Freelance Medical Writing for Beginners: 5 Steps to Transition Into Medical Writing (Even Without a Science Degree)

If you’re considering freelance medical writing, you might be wondering:

• Am I qualified without a degree in science or medicine?
• Will clients take me seriously if my background is in marketing, journalism, or teaching?
• How do I translate my current skills into something valuable for healthcare companies?

I had the same doubts when I first transitioned into medical writing. Coming from a background in health communications, PR, and marketing, I worried that my lack of formal scientific training would be a barrier. But I quickly realised something important: clear, effective communication is just as valuable as scientific expertise – sometimes even more so.

Scientists, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare brands all struggle to make their content engaging and accessible. That’s where strong writers come in.

And the demand for medical writers is growing.

In 2022, the global medical writing market was valued at approximately $3.8 billion [1], with projections estimating it could reach $11.1 billion by 2034—growing at a CAGR of 10.9% [2].

This article will walk you through how to transition into freelance medical writing as a beginner – even if you don’t have a science degree. We’ll cover:

✅ The key skills needed to be a medical writer
✅ How to build medical knowledge without going back to university
✅ How to create a strong portfolio (even without clients)
✅ Where to find your first freelance medical writing jobs
✅ How to price your work as a beginner

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Freelance Medical Writer?

Many think breaking into medical writing while not having a scientific or medical background is only about understanding science. But to be successful in medical writing, you would actually need a combination of these skills:

1. Core Medical Writing Skills

✅ Research & Referencing – Finding credible sources, understanding journal articles, and citing references correctly.
✅ Understanding Scientific & Statistical Concepts – Knowing how to interpret clinical studies, evidence hierarchies, and statistical significance.
✅ Working with Evidence & Data – Summarising findings accurately and avoiding misinformation.
✅ Analytical Skills – Breaking down complex medical topics into clear, structured narratives.

2. Writing & Communication Skills

✅ Storytelling & Structuring Content – Engaging your audience while maintaining scientific accuracy.
✅ Adapting Tone & Style – Writing for different readers, from doctors to patients.
✅ Plain Language Skills – Simplifying jargon without losing meaning.
✅ Strategic Thinking – Understanding how content fits into a bigger picture (e.g., marketing, education, regulatory compliance).

3. Industry & Business Skills

✅ Regulatory Knowledge – If you plan to write for pharmaceutical or clinical research companies, understanding guidelines (e.g., EMA, FDA) is crucial.
✅ Project & Account Management – Meeting deadlines, managing multiple clients, and staying current with your finances.
✅ Networking & Client Communication – Building relationships, pitching your services, and finding freelance opportunities.

My personal view is that if you don’t have a science background, transitioning into medical writing takes time and effort. Many successful writers gain agency or in-house experience before freelancing to develop industry expertise (try not to compare yourself if you don’t!). However, it is possible to break in directly – especially if you start with more accessible areas of medical writing like blog writing, patient education, or healthcare marketing, rather than technical or regulatory writing.

Step 1: Identify Your Transferable Skills

You don’t need a scientific or healthcare background to break into freelance medical writing, but you do need to recognise and leverage the skills you already have. Many of the abilities developed in fields like journalism, marketing, education, and communications are highly valuable in medical writing.

The key is to identify where your existing strengths align with the needs of medical writing clients. Below is a guide to help you map out your transferable skills and discover which medical writing niche might suit you best:

🔹 Top Tip: Self-Assessment Exercise

Grab a notebook and write down 3-5 strengths that align with medical writing. For example:
✅ “I’m great at simplifying jargon into easy-to-read language.”
✅ “I have experience writing persuasive marketing copy.”
✅ “I’m highly organised and detail-oriented.”

This will help you choose which type of medical writing may be best for you and boost your confidence when approaching clients.

Next Step: Now that you’ve identified your transferable skills, it’s time to build medical knowledge without a science degree.

Step 2: Gain Medical Knowledge Without a Science Degree

It may not be easy, but it’s possible to learn key medical concepts without going back to university. There are plenty of free and affordable resources that can help you build medical knowledge at your own pace.

Where to Start: Free & Low-Cost Learning Resources

🔹 Top Tip: Networking with other freelance medical writers on LinkedIn with similar profiles to yours but more advanced in their freelancing is also a very good way to start. Just be mindful that everyone’s experience, resources and background are unique and as such you shouldn’t try to compare yourself when you’re only at the start of your own freelancing journey.

How to Learn Medical Terminology Quickly

One of the first challenges you may face in medical writing is getting comfortable with medical jargon. Even though we are not expected to write like a doctor, we still need to understand terms like comorbidities, adverse events, and randomised controlled trials.

Here are some ways to boost your medical vocabulary without feeling overwhelmed:

✅ Start with medical dictionaries. Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary and the NHS A-Z glossary are great references.

✅ Use medical flashcards. Apps like Quizlet have pre-made flashcard sets for medical terminology.

✅ Break down complex words. Many medical terms are built from Latin and Greek roots (e.g., gastro = stomach, itis = inflammation). Recognising common prefixes and suffixes can help you decode unfamiliar terms.

✅ Read real-world medical content. Browse patient information leaflets, NHS guides, and pharmaceutical websites to see how medical terminology is used in context. You can also consult my portfolio for inspiration on how medical writing samples look like.

Practical Ways to Build Your Medical Knowledge

• Follow industry news. Sign up for email alerts from BMJ, The Lancet, or the NHS Digital Library to stay informed on healthcare trends.
• Join medical writing communities. Groups like The European Medical Writers Association (EMWA) or The Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) offer networking and training opportunities.
• Engage with healthcare professionals. If you know doctors, nurses, or researchers, ask them about their work. Even informal conversations can help you understand medical concepts from a professional’s perspective.
• Take short courses on specific topics. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, look for short courses in pharmacology, clinical trials, or regulatory writing – whichever area of medical writing you want to pursue.
• Get a mentor. If you can afford it, this is often the fastest way to pick up specific skills that are relevant for the job. You can learn from your mentor’s practical experience to avoid common freelancing mistakes, have a clearer path on what you should do to get higher rates, and gain access to their network.

🔹 Top Tip: Learn by writing

One of the best ways to retain new medical knowledge is to write about it. Try summarising a health news article in plain English, rewriting a medical blog post in a different tone, or creating a sample patient information leaflet. This will also help you build mock samples and start your medical writing portfolio from scratch.

Considering Medical Writing Certification

Obtaining a medical writing certification could be useful but only for certain areas of medical writing such as regulatory writing or writing for the pharmaceutical industry, which are quite challenging to enter without a scientific or medical background.

To better find out if pursuing a medical writing certification aligns with your career goals and which certificates are the best, check out our detailed blog post: Is a Medical Writing Certification Worth It?​

Step 3: Build a Medical Writing Portfolio (Even Without Clients)

You can create 2-3 strong portfolio samples without paid work to attract clients. Here are some ideas for first portfolio samples:
✅ Rewrite a medical blog post in layman’s terms.
✅ Summarize a medical study for a general audience.
✅ Draft a mock press release for a new healthcare product.
✅ Create a LinkedIn post explaining a medical breakthrough in simple terms.

Consult our full guide for more ideas of what to include in your medical writing portfolio when starting from scratch.

Step 4: Find Your First Medical Writing Jobs

There are more entry points than just AMWA job boards. Here are some ideas of where to look to get clients.

Examples of Beginner-Friendly Job Sources:

✅ Freelance platforms and job boards: Platforms like Upwork and Superpath are good starting points.
✅ Healthcare communications agencies (Google: “medical marketing agency + [your location]”).
✅ Medical nonprofits & health organizations (Many need patient-friendly educational materials).
✅ LinkedIn outreach: Connect with healthcare marketers, editors, and medtech companies.

For a full list, consult our guide on the best freelance writing sites to land medical writing clients.

Step 5: Find out how much you should charge as a Medical Writing Beginner

If you struggle to set your rates, you’re not alone: figuring out how to price your work is one of the biggest challenges I faced when starting in medical writing, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. However, you can start by referring to published benchmarks to give you a better idea of where to start. The good news is medical writing tends to pay more than general freelance writing, thanks to its specialised nature. Even as a beginner, you can earn decent rates if you position yourself well.

A recent freelance business survey from the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA) indicates that the median hourly rate for freelance medical writers in the UK is approximately €80 (around £66) [3].

In the United States, the average annual salary for a medical writer is approximately US $96,500, with entry-level positions starting around US $58,000 and experienced professionals earning up to $160,000 [4].

The Impact of a Lack of Scientific Background on Pricing

As you’re transitioning into medical writing without a scientific background, your pricing strategy may be different from someone with a degree in medicine or life sciences.

Here’s how it might affect your rates:

• Lower rates at the start: Since you may need to spend extra time researching medical concepts and terminology, you might start at the lower end of the pricing range until you build confidence and efficiency.
• Different types of medical writing: You may initially focus on patient education, health journalism, or marketing copy rather than regulatory or technical writing, which often demands more in-depth scientific knowledge. These areas still pay well but may have a different pricing structure.
• Specialisation increases earnings: As you gain experience and develop expertise in a particular area (e.g., oncology communications, digital health content, or pharmaceutical marketing), you can increase your rates to match industry standards.

Beginner Pricing Guide for Medical Writing

Rates may vary depending on:

• The complexity of the content
• The client’s budget
• Your costs of living
• Your level of expertise

As you gain experience, your rates typically increase to reflect your expertise and the value you bring to clients. Below is a rough pricing guide based on existing benchmarks for writers with varying levels of experience in the UK:

🔹Top Tip: Regularly assess your rates to ensure they align with industry standards and reflect your growing expertise. Don’t hesitate to adjust your pricing as you gain more experience and deliver proven results.

How to Calculate Your Rate

If you’re unsure where to start, use this simple formula to get an idea of your ideal hourly rate:

🔹 (Desired monthly income ÷ billable hours) = hourly rate

For example, if you want to earn £3,000 per month and plan to work 60 billable hours, your rate would be:

£3,000 ÷ 60 hours = £50 per hour

This formula helps you check that you’re charging enough to meet your income goals, rather than simply guessing or following industry averages. This doesn’t mean you should be charging per hour – it’s best to keep this rate to yourself as internal guidance only.

👉 To help you calculate your rate more precisely & choose the best pricing model, check out my full guide on How to Set Your Freelance Medical Writing Rates.

FAQs: How to transition into freelance medical writing without a scientific or healthcare background

How do I start freelance writing with no experience?

You can start your freelance writing career with no experience by building a portfolio, taking courses, and pitching small projects. It may be easier and faster if you can afford mentorship. See my complete guides for ideas on how to start building your portfolio from scratch, or to know if a medical writing certification is worth it for additional tips.

Can I make $1,000 a month freelance writing, even if I don’t have a science degree?

Yes! Even with just 4-5 small projects per month at beginner rates. How long it may take you to get there may vary though, for example, whether you already have a network of clients or not, or how long it takes to upskill yourself. Here are some ideas of the best freelance medical writing websites to find medical writing clients if you don’t know where to start.

How many hours does it take to write a 1,000-word article if I don’t have a scientific or healthcare background?

It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact timeframe, but writing a 1,000-word medical article could take anywhere from 5 to 8 hours, including research and revisions. It could take you more time as a beginner, even when using AI prompts. In my view, you should plan for at least a week’s turnaround to collect expert quotes if they’re required, and give you time to focus on delivering quality work to build your portfolio and social proof, as this is what will help you get higher paying clients. The amount of time mostly depends on the level of research required, and how familiar you might be with the topic of course.

Final Thoughts: Your Action Plan to Transition Into Medical Writing Even Without a Scientific Background

Breaking into freelance medical writing without a scientific background isn’t easy, but it’s entirely possible with the right approach. If you’re willing to put in the effort, continuously develop your skills, and strategically position yourself, you can build a successful career in this field.

Your Next Steps: Make Your Move into Medical Writing Today

1. Write down your transferable skills – what strengths can you bring to medical writing?
2. Choose learning resources based on the skills you’re currently missing
3. Create 2-3 portfolio sample pieces – rewrite a health news article, summarise a study, or draft patient education content.
4. Set up a LinkedIn profile – showcase your expertise and start connecting with potential clients.
5. Apply for your first medical writing job – even if it’s a small project, take action and gain experience!

To sharpen your skills and stay ahead in the industry, join MedWrite Monthly Membership for expert resources, templates, and industry insights all designed to help you grow as a medical writer.

References

1. Grand View Research. (2023). Medical writing market size, share & trends analysis report by type, by application, by end-use, by region, and segment forecasts, 2024 – 2034. Retrieved from https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/medical-writing-market
2. GlobeNewswire. (2024, August 21). Medical writing market estimated to be worth USD 11.1 billion by 2034, growing at 10.9% CAGR – Prophecy Market Insights. Retrieved from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/08/21/2933407/0/en/Medical-Writing-Market-Estimated-to-be-Worth-USD-11-1-Billion-by-2034-Growing-at-10-9-CAGR-Prophecy-Market-Insights.html
3. European Medical Writers Association. (2023). Seventh freelance business survey: The freelance landscape 2018-2023. EMWA Journal. Retrieved from https://journal.emwa.org/freelancing/seventh-freelance-business-survey-the-freelance-landscape-2018-2023/article/14940/seventh-freelance-business-survey.pdf
4. Indeed. (n.d.). Medical writer salaries. Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career/medical-writer/salaries