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

What is a clinical operations specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Ng'ang'a Muchiri

A clinical applications analyst evaluates software vendors, tests different software systems, and chooses and implements an organization's suitable software system. They serve as the key experts for the design, development, and implementation of the app. As an applications analyst, you'll oversee practices and processes to ensure integrity, safety, and availability of all data and applications as part of an organization's information systems.

It will help if you have a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. However, most employers prefer candidates who uphold a master's degree. Additionally, you may also need two or more years of previous experience in similar roles.

The BLS reports that graduates who gravitate toward this field end up laying claim to annual earnings that top out at $89,824. The current median pay for a clinical applications analyst ranges from $89,824 to $111,000 in the US. However, this figure can vary significantly depending upon your experience, skills, or organization.

What general advice would you give to a clinical operations specialist?

Ng'ang'a Muchiri

Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

That storytelling and the power of persuasion are so incredibly vital today. Just think of Netflix, Instagram, advertising, political rhetoric, and the behavioral changes encouraged in public health announcements.

ScoreClinical Operations SpecialistUS Average

Salary

6.2

Avg. Salary $79,296

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 9.54%

Black or African American 2.59%

Hispanic or Latino 15.37%

Unknown 7.61%

White 64.37%

Gender

female 72.59%

male 27.41%

Age - 43.5

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 - 43.5

Stress level

5.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a clinical operations specialist

Explore clinical operations specialist education requirements

Most common clinical operations specialist degrees

Bachelor's

56.3 %

Associate

17.9 %

Master's

13.9 %

Start to develop specific clinical operations specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	21.26%
Clinical Operations	12.99%
EMR	10.07%
Patient Care	9.29%
EHR	7.08%

Complete relevant clinical operations specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clinical operations specialists 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 operations specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clinical operations specialist resumes.

Research clinical operations specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage patient caseload with emphasis in occupational rehabilitation
Import essential documents from electronic trail master files ETMF to CTMS.
Assure program compliance with all federal, state, and local regulatory and institutional policies, including HIPAA.
Verify member eligibility and adhere to HIPAA guidelines.

Prepare your clinical operations specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your clinical operations specialist 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 operations specialist 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 operations specialist resume templates

Build a professional clinical operations specialist 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 operations specialist resume.