Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become an office clerk. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in an office clerk.

  • Most companies require a office clerk to have a bachelor's degree degree in a related field, such as business or accounting.

  • It's important to have relevant work experience, with typical job requirements ranging from 1-2 years in related fields.

  • Common job titles before becoming an office clerk include cashier, customer service representative, and sales associate.

  • Hiring managers expect an office clerk to have soft skills such as customer-service skills, detail oriented, and organizational skills.

  • Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of less than 1 month of job training to become an office clerk.

  • Getting a certification as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) will help you to earn more as an office clerk.

How to become an Office Clerk in 6 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore office clerk education
  • Step 2: Develop office clerk skills
  • Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
  • Step 4: Get office clerk certifications
  • Step 5: Research office clerk duties
  • Step 6: Prepare your resume
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Key Steps To Become an Office Clerk

  1. Explore Office Clerk Education

    If you're interested in becoming an office clerk, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 32.4% of office clerks have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 2.5% of office clerks have master's degrees. Even though some office clerks have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become an office clerk. When we researched the most common majors for an office clerk, we found that they most commonly have business, accounting and general studies.

    Office Clerk Degrees

    Bachelors

    32.4 %

    High School Diploma

    28.8 %

    Associate

    23.9 %

    Office Clerk MajorPercentages
    Business26.90%
    Accounting10.90%
    General Studies6.70%
    Health Care Administration6.60%
    Other Degrees48.90%

  2. Develop Office Clerk Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop office clerk skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in office clerk job descriptions:

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service21.00%
    Data Entry18.08%
    Telephone Calls6.80%
    Payroll5.21%
    Office Equipment4.06%

  3. Complete Relevent Training/Internship

    Office clerks spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new office clerks learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as an office clerk based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real office clerk resumes.

    Average Amount Of Time At Training

    None

    Less than 1 month

    1-3 months

    3-6 months

    6-12 months

    1-2 years

    2-4 years

  4. Get Office Clerk Certifications

    Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for office clerks. The most common certification is Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), but Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is also frequently seen in office clerks resumes.

    1. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
    2. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
    3. Word 2010 Certification
    4. Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)
    5. Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert (Office 365 and Office 2019)
    6. Nationally Certified Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA)
    7. International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA)
    8. Certified Data Management Professional - Data Management (CDP-DM)

    More About Certifications

  5. Research Office Clerk Duties

    When you decide to become an office clerk, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most office clerk jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Complete medical records requests as specified under HIPAA regulations.
    • Scan EOB's and attach to payments in software system.
    • Perform electronic billing of Medicare, Medicaid, and HMO/PPO submissions.
    • Follow all HIPAA guidelines and safety rules as required within the healthcare policy.
    • Perform account analysis on credit balance accounts using insurance explanation of benefit information (EOB).
    • Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provide.

  6. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Office Clerk Resume templates

    Build a professional Office 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 Office Clerk resume.

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  7. Apply For an Office Clerk Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

    Office Clerk Jobs

  8. How To Become an Office Clerk
    How To Become an Office Clerk Career Overview