Top 10 Ways to Gain Clinical Experience for Medical School: Complete Guide for Premeds

Quick Answer: What are the Top 10 Ways for Premeds to Get Clinical Experience?

• Clinic volunteer
• Emergency medical technician 
• Clinical research coordinator
• Phlebotomist
• Hospice or palliative care volunteer
• Medical assistant
• Medical scribe
• Certified nursing assistant
• Patient care technician
• Birth doula

Introduction:

Clinical experience and patient exposure are two of the most critical components of a competitive medical school application. According to data from the AAMC, nearly all accepted medical students have clinical exposure before matriculation. But what exactly counts as clinical experience, and how many hours of patient-facing experience do you need to get into medical school?
This comprehensive guide breaks down the best clinical opportunities for pre-med students, providing actionable pathways to gain hands-on patient care experience while building the skills you'll need as a future physician.

What Counts as “Clinical Experience” for Medical School?

Before diving into specific opportunities, it's essential to understand how admissions committees define clinical experience. True clinical experience involves direct patient interaction in a healthcare setting where you're actively participating in or observing patient care.Now, medical schools don’t necessarily care if you are caring for patients directly, but they do want to see that you have had what we think of as patient-facing work.

Clinical Experience vs. Shadowing

Many pre-med students confuse shadowing with clinical experience. While shadowing allows you to observe physicians at work, it typically doesn't count as clinical experience unless you're regularly engaging in direct patient care activities. Admissions committees value patient-facing experience: you're contributing in a meaningful way, not just watching from the sidelines.

Read: How Much Shadowing do you need for Medical School? The MedEdits 75-1-3 Rule

How Many Clinical Hours Do You Need?

How many hours we’d recommend premedical students have would depend on their other experiences, and what we think of as the “anchoring” experiences in their candidacies. Some medical students will excel in their clinical work, while others might stand out based on their service work, research, or an entrepreneurial initiative. Every applicant is unique and has distinctive strengths; not every applicant will excel based on their patient-facing work.  Below are some very general guidelines that competitive applicants have accumulated:

• Minimum: 150 hours of patient-facing work
• Competitive: 300+ hours across a single or multiple clinical settings. This is what we recommend for med school applicants who have a niche in non-clinical areas.
• Exceptional: 1000+ hours working with diverse patient populations. This is what we recommend for med school applicants who have a niche in this area.

The quality of your experience matters just as much as quantity. Deep involvement in fewer roles often proves more valuable than superficial participation in many activities.

Top 10 Clinical Experience Opportunities for Premeds 

1. Clinic Volunteer

Time Commitment: 4-8 hours per week 
Ideal For: Students beginning their clinical journey or seeking flexible schedules 
Pay Range: Volunteer position

• Greeting patients and assisting with check-in processes
• Taking vital signs and recording health histories
• Assisting with patient navigation and appointment coordination
• Supporting healthcare providers during examinations
• Providing health education and community outreach

Why It's Valuable: Clinic volunteering offers accessible entry into clinical medicine and exposure to underserved populations. You'll understand primary care workflows, observe chronic disease management, and develop patient communication skills. Many clinics serve uninsured or underinsured communities, providing insights into healthcare disparities and social determinants of health which medical schools value.

Who is it Good For? Volunteering in a clinic offers outstanding learning for anyone interested in public health, healthcare inequities, or social determinants of health.

How to Get Started: Contact community health centers, student-run free clinics through your university, or organizations like Remote Area Medical (many colleges have chapters). Many programs provide training in vital signs, patient privacy, and clinic procedures. Student-run free clinics often offer leadership opportunities alongside clinical exposure.

2. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Time Commitment: EMT-Basic certification takes 120-150 hours of training
Ideal For: Students seeking high-intensity patient care experience 
Pay Range: $15-25 per hour or volunteer depending on location. Keep in mind that many colleges have student-run EMT/EMS services that are not paid.

Working as an EMT provides unparalleled exposure to acute medical situations and emergency care. After completing EMT certification, you can work for:

• Private ambulance services

• Campus EMS organizations

• Municipal fire departments

• Hospital emergency departments

Why It's Valuable: EMTs make critical decisions under pressure, perform basic life support procedures, and interact with diverse patient populations. This experience demonstrates your ability to handle the physical and emotional demands of medicine while developing clinical assessment skills.

Who is it Good For? EMT work is especially valuable for someone interested in emergency care, direct patient care, or preventive care.

How to Get Started: First, look to see if your college campus has a student-run EMT squad. This is how most premeds get this experience. If you are looking for a gap year job that requires certification, search for EMT-Basic courses at local community colleges, volunteer fire departments, or organizations like the American Red Cross. Many programs offer evening and weekend classes to accommodate college schedules.

3. Clinical Research Coordinator

Time Commitment: Full-time position requiring bachelor's degree 

Ideal For: Gap year students. Keep in mind that many positions may require a two year commitment 

Pay Range: $40,000-55,000 annually

Clinical research coordinators manage research studies involving human subjects:

• Recruiting and consenting research participants
• Conducting study visits and collecting data
• Monitoring participant safety and adverse events
• Coordinating with investigators and research teams

Why It's Valuable: CRC positions combine patient interaction with research methodology. You'll understand the scientific process behind new treatments, learn about research ethics, and potentially contribute to publications. Whether this counts as clinical or research experience depends on your daily patient interaction level.

Who is it Good For? CRC positions are great for all students. If a student has a defined research or clinical interest, working in that area can offer further evidence. However, since these are longer term opportunities, developing a new area of interest is acceptable as well!

How to Get Started: Search on college-sponsored job boards like Handshake. Also search job listings at academic medical centers, pharmaceutical companies, and research organizations for CRC positions. Having prior research experience and strong organizational skills strengthens your candidacy.

Schedule a free consultation to discuss your specific situation and timeline.

4. Phlebotomist

Time Commitment: 4-8 weeks of training

Ideal For: Students seeking flexible part-time positions 

Pay Range: $14-20 per hour

Phlebotomists specialize in drawing blood for diagnostic testing, transfusions, and donations. This role involves:

• Performing venipuncture on diverse patient populations
• Properly labeling and handling specimens
• Maintaining equipment and ensuring safety protocols
• Providing patient education about procedures

Why It's Valuable: Phlebotomy develops a technical skill you'll use throughout your medical career while building confidence in patient interaction. You'll learn to work with anxious patients and perfect techniques that minimize discomfort.

Who is it Good For? Working as a phlebotomist is a great option for any student seeking direct patient contact. Since it is fairly easy to find part time work, this is a great option for college students.

How to Get Started: Complete a phlebotomy training program (offered at community colleges and vocational schools), then obtain certification through organizations like ASCP or NHA. Some institutions may provide training on site. Hospitals, clinics, and blood donation centers regularly hire phlebotomists.

5. Hospice or Palliative Care Volunteer

Time Commitment: 

Usually 4-8 hours per week after training

 Ideal For: Students seeking meaningful volunteer experience 

Pay Range: Volunteer position

Hospice volunteers provide companionship and support to terminally ill patients and their families:

• Spending time with patients through conversation and presence
• Assisting with non-medical comfort measures
• Providing respite for family caregivers
• Supporting families through the dying process

Why It's Valuable: Research shows many medical students feel unprepared for end-of-life care conversations. Hospice volunteering provides profound insights into death and dying, builds comfort with difficult emotions, and demonstrates emotional maturity that admissions committees value highly.

Who is it Good For? End of life care can be a great option for anyone. If a student has a specific interest in this area, that is great, but this isn’t necessary.

How to Get Started: Contact local hospice organizations, which typically provide extensive training for volunteers. Most programs require ongoing commitments of several months to build meaningful relationships with patients.

6. Medical Assistant

Time Commitment: Most medical assistants receive on the job training 
Ideal For: Students planning gap years before medical school 
Pay Range: $15-22 per hour Time Commitment: Most medical assistants receive on the job training

Medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative duties in outpatient settings:

• Rooming patients and documenting chief complaints
• Taking vital signs and medical histories
• Assisting physicians during examinations
• Performing basic laboratory tests and procedures
• Managing medications and vaccinations
  
  

Why It's Valuable: Medical assisting offers longitudinal patient relationships in primary care or specialty clinics. You'll understand outpatient medicine, chronic disease management, and preventive care which are aspects of medicine different from acute hospital settings.

Who is it Good For? Similar to CNA and scribing work, working as a medical assistant is great for anyone who wants clinical exposure. If students have interest in a medical specialty, working in that area is beneficial.

How to Get Started: Search Handshake or your school’s job database. Contact local medical offices to see if they hire medical assistants. Contact your premed advisor as some of these jobs are “passed on” by upper classmen.

7. Medical Scribe

Time Commitment: Typically requires 1-2 week training period that is typically on site.

Ideal For: Gap year students interested in learning medical documentation and terminology

Pay Range: $12-18 per hour

Medical scribes work alongside physicians in clinics and emergency departments, documenting patient encounters in electronic health records. This role offers:

• Direct exposure to clinical decision-making
• Understanding of medical documentation and coding
• Observation of patient-physician interactions
• Familiarity with healthcare systems and workflows

Why It's Valuable: Scribing provides intimate knowledge of how physicians think through differential diagnoses and treatment plans. You'll gain fluency in medical terminology and understand the administrative aspects of clinical practice that aren't taught in medical school.

Who is it Good For? Scribing is valuable for anyone who is interested in direct patient care and learning about clinical medicine. For students with a speciality interest, working in that setting can offer further evidence for that interest.

How to Get Started: Companies like ScribeAmerica, PhysAssist Scribes, and ProScribe recruit heavily from undergraduate populations. Many emergency departments and specialty clinics also hire scribes directly.

8. Certified Nursing Assistant

Time Commitment: 4-12 weeks of training 

Ideal For: Students who want consistent patient interaction

Pay Range: $14-20 per hour

CNAs provide essential bedside care in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Responsibilities include:

• Taking vital signs and documenting patient information
• Assisting with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, feeding)
• Monitoring patient conditions and reporting changes to nurses
• Providing emotional support to patients and families

Why It's Valuable: CNA work builds fundamental clinical skills and deep empathy for patients in vulnerable states. You'll develop communication skills crucial for bedside manner and learn to work effectively within healthcare teams.

Who is it Good For? CNA work is valuable for anyone interested in caring for patients directly. If a student has an interest in a specific discipline or specialty, working in that setting would be especially valuable.

How to Get Started: Check your state's requirements for CNA certification, which typically involves completing a state-approved training program and passing a competency exam. Local hospitals and nursing homes often host these programs.

9. Patient Care Technician 

Time Commitment: Training varies by employer (1-2 months) 

Ideal For: Students seeking hospital-based nursing support roles

Pay Range: $15-21 per hour

PCTs work in hospitals providing direct patient care similar to CNAs but with additional skills:

• Performing EKGs and collecting specimens
• Assisting with ambulation and patient mobility
• Monitoring patients on telemetry
• Supporting nursing staff with patient care tasks

Why It's Valuable: PCT positions offer broader responsibilities than CNA roles and exposure to acute care settings. You'll work with critically ill patients, understand hospital systems, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.

Who is it Good For? PCT work is excellent for anyone seeking direct patient contact.

How to Get Started: Some hospitals will offer on site training. Some positions require completion of a PCT certificate program.

10. Birth Doula

Time Commitment: 5 full days to one month for initial certification training

Ideal For: Students interested in women's health, family medicine, or OB-GYN

Pay Range: Volunteer or $500-2,500 per birth if full time (varies widely by location and experience)

• Birth doulas provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to people during pregnancy, labor, and the immediate postpartum period:
• Offering emotional support and encouragement during labor
• Suggesting comfort measures like positioning, breathing, and massage
• Supporting partners and family members in the birth space
• Providing evidence-based information about birth options
• Assisting with early breastfeeding and newborn care

Why It's Valuable: Doula work offers intimate exposure to one of medicine's most profound experiences while building comfort with bodily processes and intense emotions. You'll develop advocacy skills, learn to support patients through vulnerable moments, and witness how social support impacts medical outcomes. Research shows doula support improves birth outcomes and patient satisfaction, making this work both clinically relevant and deeply meaningful.

Who is it Good For? Doula work can be great for anyone interested in women's health. This experience will also offer insight into disparities and cultural differences in maternal care.

How to Get Started: Complete training through organizations like DONA International, CAPPA, or Birthing from Within. Many programs offer scholarships for students. Start by attending births for free or reduced rates to build experience, then gradually increase your fee. Connect with midwives, OB-GYNs, and birthing centers in your area who support doula attendance. Look for opportunities to be a volunteer doula near your college campus.

Making the Most of Your Clinical Experience

Document everything as you work or volunteer. Keep careful records and journals documenting the following:

• Hours worked/volunteered
• Specific responsibilities and skills learned
• Meaningful patient interactions
• Reflections on challenging situations
  

These records become invaluable when writing your medical school personal statement, med school application work and activities section, and preparing for interviews.

Seek Diverse Experiences

Admissions committees value breadth and depth. Consider gaining experience across:

• Different healthcare settings (hospital, clinic, long-term care)
• Various patient populations (pediatric, geriatric, underserved)
• Acute and chronic conditions
• Urban and rural healthcare
  

Reflect Deeply

Clinical experience isn't just about accumulating hours; it's about professional and personal development. These reflections strengthen your personal statement and interview responses. Regularly ask yourself:

• What did I learn about the patient experience?
• How do physicians and healthcare teams make decisions?
• What challenges does the healthcare system face?
• How did I handle difficult situations?
• What type of physician do I want to become?
  

When is the Best Time to Gain Premed Clinical Experience?

When a student gains clinical experience is really dependent on their individual path and strengths. The two main options are during the undergraduate years or after college through full time paid experience

During the Undergraduate Years

Freshman/Sophomore Year: Start with lower-commitment positions like hospital volunteering or shadowing to explore medicine while managing coursework. Join your campus EMT squad if one exists.

Junior/Senior Year: Pursue more substantial roles like phlebotomy, or CNA work if your schedule permits. Also consider volunteer clinical work. If you have paid work, work more hours if your academic schedule lightens up or if you plan to graduate a semester early.

Gap Year(s)

Gap years offer ideal opportunities for full-time clinical positions:

• Medical assistant or scribe positions (40 hours/week)
• Clinical research coordinator roles
• EMT work combined with other experiences

Full-time clinical work during gap years can dramatically strengthen your application and provide clarity about your commitment to medicine.

What if you need more patient-facing work to be competitive?

Many successful applicants take gap years specifically to gain more clinical experience. If you're entering senior year without sufficient hours:

Plan Strategic Gap Years: Use 1-2 gap years to work full-time in clinical positions. This demonstrates to admissions committees that you're serious about understanding medicine's realities.

Quality Over Quantity: Deep involvement in one or two meaningful clinical roles often impresses committees more than superficial participation in many activities.

Does shadowing count as clinical experience?

Shadowing typically doesn't count as clinical experience unless you're actively participating in patient care on a regular basis. It's valuable for exploring specialties but shouldn't substitute for hands-on clinical work.

Read: How Much Shadowing do you need for Medical School? The MedEdits 75-1-3 Rule

Does caring for a family member count as clinical experience for medical school?

Serving as a caregiver for family members can count as clinical experience if you're providing substantial medical care. In fact, we have had some students create very moving application documents highlighting these types of experiences.

Do virtual clinical experiences count for medical school?

We generally do not recommend virtual experience.  While telehealth scribing or virtual patient navigation may count, in-person clinical experience remains preferable when possible.

Is paid or volunteer clinical experience better for medical school?

Both have value. Paid clinical work demonstrates professional competence and commitment, while volunteering shows altruism and service. Which you have depends on your personal situation and other areas where you excel.

Can I work full time clinically while applying to medical school?

Yes! Many applicants work full-time as EMTs, medical assistants, or scribes during their gap years. Many students who feel they need more clinical exposure gain this while applying to medical school.

Final Thoughts

Keep in mind that not every applicant will have exceptional clinical experience or patient-facing work. Every applicant has their own strengths and “anchoring experiences” that define their candidacy. When you gain clinical or patient-facing experience, do your best to align your experiences with your other interests to avoid your experience looking like you checked a box!

Have questions about when to apply or how to prepare? Contact us for personalized guidance from our team of former medical school admissions officers.