Breaking into CME writing requires a combination of industry knowledge, writing skills, and targeted client outreach.

Here’s how to get started:

1️⃣ Learn the Basics of CME/CE – Understanding the accreditation process, compliance standards, and types of CME content is key. CME writing is different from other types of medical writing, so knowing the regulatory landscape (such as ACCME guidelines) will set you apart.

2️⃣ Assess & Leverage Your Existing Skills – You don’t need prior CME experience to get started! If you have a background in medical writing, research, healthcare, or education, you already have transferable skills. The key is learning how to position yourself for CME clients.

3️⃣ Create CME-Focused Writing Samples – A strong portfolio is essential. If you don’t have paid experience yet, create sample needs assessments, patient cases, or educational summaries to showcase your ability to write for CME audiences.

4️⃣ Find & Pitch CME Clients – CME providers include medical societies, hospitals, medical education companies, and academic institutions. Using industry databases (like the ACCME provider list), networking on LinkedIn, and reaching out with tailored pitches will help you land your first projects.

5️⃣ Take Chart Your CME Writing path to shortcut the process – Instead of figuring it all out on your own, this course gives you a step-by-step roadmap, practical templates, and insider strategies to help you start and grow your CME writing career faster.

👉 Ready to break into CME? Get started now with Chart Your CME Writing Path! 🚀

One of the concerns that I hear from clinicians, academics, and researchers interested in becoming CME writers is they feel they are starting completely over.

Yes and no.

Your current knowledge and expertise are valid and valuable.

Whatever your previous profession, you have incredible breadth and depth of expertise.

You might be in a new space with lots to learn.

You might be feeling a little lost.

And I know from my own experience that there is sadness attached to leaving one profession for another venture.

It might feel as though you are shedding an identity.

(You are. It’s important to honor and acknowledge that.)

But while your identity evolves, you don’t lose the knowledge and expertise you've acquired and achieved.

You were a clinician. Now you’re becoming a CME writer. And your incredible expertise is relevant to this field.

It’s relevant because you have clinical context. You know what it’s like to care for patients.

It's relevant because you know how challenging it is to translate knowledge into practice.

Do you need to earn new skills?

Absolutely.

How will you do that?

Through practice. Step-by-step.

And WriteCME Pro is here with a roadmap.

The field of CME writing is waiting for you.

It’s common for new-to-the-field CME/CEHP writers to be daunted by the breadth and depth of this community. Recognize the expertise and skills that you bring from your professional life to date and explore how they might translate to what CME/CEHP education providers need from writers. Being clear about your skills and services will help you to get your foot in the door.

A good starting point is to identify strengths and weaknesses and pinpoint areas to highlight and those that need work. Consider questions such as:

✅ What am I good at?

✅ What do people compliment me on?

✅ What do people ask me for help with?

After compiling your list initially, ask family, friends, colleagues, or a mentor for their input. Alternatively, you can utilize online templates or tools such as the CliftonStrengths Assessment or a SWOT Analysis to identify your strengths.

The challenge of learning the rules of a new game is the same for breaking into a new field. You need the experience to get experience!

Create samples for your portfolio to take ownership of building this experience. In addition, showcase your skill set with a couple of pieces of work to give potential clients confidence in your ability to deliver.