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School of Graduate and Professional Studies

Medical and Regulatory Writing Certificate

Why pursue a Medical and Regulatory Writing Certificate at North Central?

The North Central College Medical and Regulatory Writing Certificate provides students with the medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, technical skills and professional behaviors to become competent, evidence-based medical writers and communicators. Graduates of the program are committed to the advancement of health literacy through the scholarship of dissemination and achievement of personal writing goals.

Program Goals

  • Prepare students with the foundational knowledge, skills and behaviors to function as a medical and regulatory writer.
  • Cultivate the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to formulate arguments, analyze and display data.
  • Develop interpersonal communication and professional behaviors needed to support logic driven, collaborative work.
  • Provide coaching, apprenticeships and networking opportunities to support individual professional goals.

Program Learning Outcomes

Following the completion of the Medical and Regulatory Writing Certificate, the student will be able to:

  • Apply knowledge of medical and regulatory writing standards to the copy editing, analysis, and creation of documents consistent with the target audience.
  • Craft medical and regulatory writing documents using clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills to determine consistency with scientific process, evidence-based medicine, regulatory bodies and target audience.
  • Assemble, integrate, and prepare graphics using common technology platforms in order to represent scientific and regulatory data, with visualizations specific to logical argument and target audiences.
  • Collaborate effectively with professional teams using the interpersonal skills and professional behaviors expected of the medical and regulatory writing community.

Medical and Regulatory Writing Certificate Curriculum

The Medical and Regulatory Writing Certificate program is eight courses (15 credit hours):

  • Core set of seven courses
  • Ability to customize elective course by selecting one of five options
  • 100% online and asynchronous with scheduled weekly meeting times with faculty
Core Courses (required)
Course Credit Hours
Foundations of Medical Writing I 2
Foundations of Medical Writing II 2
Grant Writing in Medicine and Health 2
Medical Writing for the Public 2
Accreditation and Regulatory Writing 2
Medical Writing Capstone Apprenticeship 2
Grammar and Style in Medical Writing and Copyediting 2
Elective Courses (choose one)
Course Credit Hours
Freelance Medical Writing 1
Writing for Continuing Medical Education 1
Writing for Industry 1
Writing for Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology 1
Narrative Based Medicine Writing 1

Apprenticeship Experience

North Central College will provide apprenticeship experiences with medical and regulatory writers both internal and external to campus during the capstone seminar. Faculty will provide oversight of student learning during this apprenticeship.

Students can choose from 4 different apprenticeships:

  • Medical and Scientific Writing - Students will work collaboratively to prepare a scholarly journal article for publication.
  • Accreditation Writing - Students will work collaboratively to prepare a regulatory/accreditation manuscript.
  • Legislative and Grant Writing - Students will work collaboratively to prepare a publishable grant or legislative policy.
  • Medical Writing for the Public - Students will work collaboratively to prepare a Medical Education deliverable (CME, poster/platform presentation, social media).

Important Dates

First cohort launching in Fall 2024

Application Instructions

1. Start Your Application

A username and password will be generated and sent to the email you provide. You will have 30 days to complete the online application. Separately from the application, you will need to submit additional items depending on your program. In order to submit the online application, you will be required to upload the following:

  • Statement of purpose that discusses long range goals, interest in the chosen discipline, and the reason(s) for applying to this program.
  • current resume that includes educational and employment history, college extracurricular activities, community activities, honors and leadership roles, hobbies and nonacademic interests.

2. Submit Official Transcripts

Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions showing an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Official transcripts must be submitted directly to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. Official transcripts can be sent by mail or electronically.   

  • We give careful consideration to all credentials in an application. The minimum GPA of a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale during the last 60 credit hours of coursework is required. 
  • Official transcripts must be submitted directly to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. Official transcripts can be sent by mail or electronically from verified services. 

Submit all of the above to grad@noctrl.edu or by mail to:

School of Graduate and Professional Studies

30 N.Brainard St.

Naperville, IL 60540.