Clinical Navigators: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of clinical navigators 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 navigators 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 navigators 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 navigators.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Clinical Navigators?
Do clinical navigators need a degree? What kind of experience do clinical navigators 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 navigators to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Clinical Navigators
Jobs Postings for Clinical Navigators By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 3,182 (40%)
- Master's degree: 2,892 (36%)
- No Education Listed: 813 (10%)
- High School or GED: 621 (8%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 469 (6%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of clinical navigators. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 40% of positions. In 36% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 10% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Clinical Navigators
Jobs Postings for Clinical Navigators By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,551 (44%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,390 (39%)
- 4-6 Years: 560 (16%)
- 7-9 Years: 35 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 26 (1%)
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 navigators. In 44% of job postings for Clinical Navigators, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 39% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for clinical navigators.
What Kind of Degree Do Clinical Navigators Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for clinical navigators, 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 6 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective clinical navigators, and in 2023 a total of 162,336 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 navigators.
Top Degree Programs for Clinical Navigators
Top 5 Degree Programs for Clinical Navigators (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 143,660 |
| Human Services, General. | 11,590 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,777 |
| Rehabilitation Science. | 1,239 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor. | 914 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 143,660 |
| Human Services, General. | 11,590 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,777 |
| Rehabilitation Science. | 1,239 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor. | 914 |
| Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering. | 156 |
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What Skills Do Clinical Navigators Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by clinical navigators 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 navigators, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Clinical Navigators
Based on 5,644 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Clinical Navigators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation | 3,497 | 62% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation | 2,992 | 53% |
| Psychology | 2,599 | 46% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling | 2,363 | 42% |
| Rehabilitation Counseling | 2,343 | 42% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Clinical Navigators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 2,150 | 38% |
| Management | 1,320 | 23% |
| Coordinating | 1,054 | 19% |
| Writing | 974 | 17% |
| Planning | 828 | 15% |
Based on 5,644 job postings related to clinical navigators, rehabilitation was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for vocational rehabilitation, psychology, vocational rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation counseling and social work were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for clinical navigators, followed by management, coordinating, writing, planning and problem solving.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation | 3,497 | 62% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation | 2,992 | 53% |
| Psychology | 2,599 | 46% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling | 2,363 | 42% |
| Rehabilitation Counseling | 2,343 | 42% |
| Social Work | 2,027 | 36% |
| Disabilities | 1,933 | 34% |
| Case Management | 1,796 | 32% |
| Human Services | 1,554 | 28% |
| Special Education | 1,128 | 20% |
| Data Analysis | 714 | 13% |
| Mental Health | 707 | 13% |
| Sociology | 648 | 11% |
| Visual Impairment Education | 585 | 10% |
| Hearing Disorders | 550 | 10% |
| Treatment Planning | 535 | 9% |
| Purchasing | 532 | 9% |
| Occupational Therapy | 441 | 8% |
| Psychiatry | 439 | 8% |
| Medical Records | 414 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 2,150 | 38% |
| Management | 1,320 | 23% |
| Coordinating | 1,054 | 19% |
| Writing | 974 | 17% |
| Planning | 828 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 784 | 14% |
| Advocacy | 759 | 13% |
| Customer Service | 688 | 12% |
| Decision Making | 686 | 12% |
| Time Management | 665 | 12% |
| Microsoft Office | 610 | 11% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 604 | 11% |
| Critical Thinking | 601 | 11% |
| Research | 598 | 11% |
| Coaching | 571 | 10% |
| Computer Literacy | 498 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 489 | 9% |
| Detail Oriented | 488 | 9% |
| Teaching | 471 | 8% |
| Leadership | 441 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about clinical navigators? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for clinical navigators.
What do clinical navigators do?
How much do clinical navigators make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.