Why do you want to be a scribe?

To answer "Why do you want to be a scribe?", focus on what you can bring to the role. During an interview, employers hope to learn the specific reasons you hope to become a scribe. This shows them you've critically reviewed the job description and understand the responsibilities and skills needed to perform the role.

What is a medical scribe and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Jason Mott Ph.D.

A medical scribe works alongside physicians and other healthcare providers to document patient information in electronic medical records, observing patient encounters and documenting the patient's medical history, chief complaint, physical exam findings, diagnostic test results, and treatment plans. Many healthcare organizations recognize the benefits of having a dedicated scribe to assist their providers. They reduce physician burnout by taking on the documentation burden, allowing physicians to focus on delivering quality patient care.

What general advice would you give to a medical scribe?

Jason Mott Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pre-licensure Program Director/Assistant Dean, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

I think the best advice for new graduates is to be flexible. Things are going to change daily. It is essential to be able to go with the flow. Also, take time for yourself. As the numbers of covid patients increase, staff members are at high risk of developing burnout. It is essential to take time for yourself to relax and get away from everything, even if for only a few minutes. That way, you can prevent becoming burned out.

ScoreMedical ScribeUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $30,045

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.82%

Asian 9.70%

Black or African American 9.98%

Hispanic or Latino 24.29%

Unknown 4.73%

White 50.47%

Gender

female 71.61%

male 28.39%

Age - 35

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 - 35

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.4

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 scribe?

Pros

Gain valuable medical knowledge and experience
Improve communication and organizational skills
Enhance understanding of medical terminology
Opportunity to network within the healthcare industry
Opportunities for career advancement

Cons

Long hours spent sitting at a computer
Exposure to contagious illnesses and diseases
Limited autonomy in decision-making
Lack of job security in some positions
Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation in role

Key steps to become a medical scribe

Explore medical scribe education requirements

Most common medical scribe degrees

Bachelor's

77.0 %

Associate

8.0 %

Master's

4.4 %

Start to develop specific medical scribe skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	17.62%
Medical Terminology	17.50%
Excellent Organizational	10.01%
Physician Assistants	8.09%
Emergency Medicine	6.44%

Complete relevant medical scribe training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New medical scribes 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 scribe based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real medical scribe resumes.

Gain additional medical scribe certifications

Medical scribe 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 scribe certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for medical scribes include Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research medical scribe duties and responsibilities

Manage sensitive and confidential materials such as patient health records following HIPAA regulations.
Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
Rotate in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedic surgery, and burn medicine departments
Transcribe patient orders including laboratory tests results, radiology test findings, medications, allergies.

Prepare your medical scribe resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your medical scribe 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 scribe 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 scribe resume templates

Build a professional medical scribe 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 scribe resume.