Clinical Documentation Specialists: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of clinical documentation specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for clinical documentation specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of clinical documentation specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for clinical documentation specialists.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Clinical Documentation Specialists?

Do clinical documentation specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do clinical documentation specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for clinical documentation specialists to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Clinical Documentation Specialists

High School or GED is the level of education sought the most by employers of clinical documentation specialists. According to job data, a High School diploma or GED was required for 48% of positions. In 35% of job listings no education level was listed and in 15% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Clinical Documentation Specialists

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for clinical documentation specialists. In 52% of job postings for Clinical Documentation Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 13% of job postings for clinical documentation specialists.

What Kind of Degree Do Clinical Documentation Specialists Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for clinical documentation specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 14 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective clinical documentation specialists, and in 2023 a total of 81,519 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective clinical documentation specialists.

Top Degree Programs for Clinical Documentation Specialists

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Clinical Documentation Specialists

What Skills Do Clinical Documentation Specialists Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by clinical documentation specialists to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for clinical documentation specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Clinical Documentation Specialists
Based on 69,484 job postings

Based on 69,484 job postings related to clinical documentation specialists, medical records was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 49% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for billing, icd coding (icd-9/icd-10), medical billing, cpt coding and medical terminology were also highly sought.

As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for clinical documentation specialists, followed by management, detail oriented, customer service, research and collections.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about clinical documentation specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for clinical documentation specialists.

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