The Role of Medical Writers in CME Content Development
Where do you fit in to the CME content writing process?
If you’ve worked in freelance medical writing for a while, you might assume that writing for continuing education is a pretty straightforward process. Then a CME project lands on your desk—and suddenly, things feel a little murky. Are you writing for the client or the learner? What’s your role in shaping the content? Who decides what gets included?
This kind of uncertainty is common, especially for experienced writers stepping into CME (continuing medical education) content development for the first time. The truth is that CME writing is a different beast. You’re not just delivering information, you’re helping to build an accredited educational experience with specific learning goals, audiences, and formats.
In this post, we’ll walk through what CME content development actually looks like, what your role is, and how to approach the work with more clarity and confidence.
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The Types of CME Content You Might Be Asked to Write
One of the best parts of CME writing is the variety. Depending on the format and the learning objectives, you might be tasked with developing:
Slide decks for live or on-demand presentations
Scripts for webinars, podcasts, or live panel discussions
Microlearning modules
Game-based materials (e.g., for escape rooms)
Patient-facing companion pieces (increasingly common!rare, but sometimes included)
Short-form social content that supports or promotes the activity
Each format has its own rhythm and pedagogical goals. A case study might call for a conversational, problem-solving approach. A slide deck for a symposium could require concise, structured copy that supports live discussion. Microlearning, on the other hand, might demand bite-sized clarity and visual cues.
No matter the format, your job is to translate complex clinical content into an engaging, accurate, and educational experience that’s tailored to the needs of busy clinicians.
Insider Insight: Not only does your content need to be tailored to the needs of busy clinicians, the specifics of your audience need to be considered, too. Where do they work? What types of clinicians are they? What’s their specialty? What does their day-to-day look like? Knowing your audience is key to creating effective content.
Understanding the Scope of Work
Before you provide an estimate or start writing, make sure you understand what the client actually needs. CME content development can include a mix of tasks, including:
Writing Tasks
In addition to writing scripts or slides, you may be asked to draft:
Measurable learning objectives
Pre- and post-activity test questions
Polling questions or assessments
Speaker notes or facilitator guides
Introductory and closing remarks
Sometimes, you’ll also review outcomes data or align the content with gap analysis findings from a needs assessment. Ensuring you and the client are on the same page about the scope of the project can help you prepare an accurate quote.
This is one of the reasons we include so many project start-up resources in our WriteCME Accelerator Workbook.
Collaboration or Planning
You might be brought in early to help brainstorm formats, sit in on calls with instructional designers, or interview subject matter experts (SMEs).
You could also be looped into planning meetings, accreditation conversations, or even grant review calls—especially if you’re part of a team with ongoing contracts.
As a freelance CME writer, it’s crucial to price for the insight and expertise you’re contributing in your role as a collaborator.
Light Editing or Formatting
Occasionally, clients will ask you to help polish draft slides, adjust tone for an activity in review, or align terminology across multiple modules. While this isn’t always part of the core writing role, you may encounter it with retainer clients or clients who turn to you for all of their writing-related needs.
Design and Tech Support
Some clients may expect you to collaborate with designers or upload content into an LMS (learning management system). Others just want clean Word or Google docs. Clarify what you will be responsible for—and what’s outside your scope.
Estimating a CME Content Development Project
Pricing CME projects can be tricky because the scope varies. Before you build an estimate for your client gather as much information as possible:
What are the deliverables? A single 20-minute podcast script is very different from a 60-slide symposium deck with speaker notes and assessments.
How much collaboration is expected? Will you be attending weekly team calls? Interviewing faculty? Revising based on funder feedback?
What’s the timeline? Short turnarounds often justify rush fees. Make sure to assess whether the delivery dates are feasible.
Do you need to learn a new topic? If it’s outside your wheelhouse, you’ll need to build in time for research and orientation.
Are learning objectives already written? If not, you’ll likely need to develop them, and that takes time and strategic thinking.
Rates vary, but most experienced CME writers charge by the project or module, not hourly. Regardless of your structure, asking smart questions up front sets you up for better boundaries and fewer surprises.
And yes, we have tools for pricing, estimating, and client engagement in WriteCME Accelerator.
Your Role as a CME Medical Writer
You are more than “just” a writer; you’re a strategic partner in educational development.
You work alongside instructional designers, medical directors, faculty, supporters, and sometimes even learners themselves. Your job is to help ensure the activity is aligned with the identified gaps in care, supports adult learning principles, and meets accreditation standards.
That means writing with clarity, empathy, and intent. It means knowing how to support learning objectives and when to push back on content that isn’t relevant or actionable.
You’re not just polishing scripts. You’re co-creating a learning experience that helps clinicians improve how they care for patients.
Interested in learning more about how to break into the CME ecosystem?
Discover different ways in on this episode of the Write Medicine podcast.
What CME Content Development Is Not
Curious why all CME work isn’t considered content development? You aren’t alone — this question is one of the first parts of understanding the CME ecosystem. CME content development refers to anything that will be used directly for educational purposes, like a podcast for cardiologists to learn about new clinical guidelines or a panel discussion script for a CME conference.
Other projects CME writers take on include needs assessments, outcomes reports, and manuscript writing, all of which can support the demonstration of the need for continuing education and the efficacy of current education. These pieces are for stakeholders — those funding the education — and for education companies themselves, not for learners.
By the way, we regularly run sprints in WriteCME Pro so you can practice developing new deliverables and create samples for your portfolio. We’re currently in the middle of Summer Script Camp, our scriptwriting sprint, but you have one more chance to participate in a sprint this year — the Outcomes Architect Sprint this autumn!
Thinking of Taking the Leap Into CME Writing?
CME writing is collaborative, structured, and learner-focused. It offers a meaningful way to combine your writing skills with your desire to make a difference in healthcare.
If you’re ready to explore this path, start by getting familiar with the different formats, learning how to scope your work, and asking the right questions early.
Now is the time to connect with a community of thoughtful, driven CME writers who genuinely want to see you succeed.
Inside WriteCME Pro, you’ll find mentorship, accountability, coaching sessions, time to learn new writing formats, and genuine relationships—the kind that fuel your creativity, and help you grow with intention.
Join us today to grow your freelance CME writing career with clarity and confidence.
