Is Medical Writing Certification Really Worth It? A Guide for Aspiring Freelance Medical Writers

Growing your business as a freelance medical writer can be stressful – even for experienced writers. Attracting and retaining clients is challenging, and it might have you wondering if getting a medical writing certification will help give you a competitive edge or sign higher paying clients.

The short answer? Most freelance medical writers don’t need certification to succeed. Hands-on experience, strong writing samples, and industry knowledge matter more than formal credentials, especially in freelance work. However, certification may be beneficial if you’re transitioning from a non-medical background or want to specialise in regulatory or pharmaceutical writing.

In case you’re considering medical writing certificates, with the many options out there, it can be hard to get all of the information you need to decide which one is right for you. Because the reality is these certification programmes can cost thousands of dollars. And there’s no guarantee a medical writing certification will help your business. So if they don’t add much value, are these high-cost certificates even worth it or are there more affordable alternatives you could consider?

Here, you’ll find guidance on medical writing certifications, including specific programmes, costs, benefits, and my own recommended resources to boost your freelancing career. 

Do You Really Need a Medical Writing Certification to Succeed? 

In most cases: no, you don’t need a medical writing certification to be successful. Hands-on experience in medical writing matters more than formal certification – especially in the freelance writing world. Clients that hire freelance medical writers are often looking for a proven track record, strong writing samples, and knowledge of medical terminology over a certificate. 

However, there are instances where getting a medical writing certificate can be beneficial. If you’re transitioning from a different career, especially one unrelated to science or medicine, certification can help give you credibility and fill knowledge gaps. 

Another time where certification may be helpful is if you want to do a specific type of medical writing like regulatory or pharmaceutical writing.

Certifications May Help for Regulatory Medical Writing and Specific Senior Roles in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industries

If you have no familiarity with regulatory medical writing, you could consider taking a course geared specifically for this. And if you’re looking into the pharmaceutical industry as a medical writer, there are certain guidelines that you need to know. 

Familiarity with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) is a must [1]. These cover the ethics, patient rights, and investigator responsibilities of clinical trials, and they’re available in stand alone classes and courses. 

• EU & UK Medical Writers: The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) follow ICH-GCP (E6) guidelines.
• US Medical Writers: The FDA also follows ICH-GCP but with additional regulations under 21 CFR Part 312 & Part 812.

If you’re exploring a senior role as a freelancer in pharma or healthcare, having certain certifications could boost your favour with potential employers. In fact, some major pharmaceutical companies will list certain certifications as a preferred qualification on job listings. 

A Certification May Not Be Useful in These Areas

As mentioned before, you don’t need a certificate in medical writing to be successful! There are other areas you can specialise in and be successful at just by networking, gaining experience, and having a good mentor. Some of these areas include:

• Medical writing for patient education: Whether it’s for provider blogs, websites, medical communications agencies, or even pharma companies, you can use your skills to help patients understand their diseases and their health. And you can do all of this without a medical writing certificate. 
• Medical writing in continuing medial education (CME): CME is needed everywhere for all types of healthcare professionals. Not only does it help healthcare professionals stay up-to-date on medical information, but it’s also required for their registration. Medical knowledge overall doubles every 73 days [2], so there’s always opportunities in this field.
• Journalism: With so many new developments in pharma and clinical care, there are always ongoing opportunities for freelancers to help report news to the general public. You can consider starting with news coming from major medical conferences or recently published major clinical trials.
• Medical communications and marketing: Certain companies will often hire freelance medical writers to help with patient information handouts, marketing materials, and other related projects. These companies include medical writing agencies, nonprofit organisations, and pharma companies.

What Type of Medical Writing Certificates Are There?

A medical writing certificate is essentially a document that shows you have the skills and knowledge to write about medical and science topics. There are many different programmes and courses out there, but I wanted to break down some of the biggest ones.

1. Certificates From Medical Writing Associations

The first, and maybe one of the most recognised medical writing associations is the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA). Based in America, it has a variety of self-directed online certificate programmes for medical writers. 

There are programmes available for freelance medical writing beginners and for those looking to specialise in certain areas. You can also opt to enrol in lessons a la carte. The pricing of everything depends on your membership status. 

Here’s a breakdown of the different programmes AMWA offers:

Another highly recognised medical writing association is the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA). This is a European-based writing association that has a professional development programme along with different workshops for medical writers. And with over 100 different workshops available, both aspiring and experienced medical writers can gain access to education on the topics they need [3]. 

EMWA offers certificates for achieving professional development via these workshops. The cost to earn a certificate is €1,300. However, it’s important to note that EMWA emphasises that “certificates are not a status of being a “certified EMWA writer.” Instead, these certificates reflect on continuing educational achievements.

2. University Based Medical Writing and Editing Programmes

For those who yearn for a learning environment through academia, some universities such as the University of Chicago and University of California San Diego (UCSD) offer online medical writing certificate programmes [4,5]:

These programmes vary in length from nine to 36 months. Through university-based programmes, aspiring medical communicators have access to other resources including: 

• Structured coursework including practice and feedback
• Portfolio building
• Career advice
• Mentoring

They also provide access to networking, which is one of the keys to success in freelancing.  

3. Certificates From Other Medical Writing Certification Programmes

There are two other medical writing certification programmes I want to make sure to mention, and they’re both geared towards the pharmaceutical industry: 

• The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) also has a medical writing certificate programme for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The certificate programme reviews the foundations of medical writing, and it’s a great option for those just starting with medical writing. This online programme costs US $395 to $495, is self-directed, and takes 27.5 hours to complete [6]. 

• The International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) has a Certified Medical Publication Professional (CMPP) Programme. This programme is recognised in the pharma and biotech industry, and it’s a great option for more experienced medical writers who are looking to level up their qualifications. The cost varies based on ISMPP membership and country of residence, but the range is US $385 to $575 plus administrative fees.

Getting the ISMPP CMPP certification shows potential clients and employers that you have expertise in the field and commitment to ethical publication practices [7]. The programme doesn’t have a set length. Instead, the focus is on preparing for the exam, which is three hours long. 

Is Medical Writing Training Worth the Investment?

When considering the cost vs. return on investment, medical writing certificates generally aren’t worth the investment. Oftentimes, the most valuable thing for freelance medical writers is simply experience, mentorship, and networking. 

If you’re just starting out in the medical writing world, the following medical writing certificates may help you learn and develop your skillset:

• AMWA Essential Skills Certificate
• AMWA Certificate in Medical Editing
• ASHP Medical Writing Certificate

But if you’re an established freelance medical writer already, the only options which may bring more value to you would be the ISMPP CMPP or AMWA MWC. 

These certifications could give you an edge amongst other medical writers looking to break into or get promoted within larger pharmaceutical companies. You might earn more in these higher roles than you would as a freelancer, but there’s no guarantee. 

One of the other benefits to pursuing certification through professional and educational societies includes opening the door to networking –  a crucial part of advancing your career as a medical writer. 

Tips For Finding Affordable Alternatives to Medical Writing Certificate Programmes

If you’re a new medical writer and are looking to start one of these certification programmes but can’t afford to, don’t worry. There are more financially accessible alternatives to elevate your skillset. Online courses, webinars, workshops, and mentorships are all other options to consider. 

Consider Shorter and More Affordable Medical Writing Courses

The online learning platform Coursera offers both stand alone classes and courses. Some are even free, including a Writing in the Sciences course [8]. After completion, you even have the option of adding it to your LinkedIn profile to showcase your knowledge base. 

Coursera also offers classes in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and other important topics in the industry. 

Gain More Experience Through Freelance Work 

In medical communications, one of the best ways to grow is with hands-on experience. By optimising your portfolio, you’ll be able to attract and retain those valuable clients. If you need some guidance with this, check out my guide on how to create and keep upgrading your medical writing portfolio to land your dream clients. 

Consider Mentorship

Another option for new or experienced freelance medical writers is mentorship. Mentorship programmes are a great option for anyone looking to grow their freelance career and improve their writing skills. 

When you work with a mentor, you gain insight and guidance that allows you to avoid much of the trial-and-error phase that comes with building a business. A mentor can also help you grow your network, which is the most important source for finding new clients.

The one-to-one mentoring for freelance writers I offer is great for those in the health and wellness niche. I cover the areas of freelance writing that people often need the most help with, including topics like:

• Portfolio development
• Website copy
• Social media strategies
• Rate setting
• Getting and retaining clients
• Time management

Mentorship programmes can also help with the process of finding work on some of the best freelance writing websites out there. And with the option for one time sessions and mentorship on an ongoing, monthly basis, you’ll be able to find something that works best for you.    

Don’t Forget the Importance of Networking 

Network. Network. Network. 

This cannot be emphasised enough. Through personal experience and talking with other successful freelance medical writers, this is one of the top ways to grow and retain your client base.

Other ideas for networking include:

• Going to national medical writing conferences and networking events
• Joining a professional society such as EMWA or AMWA
• Getting involved in local professional chapters

By making connections, you open the door to potential clients and invaluable mentors who can guide you throughout your career. 

Final Verdict: Should You Get A Medical Writing Certification?

For brand new medical writers with limited knowledge of writing and medical information, certain certifications and programmes may be helpful. But if you’re already established as a freelancer and have worked with a few clients, you already have the skills needed to succeed.

You just need guidance to level-up your business.

If you want to jumpstart your freelance medical writing business: 

• Explore and book personalised mentoring and coaching 
• Sign-up for my newsletter for ongoing medical writing tips and insights
• Join the MedWrite Monthly membership for more in-depth guidance, tools, and resources for medical writers 

FAQs: Medical Writing Certification

Which medical writing certification is best?

None, unless you’re specifically going into pharma. If you’re going for specific industry roles, consider either the ISMPP CMPP or AMWA MWC. 

Which course is best for medical writing?

It depends on where you are in your career. If you are just starting and have a doctorate in the life sciences, the online UCSD medical writing programme has the most value–it’ll give you more tailored courses, mentorship, and has an alumni network in industry, if that is where you’d like to specialise. Otherwise, you are better off finding a medical writing mentor and networking. 

What is the highest salary for a medical writer?

According to the AMWA 2024 Compensation Survey, the mean income for a freelance medical writer in 2023 was $214,227, including regulatory writers, continuing medical education writers, and scientific publications writers [10]. 

References

1. International Council For Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. (2016). Integrated Addendum to ICH E6(R1): Guideline for Good Clinical Practice E6(R2). https://database.ich.org/sites/default/files/E6_R2_Addendum.pdf
2. ​Kahn, M. J., & Sachs, B. P. (2018). Crises and turnaround management: Lessons learned from recovery of New Orleans and Tulane University following Hurricane Katrina. Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal, 9(4), e0031. https://doi.org/10.5041/RMMJ.10354 
3. European Medical Writers Association (n.d.). EMWA Certification Overview. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://emwa.org/emwa-certification-overview/ 
4. The University of Chicago (n.d.). Medical Writing and Editing Certificate. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://professional.uchicago.edu/lp/certificates/medical-writing-and-editing/
5. UC San Diego (n.d.). Medical Writing Certificate. UC San Diego Extended Studies. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://extendedstudies.ucsd.edu/certificates/medical-writing 
6. ASHP (n.d.). Medical Writing Certificate. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://elearning.ashp.org/products/10229/medical-writing-certificate
7. ISMPP (n.d.). ISMPP Certification Program. International Society for Medical Publication Professionals. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://www.ismpp.org/certification 
8. Densen P. (2011). Challenges and opportunities facing medical education. Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association, 122, 48–58.
9. Coursera (n.d.). Writing in the Sciences. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://www.coursera.org/learn/sciwrite 
10. AMWA. (2024). AMWA 2024 Compensation Survey [Infographic]. American Medical Writers Association. https://info.amwa.org/