specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents medical language specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Medical Language Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Medical Language Specialist	Medical records and health information technicians, commonly referred to as health information technicians, organize and manage health information data. They ensure its quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security in both paper and electronic systems... Show more	$17-29
   Information Coordinator	An information coordinator is a professional who is responsible for collecting, analyzing, processing, and distributing information according to an organization's policies. With effective communication skills, information coordinators must serve as the main spokesperson for the company who deals primarily with the media and reporters... Show more	$16-33
   Records Coordinator	A records coordinator takes responsibility for doing administrative and clerical work. Records coordinators maintain the filing system of the central records... Show more	$14-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Transcription
   • Discharge Summaries
   • Dictation
   • Patient Histories
   • Medical Reports
   • Acute Care Hospital
   • Clinic Reports
   • Voice Recognition Software
   • HIPAA
   • Medical Language
   • Radiology Reports
   • Oncology
   • Healthcare Professionals
   • Emergency Room

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Prepare budget and manage department's employees' time, attendance and payroll process.
   • Create documentation education classes to general surgery residents, increasing the leveling of reporting which lead to increase revenues.
   • Transcribe and edit for specialties including: cardiology, pulmonology, urology, pediatrics, psychiatry, oncology, etc.
   • Utilize extensive knowledge of medical terminology while following AAMT and HIPAA guidelines.
   • Type medical transcription from all medical specialties, combine with comprehensive self-pace dictation system.
   • Utilize voice-record dictation to transcribe and edit medical reports for several acute care hospitals.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your medical language specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A medical language specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, medical language specialists' average salary in ohio is 39% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level medical language specialists earn 41% less than senior-level medical language specialists.
   • Certifications. A medical language specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a medical language specialist's salary.

   Average medical language specialist salary

   $47,117yearly

   $22.65 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level medical language specialist salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

4. Writing a medical language specialist job description

   A medical language specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a medical language specialist job description:

   Medical language specialist job description example

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   Medical Language Specialist - Transcriptionist
   
   Additional Position Details: FTE: 1.000000 | Full Time | Primarily Mon - Fri / 8AM - 5PM
   
   For this role, candidates at either the Medical Language Specialist 2 or Medical Language Specialist 1 level will be considered. Details on qualifications for both levels noted below. Starting wage is based on level of position, qualifications, and years of relevant experience.
   
   Position Summary
   
   The Medical Language Specialist interprets, transcribes, or edits dictation by providers and other health care professionals to document patient care and facilitate delivery of health care services.
   
   As a Medical Language Specialist for the Pathology Lab, you would have the opportunity to:
   
   * Serve as the Pathology Department's main source of information dissemination by transferring incoming phone calls, processing paperwork, and satisfying staff queries (MLS-2).
   * Provide reports that meet or exceed the department's productivity and quality standards to help ensure accurate patient records.
   * Uphold patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA standards.
   * Respect values and contributions of every person, and work to establish cooperative and productive work relationships within the team and between other departments.
   
   Medical Language Specialist 2 - Position Overview
   
   Position RequirementsHigh school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience demonstrating the ability to effectively communicate as needed for the position.Minimum of 1 year transcription experience, required. Successful completion of medical terminology course through junior college, vocational/technical school, or hospital sponsorship, preferred. Computer proficiency.Ability to type quickly and accurately. Must demonstrate good grammar and spelling.Ability to meet or exceed department productivity and quality standards in transcription and scanning.Preferred CertificationsRHDS: Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (AHDI)
   
   CHDS: Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (AHDI)
   
   Medical Language Specialist 1 - Position Overview
   
   The MLS-1 level is considered a Trainee position with the expectation of qualifying for the MLS-2 level within 28 months of starting in the MLS-1 role.Position RequirementsHigh school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience demonstrating the ability to effectively communicate as needed for the position.Ability to type quickly and accurately. Must demonstrate good grammar and spelling.
   
   Prior experience in computerized word processing - OR - successful completion of medical transcription externship or apprenticeship, preferred.RHDS: Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (AHDI), preferred.
   
   What We Offer
   
   * Competitive starting wage
   * Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and wellness
   * Excellent retirement package with up to 6% employer contribution
   * Generous Earned Time Off
   * Tuition Reimbursement Program
   
   Why Asante
   
   Asante is more than a great hospital system in an amazing location. We are a community of passionate providers and service-focused caregivers who collaborate to deliver amazing patient outcomes; a place where titles don't matter as much as your creativity, drive, and passion. Our culture, values and people create an environment of sustained medical excellence.
   
   More About Asante and Southern Oregon
   
   Asante is a local, community owned and governed, not-for-profit organization that provides comprehensive health care services to more than 550,000 people in a nine-county area of Southern Oregon and Northern California. It includes Asante Ashland Community Hospital in Ashland, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Asante Physician Partners throughout the Rogue Valley, and additional health care partnerships. Virtually all medical specialties and services are represented within an organization dedicated to providing exceptional care. With over 5,000 employees, Asante's entities offer outstanding opportunities for career advancement and professional growth. At Asante your work positively impacts your family, friends, neighbors, and the community. Experience the difference in how you work, how you live and how you connect.
   
   At Asante we are defined by our values - traits that guide us as we serve patients and the community:
   
   Excellence - Respect - Honesty - Service - Teamwork
   
   Asante is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to employ and advance in employment women, minorities, qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.
   
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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right medical language specialist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your medical language specialist job on Zippia to find and attract quality medical language specialist candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with medical language specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new medical language specialist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the medical language specialist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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