How to become a Medical Secretary
Provides specialist secretarial support to clinical teams — managing correspondence, clinics and patient pathways with medical terminology expertise.
Entry routes
- From Ward Clerk / Receptionist: Medical terminology + admin experience (~1 yrs)
- From Healthcare Administrator: Medical terminology + audio-typing (~1 yrs)
What you'll need
Skills
- IT / office systems confidence
- Medical terminology / audio-typing skills
Qualifications
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A typical path
£25,272 now → £25,760 in ~2 yrs
- £25,272
Healthcare Assistant
Year 0 · Band 2 · entry
- £25,760
Healthcare Administrator
Year 0.5 · Band 3 · entry
- £25,760
Medical Secretary
Year 1.5 · Band 3 · entry
- £27,476
Medical Secretary
Year 3.5 · Band 3 · top
Common questions
How long does it take to become a Medical Secretary?
1–2 years from ward clerk/admin — see the step-by-step timeline above for a typical path.
See what you'd earn as a Medical Secretary
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Indicative — England 2026/27 Agenda for Change basic pay, excludes High Cost Area Supplements, unsocial-hours and overtime. Typical timings are national averages, not guarantees. Not financial advice. See data sources.