How To Become A Freelance Medical Writer: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (2024)

Key steps to become a freelance medical writer

1. Explore freelance medical writer education requirements

   The educational requirements for a freelance medical writer typically involve a certificate or an associate degree, although some positions may require a bachelor's degree. According to Dr. Christy Mesaros-Winckles, Associate Professor & Department Chair at Adrian College, ongoing education and staying updated on industry trends are crucial for freelance medical writers. This is important as content knowledge and creativity increasingly differentiate content written by humans from that generated by AI.

   Most common freelance medical writer degrees

   Bachelor's

   56.8

   %

   Doctorate

   19.3

   %

   Master's

   15.2

   %

2. Start to develop specific freelance medical writer skills

   Freelance medical writers develop medical content, edit documents, and conduct literature reviews. They analyze data, engage with subject matter experts, and write articles that provide valuable information to medical professionals. They also work on quality assurance software for regulatory reporting, perform online literature reviews, and create content for marketing materials. According to Mark Lounibos, Associate Professor of English at Finlandia University, "The key is to be as prepared and open to working in that kind of setting." As Professor Emily Griesinger Ph.D. of Azusa Pacific University states, "Based on years of reading and interpreting great literature, you can 'read' characters, why people do what they do, and the capacity to imagine the joys and sorrows of other human beings."

   Skills	Percentages
   Literature Reviews	16.60%
   Medical Communications	8.24%
   Medical Writing	6.93%
   Proofread	6.90%
   Literature Searches	6.12%

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3. Complete relevant freelance medical writer training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New freelance medical writers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a freelance medical writer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real freelance medical writer resumes.

4. Research freelance medical writer duties and responsibilities

   A freelance medical writer's responsibilities include conducting specialized online literature reviews and translations to ensure accuracy, interacting with key opinion leaders and clients for content development, and analyzing articles in medical and popular magazines. They may also involve in interpretation of clinical research data analyses and writing of clinical study reports for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, creating slide decks on emerging therapies for promotional medical education, and developing all elements of medical content and execution for promotional, marketing, and publications. As Dr. Christy Mesaros-Winckles Ph.D., Associate Professor & Department Chair at Adrian College, put it, "By staying up to date on trends and developments in their industry writes can ensure that regardless of technological advancements, their depth of content knowledge remains superior to the cookie-cutter content generated by AI."

   • Manage, and assist in the recruiting activities of, CRO resources preparing regulatory documents on behalf of APGD.
   • Create content relate to recent FDA approvals and current medical research.
   • Organize and consolidate information into standard report formats, preparing and proofreading correspondence and documents in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
   • Fda-Regulate environment (CFR regulations).

5. Prepare your freelance medical writer resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your freelance medical writer resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a freelance medical writer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   See Also

   How to Make an Extra $1,000 in a Month (26 EASY Ideas)THE MEDICAL WRITING JOB MARKET - PRESENT STATE & FUTURE OUTLOOKHow To Become a Medical WriterMost Profitable Freelance Writing Niches for 2024

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6. Apply for freelance medical writer jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a freelance medical writer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams

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The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.