Medical scribing is a hands-on way to earn healthcare experience (HCE) hours — especially if you’re planning to apply to PA or med school.

Here’s what it takes to land a scribe job, what employers care about, and where the role is headed next.

What does a medical scribe do?

A medical scribe takes care of the chart so healthcare providers can focus on the patient. Whether in-person or remote, they listen in and document the visit in real time inside the electronic health record (EHR).

Here’s what a typical shift might look like:

• Reviewing the day’s schedule and patient charts at the start of the shift
• Joining the provider during patient interactions, either in person or virtually
• Documenting medical data in real time, including:
  • Patient symptoms and medical history
  • Physical exam findings
  • Provider’s assessments and diagnoses
  • Treatment plans and follow-up instructions
• Updating medical records and entering lab or imaging results between appointments
• Preparing documentation for upcoming visits
• Reviewing and polishing scribe notes for clarity and accuracy before provider sign-off
• Following HIPAA and clinical documentation guidelines to keep records secure and compliant
• Performing administrative tasks, such as making phone calls and organizing documentation

How much would you get paid as a medical scribe?

According to Indeed, the average base pay for a medical scribe position in the U.S. is around $17.50/hour. Hourly rates can range from $12.85 to $23.83, depending on your prior experience (if any) and location.

New York and California tend to offer the highest pay, while Texas and Georgia usually sit on the lower end of the scale.

Pay for medical scribes is modest — it’s considered a launchpad for pre-med and pre-PA students who want real clinical exposure.

Medical scribe job requirements

Typical medical scribe qualifications are:

• Basic knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology
• Fast, accurate documentation and transcription during patient visits
• Computer literacy and electronic health record (EHR) skills
• Strong grasp of patient confidentiality and HIPAA guidelines
• Excellent multitasking, time management, and organizational abilities
• Ability to stay calm and focused under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Professionalism and a respectful bedside manner
• Attention to detail and active listening
• Ability to work in fast-paced healthcare settings

Here’s a sample from a real job posting:

Do you need a specific degree or certification to become a scribe?

You don’t need a medical degree to become a scribe, but there are a few boxes to check:

• Most medical scribes have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Many are college students or recent grads pursuing a healthcare career (especially pre-med).
• Completing a medical scribe training program can boost your chances (and your salary). Some employers may also offer training on the job.

So… is this role a fit for you?

This job choice makes the most sense if:

• You’re exploring careers in healthcare and want exposure before committing to a specific path;

or

• You’re planning to apply to med school or PA school and want hands-on clinical experience.

How to become a medical scribe

1. Meet the basic qualifications

As we’ve already mentioned, you don’t need a degree to become a scribe, but most employers will expect:

• A high school diploma or GED
• Strong typing and computer skills
• A solid grasp of medical terminology and patient confidentiality
• Strong communication, a calm bedside manner, and professionalism under pressure

2. Get trained (optional, but helpful)

While not always required, completing a clinical scribe certification program can give you a leg up, especially if you don't have relevant work experience. You can find these through:

• Online programs like ScribeAmerica, ProScribe, or AHDPG
• Local community colleges
• Some employers who offer on-the-job training

3. Search for job openings

Look in all the usual places:

• Job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter
• Healthcare staffing agencies
• Local hospitals, urgent patient care centers, and private clinics
• Companies that specialize in scribe services

Keep in mind: working with a large company like ScribeAmerica has both pros and cons.

The perks:

✔ Faster placement through large hospital partnerships

✔ Structured training — great if you’re new to medicine

✔ Options for in-person or remote roles

✔ Looks great on med/PA school applications

The downsides:

✘ Lower pay, especially early on

✘ Long onboarding — some wait weeks or months

✘ Limited choice in healthcare provider or specialty

✘ Rigid schedules

✘ Inconsistent communication and support

If you're just looking to get your foot in the door and gain valuable experience, it's a solid route. But if you already have prior experience in medical settings and are hoping for flexibility or better pay, it’s worth checking out direct-hire roles at smaller clinics too.

4. Increase your chances of getting hired (faster)

Want to get hired faster? Focus on these three:

• Be available full-time or close to it. The more hours you can commit, the easier it is for the company to match you with a provider. If you’re a recent grad available full-time, you’ll be at the top of the list — since many applicants treat scribing as an additional job.
• Work on your typing speed. Most employers look for at least 50 words per minute, though 40+ can still be enough if you’re strong in other areas.
• Be ready to commit for 1–2 years. Some employers ask for it up front — and saying yes can move your application to the top of the stack.

Your career: Is medical scribing a full-time role or a stepping stone?

For most people, medical scribing is more of a launchpad for those who want to work in healthcare.

They take on the role for 1–2 years to gain hands-on clinical experience before they apply to an MD/DO/PA/NP program or pursue a career in healthcare administration.

That said, some scribes turn it into a full-time career — moving into roles like trainer, documentation specialist, or clinic coordinator.

So what if you want to stick with it longer? How safe is the position of a medical scribe with advances in tech? 

Long-term, the role is evolving. AI-powered scribe tools — like Freed — are gaining traction fast. Over 20,000 clinicians now use Freed to automate their notes, and more are joining every day.

Some clinics are shifting away from traditional scribing. That doesn’t mean the role is disappearing — but it is changing.

Still, there are stories with a happy ending. The medical field is notoriously slow to adopt new tech, and plenty of healthcare facilities will stick with human scribes for as long as they can. So if this job appeals to you, go for it!

 Final thoughts: where medical scribing fits today in healthcare

Medical scribing isn’t just a job — it’s a front-row seat to how modern healthcare actually works. Whether you're documenting in real time during a fast-paced ER shift or reviewing charts remotely from home, you’re learning the rhythm of clinical decision-making in a way textbooks can’t teach.

It’s also a role that’s evolving fast.

With AI tools like Freed now supporting tens of thousands of clinicians, the documentation landscape is shifting. But instead of replacing scribes overnight, many systems are blending tech and human insight — with scribes adapting into new roles: from quality reviewers to digital workflow assistants.

If you're tech-savvy, curious, and motivated to grow, scribing can be more than a stepping stone. It can be your first move into the future of medicine.