How long does it take to become a Medical Records Clerk?

It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a medical records clerk. That is the time it takes to learn specific medical records clerk skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 6 to 8 years years to become a medical records clerk.

What degree do I need to work in medical records?

No degree is needed to work in medical records. While most individuals working in the medical records field have a high school diploma or GED, some clerks have additional education or certification.

What is a medical records clerk and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA)

A medical records clerk is an individual responsible for organizing and maintaining patient medical records. They ensure that all documentation is complete, accurate and confidential. Medical records clerks also manage requests for patient information, whether from healthcare providers or patients themselves. They work in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and physicians' offices. Medical records clerks play a critical role in supporting healthcare providers by maintaining accurate and up-to-date patient information.

What general advice would you give to a medical records clerk?

Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA)

Faculty Coordinator of Allied Health/Medical Assistant Program Director, Midstate College

-LIKE- People who enjoy working as a Medical Assistant do it because they get a
great satisfaction from help other people. They are often the first contact with the
patient in the medical facility, which sets the tone for the rest of the visit.
They feel good making sure that their patients have the right information that they
need, the appropriate medical care they need, and helping patients feel better.
Good problem-solving skills, compassion, understanding, patience and keeping
up with a fast-paced office is very rewarding.
-DISLIKE- Some Medical Assistants have determined that there are
area/tasks/etc. that they dislike, listed below are some of these things:
 You’re always around people who are sick
 Long work hours can include 10 or 12-hour days
 Lower starting salary, which is usually based on education and
experience level
 Having to deal with stressful situations and difficult patients
 Dealing with patients who are angry, cranky, anxious or not feeling well
 Working under pressure from extremely tight deadlines

ScoreMedical Records ClerkUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $32,491

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.8

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.26%

Asian 7.80%

Black or African American 9.19%

Hispanic or Latino 17.34%

Unknown 4.20%

White 60.21%

Gender

female 86.87%

male 13.13%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress level

4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.1

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.6

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a medical records clerk?

Pros

Good starting salary
Opportunities for advancement
Potential for flexible schedules and remote work
Entry level position requiring minimal education
Job security

Cons

Repetitive tasks may become monotonous
High volume of data entry and paperwork
Required attention to detail can be stressful and mentally taxing
Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation in job duties
Limited opportunities for professional development and salary growth

Key steps to become a medical records clerk

Explore medical records clerk education requirements

Most common medical records clerk degrees

Associate

28.9 %

Bachelor's

24.7 %

High School Diploma

22.8 %

Start to develop specific medical records clerk skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	27.38%
Customer Service	9.09%
Data Entry	7.28%
Medical Terminology	5.62%
HIPAA	4.98%

Complete relevant medical records clerk training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New medical records clerks 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 medical records clerk based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real medical records clerk resumes.

Gain additional medical records clerk certifications

Medical records clerk 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 medical records clerk certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for medical records clerks include Medical Assistant and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).

More About Certifications

Research medical records clerk duties and responsibilities

Manage transition from in-house transcription system to outsource transcription service.
Manage front office check-in, insurance verification and certifications from doctors.
Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
Perform infant labs and update the system with results, triage incoming patients, perform necessary resuscitation to baby and mom.

Prepare your medical records clerk resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your medical records clerk 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 medical records clerk resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable medical records clerk resume templates

Build a professional medical records clerk 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 medical records clerk resume.