How To Become A Clinical Analyst: What It Is and Career Path

What is a clinical analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Michael Smullen

A clinical analyst's primary job is to manage, install, and optimize computers for medical facilities and hospitals. They are tasked with the responsibility of effectively managing and upgrading all the computer equipment when due. They are also called Clinical Data Managers and Clinical Systems Analysts. Their other duties include capturing, processing, and Storing clinical databases, verifying, filling, and protecting the information gathered, ensuring that all clinical data are well documented and reported, coach medical staff to make use of a particular computer program, teach and supervise new data technicians on software usage, which will guarantee productivity in the long run. The list goes on and on.

But let's still look at the kind of skill you need to qualify for the post of Clinical Analyst. To do this, you need to be skilled in SQL programming, be good in verbal and written communications, have excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, work both independently and in a team-oriented environment, and finally, Microsoft Office and Cloud platforms. As for other qualifications, interested applicants need at least a Bachelor's Degree in Life Science, Computer Science, or other related courses. For added advantage, three to five years of experience in data management is needed. Again, project management skills and leadership are also very important.

What general advice would you give to a clinical analyst?

Michael Smullen

Director, Undergraduate Engineering Co-oo Program, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Make yourself uncomfortable. Early graduates find success later on by seeking out numerous challenges: how to respectfully ask questions in a business setting, how to cultivate personal and professional confidence, how to create or expand their professional network, how to chart a course for their career and personal aspirations, and how to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Each of these demands stepping beyond one's comfort zone and engaging in unfamiliar actions. It's not merely about setting intentions; it entails embracing novel experiences solely for the sake of growth. Whether it's attending a seminar on home-buying or participating in a networking event, reaching out to a manager for guidance on enhancing value, or reflecting deeply on personal fulfillment, pushing oneself through discomfort will foster mental agility and resilience. Recent graduates should pay close attention to the danger complacency may signify overlooking crucial opportunities that could lead to future regret.

ScoreClinical AnalystUS Average

Salary

6.3

Avg. Salary $80,252

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.3

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.19%

Asian 14.45%

Black or African American 10.57%

Hispanic or Latino 11.28%

Unknown 5.02%

White 58.48%

Gender

female 68.71%

male 31.29%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a clinical analyst

Explore clinical analyst education requirements

Most common clinical analyst degrees

Bachelor's

53.1 %

Associate

22.6 %

Master's

14.7 %

Start to develop specific clinical analyst skills

Skills	Percentages
Healthcare	17.08%
Patient Care	9.18%
Patients	8.82%
Troubleshoot	4.43%
EHR	4.37%

Complete relevant clinical analyst training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clinical analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a clinical analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clinical analyst resumes.

Gain additional clinical analyst certifications

Clinical analyst certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific clinical analyst certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for clinical analysts include Medical Assistant and Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS).

More About Certifications

Research clinical analyst duties and responsibilities

Manage all phases of testing, re-coding, and validation using SDLC methodology and creating and submission of SQL queries.
Interact with hospital staff and patients at patient safety and quality promotional events
Gather clinical data and utilize clinical expertise and standard healthcare protocols to create comprehensive business and functional requirements.
Conduct training for FTEs in Egate SRE and UNIX.

Prepare your clinical analyst resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your clinical analyst resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a clinical analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable clinical analyst resume templates

Build a professional clinical analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your clinical analyst resume.