If you're pursuing a career as a medical writer, a medical writing internship can help you develop relevant skills in a real-world environment. Working for a company or organization that offers hands-on experience and mentorship can provide a strong foundation for your medical writing career.
In this blog post, you’ll discover the benefits of a medical writing internship, where to find opportunities, and how internships differ from apprenticeships.
What Are Medical Writing Internships?
Medical writing internships offer hands‑on learning opportunities so that individuals gain experience and develop critical skills for a career in medical writing. Through structured training, mentorship, and real-world projects, you can learn how to translate complex scientific and medical information into clear, accurate, audience-specific content.
Internships can also expose you to different types of medical writing, tools, and workflows, helping you to better understand potential career paths. Some are designed for students or new graduates, while others are open to entry-level or new-to-industry medical writers.
5 Benefits of a Medical Writing Internship
Participating in a medical writing internship can offer a number of advantages to jumpstart your medical writing career, including:
- Paid training. Interns receive valuable feedback, guidance, and specialized training. Most internships provide compensation, although some—particularly those offered through academic programs—may award course credit instead of pay.
- Structured experience. Internships are typically well organized, with defined tasks, milestones, and regular feedback. This type of experience can help interns build skills progressively and gain confidence.
- Low‑pressure expectations. Interns are not expected to be experts. Instead, colleagues and supervisors generally anticipate questions and encourage learning. Internships provide a supportive environment for developing technical and soft skills in the field.
- Job references. An internship supervisor can speak about your performance, helping to solve the challenge that many early-career professionals face: "How do I get experience without a job when I can't get a job without experience?" Collaborative projects during an internship can foster professional relationships, leading toward strong professional references.
- Potential employment opportunities. Internships can open the door to long-term jobs, either with the same organization or elsewhere. Supervisors and colleagues get to know your work firsthand, and professional connections made during an internship can lead to future opportunities.
How to Find a Medical Writing Internship
Finding the best medical writing internship often requires determination and persistence. Begin by using search engines or social media platforms to find advertised internships and job vacancies. Because availability of internships can be relatively limited, competition may be strong.
This is why professional networks can be valuable. Participating in communities such as the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) allows you to connect with experienced medical writers and learn about organizations and potential opportunities.
The types of companies and organizations that may offer internships include:
- Biotechnology companies
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Medical schools
- Health communication and marketing agencies
- Research institutions
- Scientific publishers
What's the Difference Between an Internship and an Apprenticeship?
The terms “internship” and “apprenticeship” are often used interchangeably. The U.S. Department of Labor suggests that there's no standardized definition for either but notes a few generally accepted differences:
- Time. Internships typically last a few months, while apprenticeships might last 1 to 3 years.
- Focus. Internships often focus heavily on entry‑level work, while apprenticeships are often designed to prepare a person to move into the position as a regular employee.
- Pay. In general, apprenticeships are paid. Some internships are paid, while others—particularly those connected to an education program—are not.
These differences are common but not universal. If you're considering a medical writing internship or apprenticeship, be sure to ask about expectations, training, mentorship, and compensation before committing.
Conclusion: Next Steps
Every new medical writer brings a different background and skill set to the role, but most can benefit from an internship experience.
If you do secure one, take full advantage of the opportunity; approach the experience with openness and curiosity, ask questions, and seek out opportunities to learn from colleagues and to expand your professional network.
AMWA acknowledges the contributions of Brandaise Martinez, PhD, for peer review in the development of this AMWA resource.
