As the owner of Transcription Net, a site that provides members with daily job listings and guidance and advice about starting a career in home transcription, this has to be the question I am most often asked.  The short answer is no, you can start a medical transcription career without taking a course.

If you already have a background in medical terminology you can become a medical transcriptionist without taking a medical transcription course.  This article outlines some strategies to get started in medical transcription without a course.