Clinical Opportunities
As a prehealth student, where can you find paid clinical opportunities?
Navigating course requirements and compiling application worthy experiences as a pre-health student is a daunting task. Many students seek out several different clinical pathways to find the best opportunity based on their schedule and needs.
Things to consider
- What is my application missing and is _______ experience worth my time? To answer this question, make sure you schedule time to meet with your Duke HPA Advisor
- What are my financial needs? Are you seeking gainful employment or employment that will supplement your current living situation?
- How many potential hours can I devote to training and preparation (if necessary) in addition to how many hours you are seeking to work? Keep in mind, you need to participate in and complete additional extracurricular activities, volunteering opportunities, and coursework during this time.
- What are the travel requirements to and from training/work and will you need transportation?
- Does the amount of time spent training outweigh the potential benefit of the clinical experience? For example, will you spend more time and money on training than earning money and clinical experience?
- What skills will you be performing and how will the learned skills and overall experience inform your knowledge of healthcare and why you one day want to be a healthcare professional?
Potential Clinical Opportunities
*Please note that some of these pathways offer non-credit bearing courses that may provide abbreviated training allowing you to sit for an examination for certification or obtain licensure*
Certified Nursing Assistant/Aide (CNA)
Becoming a Clinical Nursing Assistant or Aide is provides pre-health students with invaluable, hands-on, patient contact hours. As a CNA, students may assist with patients with bathing, dressing, and eating, in addition to checking for vital signs, mobility assistance/repositioning, and specimen collection for labs.
Requirements for practicing vary by state and may or may not include completing coursework or a specialized program in order to ultimately complete the certification exam. While a specialized program may not be required, it may help with your preparation for the certification exam and boost your resume in order to gain employment. For more information about becoming a CNA in your state of choice, please visit:
CNA Certification Requirements By State
Durham: Nurse Aide Certificate | Durham Technical Community College
Raleigh: Nurse Aide | Wake Tech
Certified Medical Assistant
Obtaining a position as a Medical Assistant or Certified Medical Assistants is an excellent way to obtain an understanding of a hospital team as well as administrative and clinical skills. Medical Assistants work in an array of locations from health centers, college campuses, and laboratories. Skills obtained and practice include: updating medical records, performing physical exams, and drawing blood. Medical assistants differ from CNAs as medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical tasks, whereas CNAs primarily responsible for patient care.
Similar to other pathways to clinical experiences, becoming a medical assistant often requires receiving a certification by passing an exam after attending an accredited program. Programs vary in instruction format and traditionally take 9-12 months to complete. Pairing this with undergraduate coursework is dependent upon numerous factors including financial constraints, current courseload, and additional volunteer/extracurricular responsibilities. Some programs may have an expedited pathway for students to complete in only a few months; however, these opportunities vary.
This pathway is similar to becoming a Registered Medical Assistant.
For More information:
What Does a Medical Assistant Do? Job Overview (nurse.org)
CMA in North Carolina | Medical Assistant Certification in NC (medical-assistant.us)
Emergency Medical Technician
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) are first responders often deployed to address medical crises and provide basic and life-saving care to patients. An EMT may find themselves performing patient stabilization, CPR, administering medicine, providing oxygen, dressing wounds, and much more!
Requirements for obtaining an EMT certification may require a CPR certification as most, if not all training programs require certification prior to entry unless included within the curriculum. Further, those interested in an EMT certification must complete an accredited EMT training program before being able to work. These programs are often 6 months in length, making completion during a traditional undergraduate school year challenging if a pre-health student is attempting to balance multiple courseloads. Be mindful that positions in this field may be competitive and the job market may be oversaturated.
For more information:
4 Steps to Becoming an EMT | Salary & Requirements (nurse.org)
What does an emergency medical technician do? – CareerExplorerHow to Become an EMT: Training, Licensing, and Certification Requirements | International Medical Aid
Education – NCOEMS
EMT Basic Training | North Carolina 21-Day Program | NCOAE (Wilmington)
Hybrid EMT Course – NCOEMS
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Phlebotomist
Becoming a phlebotomist allows students to obtain invaluable clinical skills and knowledge in a relatively quick format, with opportunities to complete training in under a year with some programs offering summer training programs (regional). While online coursework is available, students can expect in-person training to learn specific methods and practice. There are three levels of certification that perspective phlebotomists may complete. Phlebotomists perform a variety of administrative skills and must have in depth knowledge of protocol and best practice in addition to collecting blood and assisting with blood transfusions.
Learn more here:
5 Steps to Becoming a Phlebotomist | Salary & Requirements (nurse.org)
Surgical Technologist
Interested in gaining access to the operating room for clinical experience? Becoming a surgical technologist might be the right fit for you! Training to become a surgical technologist (also known as operating room technicians, surgical techs, or scrub techs) takes place within an accredited training program that may take anywhere from 12-24 months, followed by a certification exam. This program may be best for individuals seeking to take multiple gap years or garner extensive clinical hours that may be required if you are interested in ultimately becoming a physician assistant. Surgical Techs assist in all facets of the operating room and gain an in depth understanding of a multitude of procedures.
For more information:
How to Become a Surgical Tech | Steps + Salary (nurse.org)
Medical Scribe
Medical scribing is a common pathway for pre-health students to gain clinical experience; however, opportunities can be quite competitive and not every experience is created equal. Medical scribes, in contrast to medical transcriptionist, listen and observe what is taking place in a clinical setting, then document appropriately. Individuals seeking to become a medical scribe should have knowledge in pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology. Scribe positions are found in a wide variety of areas from hospitals to clinics. Companies may work on a seasonal schedule to catch students who are graduating after current employees matriculate into their health professions program. A certification for Medical Scribing is available, but not always necessary to gain employment.
Find out more: How to Become a Medical Scribe – Medical Scribes Training Institute
Finding Opportunities
Opportunities for many of these positions can be found through traditional job search boards and the websites of the various clinic or hospital locations. Occasionally, positions may be posted on Handshake.
Check out the following AAMC resources for additional ideas and options:
Five Ways to Gain Experience Without Shadowing | Students & Residents (aamc.org)
Public Health Pathways for Premedical Students | Students & Residents (aamc.org)
Guidelines (aamc.org)
