Some discover their passion for medical communication through skills and education programs: formal degrees, certificates, certification, or a combination of the above. Others build on a foundation of a medical degree or research background and pivot into medical writing. Still others begin as journalists writing about health and medicine and realize they have what it takes to become a professional medical writer.
What are some of the avenues that exist to advance in this rewarding career?
Degree Programs That Include Medical Writing Courses
Most degree programs in medical writing culminate in one of the following degrees.
- Master of Arts
- Master of Science
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
The specific degree you will earn depends on the institution and program. Most people look for a program that matches their specific interests and strengths in the medical communication field.
The following are some programs that include medical writing courses; these can be bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
- Biomedical Writing
- Health Communication
- Health and Environmental Reporting
- Technical Communication
- Technical Writing and Communication
Why Take Medical Writing Courses?
Medical writing requires specialized skills and knowledge beyond those taught in general writing classes. Many successful medical communicators continue to hone their skills by taking medical writing classes throughout their careers.
For example, medical writing courses
- Equip entry-level writers with the specialized skills, knowledge of medical concepts and terminology, and relevant guidelines they need to write accurate scientific content.
- Teach medical writers how to research and communicate medical literature in ways that reach the intended
audience, whether that is medical professionals, patients, regulatory agencies, or the general public. - Help medical writers stay current with the latest research and guidelines to effectively communicate complex medical information.
- Hone the ability to write accurately, clearly, and concisely.
- Facilitate networking and relationship building with classmates and instructors that can lead to opportunities in the field.
What Will I Learn in a Medical Writing Course?
If you want to work in a specific area of medical writing, you will need to research whether the program you’re considering offers courses in that area. Look at the descriptions of the courses required to earn the degree as well as additional courses you can elect to take.
In addition to any special topics that apply to a specific job you want to pursue, you should make sure that the following topics are covered in your medical writing courses.
- Principles of good writing
- Medical terminology
- Literature and reference searching
- Interpretation and presentation of research data
- Ethics and legal issues
- Statistics and technical guidelines
Of course, formal institutions are not the only path to a successful career. Some medical communicators pursue professional training by earning a medical writing certificate.
Medical Writing Certificate
Medical communicators earn a medical writing certificate after completing a set of courses, usually online. Courses often include topics such as grammar, medical terminology, statistics, ethics, or grant writing. Certificate programs vary, and sometimes target specific medical writing specialties. Participants in AMWA’s Essential Skills program complete eight credits within two years by completing a series of self‑study workbooks. Participants receive one or two credits per course, depending on the course. Credit is awarded upon successful completion of the quiz at the end of a self‑study workbook.
In addition to AMWA, the following institutions are among those offering medical writing certificates.
- UC San Diego Extended Studies offers a Medical Writing Certificate and a course in Applied Medical Writing and Editing.
- Harvard Medical School has a certificate program called Effective Writing for Health Care.
- The University of Chicago offers a non-credit Certificate Program in Medical Writing and Editing.
Certificate in Medical Editing
Beginning in 2024, AMWA launched a new program: The AMWA Certificate in Medical Editing. The certificate provides a career boost for beginning to mid-level medical communicators who want to explore and fine tune their medical editing skills. The certificate program trains medical communicators to
- Identify and correct mechanical errors
- Find and fix problems of clarity, logic, transitions, organization, and word usage
- Edit tables and graphs for clarity, accuracy, and style
- Query authors and suggest improvements
- Ensure that language and tone are inclusive and empathetic
For those considering a career as a regulatory medical writer, a new certificate has been created.
Regulatory Writer Training and Certificate
One rewarding and growing area of specialization for medical communicators is regulatory writing. Regulatory writers are on the frontlines of helping bring new pharmaceutical discoveries to market by working to provide clarity, accuracy, and organization to documents required by regulators.
Regulatory writing requires a firm foundation in core knowledge and skills, soft skills, and regulatory documents. AMWA’s Regulatory Writer Training ebook was created by experts in the field and offers a series of topics relevant to this medical communication niche.
The AMWA Certificate in Regulatory Writing Core Knowledge offers learning activities that provide a background in the drug development process, the core knowledge and skills needed to work as a regulatory medical writer, and the analytical skills that underpin the profession.
Lifetime Learners
Successful medical communicators are lifetime learners who continue to hone their skills throughout their careers. The fields of medicine and science are changing rapidly, and it is important to stay abreast of changes and innovations. For example, many medical communicators will interact with and use artificial intelligence (AI) in their day-to-day work. There is evolving guidance on the use of AI to ensure the ethical use of this powerful tool.
By taking courses and attending events with other professionals, medical communicators at every career stage will get the opportunity to meet and network in their community. These relationships can be a springboard to a new position or career.
AMWA acknowledges the contributions of Cyndy Kryder, MS, MWC, for peer review in the development of this AMWA resource.
