Non-Credit Certificate Program in Medical Writing and Editing
Master the fundamentals and best practices of crisp, clear, and sophisticated medical communications.
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At a Glance
- Enrollment:
- Part-time
- Length:
- 9-36 months
- Format:
- Online
- Investment:
-
$1,490 per course$8,940 for certificate
- Also offered in:
Write the Future of Healthcare
Advancements in healthcare and pharmaceuticals demand effective communication to a wide-ranging audience. The evolving field of medical writing and editing plays a vital role in enhancing health outcomes by ensuring that information is accurate, accessible, and timely.
Elevate medical communications
This essential discipline helps bridge the gap between complex medical research and its practical application, ensuring that important information reaches healthcare professionals, patients, and policymakers in clear formatted context. From developing scientific manuscripts and regulatory documents to creating patient education materials and health campaigns, medical writers and editors facilitate the flow of medical knowledge and contribute to improved outcomes across the healthcare field.
Designed For
Designed for both professionals with a background in science who want to acquire writing skills, and those with a background in writing or an English degree who want to understand medical terminology.
Fine-Tune Your Focus in Medical Writing and Editing
Medical writing and communications are essential skills that meet the needs of the changing healthcare landscape. UChicago's certificate program offers a comprehensive curriculum focused on teaching essential writing, editing, data reporting, and analytic skills. You will benefit from expert instructors; an innovative, interactive, and flexible curriculum; and networking opportunities with fellow students and industry leaders. Fine-tune your focus and build core competencies that will increase your expertise and open doors to advance your career.
Fast facts:
- Certificate courses start on a Monday with self-paced activities.
- Self-paced learning leads to one synchronous session per week.
- The AMA Manual of Style is used to master fundamentals and best practices.
- Build a portfolio of work during the program.
- Six online courses.
- Current members of certain professional associations are eligible for 10 percent off tuition.
- This program is part of our stackable training options.
- Specialization track course in Freelancing is available.
- Certificates do not need to be paid upfront; instead, our programs allow you to pay for tuition at the time of each course registration.
The US medical writing market was valued at $1.33 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.47 percent from 2024 to 2030, reaching $2.50 billion by 2030.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projected an 8 percent growth rate for technical writers between 2018 and 2028, above the occupational average.
Clinical and regulatory documentation makes up over 60 percent of medical writing demand, but finding skilled professionals with both writing and scientific expertise remains a challenge.
At UChicago, It Is Not Just a Certificate—It Is an Educational Experience.
Enroll TodayPreparing for the Medical Writing and Editing Profession
Medical writers and editors are able to present an accurate interpretation of data and technical details in an understandable and informative manner to their target audience. By mastering the core principles and best practices of this profession, you will be prepared to excel in diverse settings— ranging from corporate and agency environments to your own freelance services. This rewarding, multi-faceted field is looking for skilled professionals.
Train with experts in the rewarding field of healthcare communications
UChicago’s Medical Writing certificate covers the fundamentals and best practices of crisp, clear, and sophisticated medical communications. Courses are taught by active industry experts. The comprehensive curriculum ensures training in the industry standard of the AMA Manual of Style. Courses use realworld medical manuscripts and publications to teach you the skills needed to enter the profession and to succeed as a skilled medical communicator.
Program perks:
- Onboarding and advising services.
- Career services.
- Instructors are experts in their field.
- Community building with extracurricular activities, events, and webinars.
- Networking opportunities.
- Direct learning, practice, and feedback.
- Applicable content and quick skill building.
- Access to UChicago resources.
- Monthly job posting notices.
- Support of the Professional Development Programs Student Advisory Board.
- Alumni Scholarship program.
Earn a Credential in Medical Writing
Participants who successfully complete the entire online program are awarded credentials in Medical Writing and Editing certified by the University of Chicago. Upon meeting all certificate requirements, students receive a certificate of completion, and a digital course badge is awarded at the successful completion of each individual course.
Unite Your Love of Writing and Science
Choose a Career In Medical Writing
A career in medical writing and editing offers a unique opportunity to combine a passion for science with the art of communication. As a medical writer, you'll play a critical role in translating complex medical research into clear, accessible content that can impact patient care, advance scientific knowledge, and support healthcare innovation. With a growing demand for professionals who can effectively communicate medical information across diverse platforms—from scientific journals to patient education materials—this field provides a dynamic and rewarding career path with significant opportunities for growth and specialization.
Build core competencies and your expertise in a growing field
For those drawn to the fusion of science and communication, our program offers a skill boost to excel in this thriving field. In as little as nine months of part-time study, you can gain the essential skills needed to thrive in medical communications. The program’s interactive curriculum, led by industry experts like Barbara Gastel—the 2024 recipient of the American Medical Writers Association President’s Award—covers technical writing, editing, data reporting, and analysis, while also providing networking opportunities and career support.
Open Doors to Exciting Career Paths
Program completers from the Medical Writing certificate are well positioned for various roles within the medical and scientific community. This online certificate opens doors to career opportunities such as:
- Medical Writer: Work with pharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations (CROs), or healthcare agencies to produce high-quality, regulatory-compliant documents.
- Scientific Writer or Editor: Collaborate with researchers to publish journal articles, white papers, and other scientific literature.
- Regulatory Affairs Specialist: Focus on the development of regulatory documents required for drug approvals and clinical trials.
- Medical Communications Specialist: Create educational content for healthcare providers, patients, and the public.
- Freelance Medical Writer: Build a flexible, independent career providing medical writing services to a range of clients in the healthcare sector.
According to Glassdoor, the salaries of both medical writers and editors average around $97,000. Explore career opportunities in medical writing.
Advance Your Skills in This Rewarding Field.
Enroll Today
Flexible Format, Competitive Cost
Competitive pricing, part-time, online Medical Writing and Editing program that works around your schedule.
By Professionals, For Professionals
Our instructors are active practitioners in their fields who have an average of fifteen years of industry experience.
Stackable Skill Options
As part of our stackable Medical Communications certificate portfolio, this program not only equips you with immediate skills but also lays the groundwork for continued professional growth in the broader healthcare communication landscape, offering an immediate return on investment.
Routes to certificate/course completion:
Fine-Tune Your Focus
One of the overriding factors is that it’s a helping profession. Although you’re not directly treating patients, if you’re writing for the public, you’re helping people maintain or increase their health; if you’re writing for biomedical scientists or healthcare providers, you’re helping them to provide good healthcare or to advance medical knowledge.
Barbara Gastel, MD, MPH, instructor
Focus Areas
Offered by The University of Chicago's Professional Education
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The rise of medical writing and editing through the enduring impact of Barbara Gastel, MD, MPH.
