What is a Medical Instructor?
Research what it takes to become a medical instructor. Learn about job description, common duties and typical education and training requirements to find out if this is the career for you.
What Is a Medical Instructor?
Medical instructors are postsecondary teachers who cover subjects related to medical care and healthcare with their students. They help prepare individuals who are studying to become medical professionals, such as nurses, surgical assistants or doctors. They prepare lesson plans, teach classes, and assess the performance of their students. They may use assignments and tests as part of the evaluation process, and may also observe students performing tasks related to the curriculum to ensure they know how to perform the procedure. As postsecondary teachers they may also be involved in research.
<table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Degree Required</b></td><td> Master's or doctoral degree for most postsecondary instructors</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Training Required</b> </td><td> Some employers require the same training that practicing professionals have</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Key Responsibilities</b> </td><td> Prepare coursework, keep student records, advise students, test students' knowledge</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b> </td><td> 24% growth <i>(health specialties instructors)</i>* <br/> 22% growth <i>(nursing instructors)</i>*</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Median Salary (2020)</b> </td><td> $99,090 <i>(health specialties instructors)</i>* <br/> $75,470 <i>(nursing instructors)</i>*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatIsTheJobDescriptionOfAMedicalInstructor">What Is the Job Description of a Medical Instructor?</h3><p>As a medical instructor, you'll generally work at the postsecondary or professional level. You could teach at colleges, universities, technical schools or teaching hospitals. In a medical instructor position, you can teach any subject related to the medical field. The position of an instructor is the lowest level on the tenure track, and some positions might not lead to tenure. Typically, in an instructor position, you'll work for a contracted period, at the end of which you could be kept on or let go.
</p><p>Your job duties as a medical instructor are generally the same, regardless of what subject you choose to teach. You'll prepare coursework, keep student records, advise students, report on student progress and test students' knowledge. For some classes you might create and implement laboratory assignments or coordinate clinical practicums.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatCanITeach">What Can I Teach?</h3><p>Some examples of subject areas you may teach as a medical instructor include medical assisting, nursing or chemistry. As a medical assisting instructor, you teach students the skills needed to manage a medical office, assist in a medical lab and help doctors and nurses with preliminary patient care. You can also train aspiring nurses to become licensed practical nurses, registered nurses or nurse practitioners. The topics you cover in your training could include general nursing procedures or specializations in the nursing field, such as obstetrics, oncology or holistic patient care. Depending on your academic background and expertise, you could teach professional, undergraduate or graduate-level courses.
</p><p>You could also choose to offer relevant instruction to medical students in a related, non-medical subject, such as chemistry. Chemistry is often required for medical students looking to become doctors, nurses, emergency medical personnel or pharmacists.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatTrainingDoINeed">What Training Do I Need?</h3><p>According to job postings on <i>Monster.com</i>, the level of education you need usually depends on the type of medical instruction you offer. Professions, such as practical nursing or medical assisting, usually only require an associate degree and licensure. Some employers could require you to obtain the same level of training as a practicing professional, or you might need to complete advanced training through a bachelor's or master's degree program. Some schools offer certificate and degree programs specific to medical instructors, such as nurse educator or clinical instructor programs.
</p><p>Teaching a scientific subject, such as chemistry, might require graduate-level training. Many schools offer master's degree programs traditionally and online that could help you qualify for these medical instructing positions. Employers might also require experience in the field you teach. For example, to teach nursing at some schools, you might need to earn a bachelor's or master's degree, hold a license and acquire clinical or nursing experience.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>Career and technical education teachers and psychology professors have aspects of their work that are very similar to the work of medical instructors. All of these professionals work in the field of education, and they all need to prepare lesson plans, teach classes and grade their students on their performance. Career and technical education teachers only need a bachelor's degree and work with high school students, and they teach students' vocational skills for a chosen career field. Psychology professors perform the same key tasks as medical instructors, but they focus on the field of psychology. They generally need a doctoral degree, and need to be experienced in their field.</p>