Medical Copywriting Course - Learn How To Be A Health Copywriter

Become a health & medical copywriter

Welcome to Principles of Health & Medical Copywriting, a CPD-certified course teaching you the essential best-practices of high-quality healthcare copywriting.

No prerequisites

Learn at your own pace
Lifetime access
Tutor support
Private student group
All you need is an internet connection!

The next class starts in November 2018

Get in early and register your interest by joining the wait list.

Who should take this course?

This health & medical copywriting course is perfect for you if you’re:

A health professional, scientist, MD or PhD interested in a career change – you’re keen to explore opportunities for medical copywriting in addition to (or instead of) your clinical or scientific work
A healthcare business owner looking to improve your writing – you write your business content, and you’d like to learn how persuasive writing can improve your bottom line
A health communicator who wants to expand your existing medical writing abilities – you already have writing skills and health knowledge, but not a lot of experience when it comes to creating persuasive, compelling copy for healthcare brands and businesses
A writer who is new to the medical copywriting industry – you are interested in becoming a medical copywriter and would like to learn more about how to begin working in the field
A freelance health & medical writer who is keen to offer medical copywriting as a service – you would like to gain the skills needed to write clear, compelling and results-driven medical copywriting for your clients

A great class for someone who wants to break into the field!

“Principles Of Health & Medical Copywriting is a great class for someone who wants to break into the field! Completing this course gave me the confidence I needed to go further with my career.”

Jackie Rogers, USA

Ready to learn the power of persuasion?

Here’s what you’ll learn.

A comprehensive overview of the medical copywriting field – and how you can begin to build a career in the industry
The many companies and clients who hire medical copywriters – so you’re very aware of the opportunities in the industry
The sheer variety of medical copywriting projects – everything from product copy to email newsletters, and blogs to eDetailers
How much money you can make as a medical copywriter – as well as the pricing strategies that help you win work
What clients and employers are looking for when they’re considering working with medical copywriters – essential skills, attributes, experience and qualifications needed to become a medical copywriter
Getting from a blank page to a completed brief – how to start writing your first medical copywriting project
The most effective persuasive writing techniques – to help you get comfortable and confident using the power of persuasion in your writing
Strategies for establishing consumer trust and writing engaging copy – how to write trustworthy content that inspires action, even when you’re writing ‘serious’ content
Legal and regulatory considerations all medical copywriters need to know about – so your work is compliant and doesn’t mislead your readers
How to write high-quality medical copy – ethical considerations, as well as how to cite medical research and reference your work correctly
How to make your copywriting look beautiful – so the readability and aesthetics complement your crafty copy

How does it work?

Here’s what you can expect.

Principles of Health & Medical Copywriting runs for four weeks, and every week we focus on a new lesson. You’ll complete the lesson in your own time during the week, and each lesson requires a time commitment of around 4-8 hours.

CPD Certified

Earn CPD points

Principles Of Health & Medical Copywriting is an approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course, independently accredited with the CPD Certification Service – one of the world’s leading independent CPD accreditation institutions.

As a CPD-accredited course, Principles Of Health & Medical Copywriting meets the required standard of CPD at a global level. The course’s learning value and structure conform to global CPD guidelines and principles, complementing the CPD policies of professional institutes and academic bodies.

If you are a health professional, you can use the certificate of completion to claim 24 hours of CPD.

The go-to expert for those starting out a writing career in the health niche

“I was fortunate enough to have Michelle as my writing mentor when I began health writing. She’s the go-to expert for those starting out a writing career in the health or medical niche, with insider tips and advice to help you start successfully. In fact, Michelle pointed me to an online resource where I managed to land one of my best-paying clients!”

Joe Leech | Diet vs Disease

What’s included?

Here’s what you get.

Audio lectures (podcasts) discussing the lessons and learning objectives
1 live video call where we’ll get together virtually and you can pick my brain
Podcast notes covering the lesson topics
Weekly copywriting exercises to help you put the learnings into practice
Dozens of handouts and recommended reading links
Templates and guidelines to help you plan your content
Personalised feedback on every writing task you submit (Premium course only)
Student-only discussion forums so you can chat with other course students
Certificate to put towards self-study or CPD
Unlimited email access to your teacher for the duration of the course
Health Writer Hub Alumni membership – includes loyalty discounts and free monthly webinars

Michelle is extremely thoughtful, professional and generous

“I feel very fortunate to have made a professional connection with Michelle. After meeting Michelle in 2013, she has been assisting me with advice and guidance on how to further my work and refine my skills as a medical writer. Michelle is extremely professional, thoughtful and generous. I also value her extensive experience in the medical writing field. I know I can continue to learn a lot more from her guidance, insight and encouragement. She has been a great influence on the writing choices and progress I have made since we met. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

Annalies Corse, Australia

Writing task feedback

Included with the Premium course.

The Premium course includes personalised feedback on your writing tasks. You’ll receive a detailed critique of each task with action points and tips for improvement. This feedback is just between us and is extremely beneficial if you’re looking for personalised, practical tips to help you improve your writing skills.

Course outline

Your curriculum guide.

Lesson 1: An introduction to health & medical copywriting

We begin with a comprehensive overview of the health & medical copywriting industry.

Learn about the various forms of medical copywriting – everything from advertising to sales letters, email marketing, blogging, website copywriting, product information, SEO and more
Explore the vast employment opportunities – learn who you can work for as both a freelance and employed medical copywriter, as well as how much money you can expect to make as a medical copywriter
Discover what clients and employers are looking for in a medical copywriter for hire – including skills, experience, qualifications, attributes, CVs and your portfolio
Find out how to transition to medical copywriting and get started working in the field – my top strategies to help you plan your entry into the world of medical copywriting

Lesson 2: Mindset, research, voice, and drafting

You’ve got a brief. Now what? Believe it or not, background work is just as – if not MORE – important than copywriting itself. That’s why our second lesson focuses on the essential preparation needed to write compelling medical copy.

Develop a copywriting mindset – learn what this mindset entails and why you need it before you start writing
Learn how to research your customer needs – so your copywriting is highly targeted and highly effective
Understand your project’s key requirements – the crucial questions to ask before you start working that will save you time and take your copy to extraordinary heights
Learn how to start writing when presented with a blank page – plus templates to help if you’re struggling to get started

Lesson 3: Persuasion, trust, engagement and action

In copywriting, persuasion is the name of the game. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to weave the most persuasive writing techniques into your medical copywriting.

Get comfortable and confident with persuasion – compelling offers, power words, persuasion psychology and more: I break it down, step-by-step, to help you understand how to use persuasion in your writing
Discover how to weave in elements that build trust – learn what does and doesn’t work when it comes to building and establishing trust in medical copywriting
Grasp the essential best practices for writing engaging medical copy – strategies to help you generate leads, clicks and sales, even when writing extremely ‘medical’ copy
Action, action, action – learn about call-to-actions and be taught strategies for creating clear, actionable medical copy

Lesson 4: Essential information for medical copywriters

The fourth and final lesson of your medical copywriting course covers the key topics you need to be aware of before you even think about publishing or submitting your medical copy.

Legal and regulatory considerations all medical copywriters need to know – so your work is compliant and doesn’t mislead your readers
How to write high-quality medical copy – ethical considerations, social responsibility, citing medical research, and referencing your work correctly
How to make your copywriting look beautiful – ensure the readability and aesthetics complement your crafty copywriting
Tips and tricks to make your completed copywriting even more powerful – the secret tactics used by the most successful copywriters

Every student gets lifetime access to the Health Writer Hub Alumni

The Health Writer Hub Alumni is a collective group of ALL Health Writer Hub students. Alumni benefits include:

Access to FREE monthly online webinars focused on specific health writing topics – upcoming topics in 2018 include quoting for jobs, finding clients and ethical/legal considerations
Loyalty discounts – 30% off any other Health Writer Hub course
Global networking – connect with health writers from around the world
A supportive network of health writers – ask questions, and share advice
Opportunities to pitch for freelance work – when work is referred in the group
Immediate access – no need to wait until the course commences to start participating

Your teacher

Who I am, and why I want to help you succeed.

Hi – I’m Michelle Guillemard, creator of Health Writer Hub (you can read more about Health Writer Hub and me here). Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching hundreds of students about health writing.

Health Writer Hub has one mission: enhance the quality of health content to create better health outcomes and change lives. That’s the underlying principle of all my health writing courses.

Health & medical copywriting is about inspiring action. As a copywriter, your job is to encourage the intended response with credible, compliant and responsible content. Ultimately, conversion is the skill – and power – of effective copywriting. But conversion isn’t just about sales – it’s about education, inspiration, empowerment and even behaviour change.

As a health writer, you are a public health advocate. Your words have the power to inspire positive action in your readers. Your content can help people improve their health literacy skills, so they can make informed choices about their health.

If you want to be an authentic, responsible and creative health copywriter, then Principles Of Health & Medical Copywriting is the course for you.

I have not looked back … Michelle’s advice and support are fabulous

“Michelle is friendly and approachable and her advice and support are fabulous for guiding me through the early phases of business set-up and delivery. Michelle shares her business insights openly, understands my needs well and is readily available to talk whenever I need further advice. I highly recommend Michelle to anyone seeking a confident entry into the medical and health writing field.”

Kara Gilbert | KMG Communications

Frequently asked questions

What you need to know.

How much time do I need to set aside?

I recommend that each week, you allow around 4-8 hours for listening to the podcasts and reviewing all of the course materials. The amount of time you spend completing your writing task is a personal decision – most students spend several hours on each task, while others can complete their task in just a couple of hours – or need more time. As all students are at different stages with their writing and have different skill sets, there is no one way to go about it.

Why should I take your medical copywriting course?

It’s true you can find a lot of free writing advice online (and on my blog in particular). But here’s the difference. When you take one of my writing courses, you have my full support. You have a teacher. And, that’s because I don’t feel I can teach you how to improve your writing skills unless you get feedback. I believe the three most important steps to take to improve your writing are reading, practice and feedback. You can (and should) do the first two on your own, but the third? That’s where I come in. And, that’s why ALL my courses include my feedback and support. I don’t just send you the materials. When you take one of my courses, I spend a lot of time reading your tasks and giving you practical steps to help you become the best health & medical copywriter you can be.

How do I know if medical copywriting is for me?

You hate the notion of selling something. You have a problem with the idea of working in marketing. Is copywriting really for you? If you are keen to learn how to write creatively to achieve outcomes and are a results-driven writer who thrives on inventing exciting offers that help to change lives, then medical copywriting is for you. Remember, there are different skill sets within medical copywriting. It’s not JUST about selling. Nor do you have to be an abstract creative who spends their days working on complicated, smart advertising concepts. Blogging and even article writing are forms of copywriting. Feel free to email me if you’re still unsure, and we can have a chat about it.

Does this course teach me how to set up a medical copywriting business, too?

This course is primarily designed to teach you about the medical copywriting field and techniques. While we discuss aspects of running a freelance business, it’s not a freelance copywriting course. If you’re interested in learning how to set up a freelance writing business, take a look at the How To Become A Freelance Health Writer package.

Why aren't the lessons live?

People from all over the world take Health Writer Hub’s courses, so it’s very hard to find a time that suits everyone involved. The materials are ready for you to view at a time that suits you – enabling you to get the most out of your learning experience. We also have a student-only forum where you can post questions and answers and interact with the other students taking the course at the time. And, of course, you have unlimited email access to me for the duration of the course – and for as long as you like afterwards.

What is your guarantee/refund policy?

It’s critical to me that everyone who signs up for Principles Of Medical Copywriting gets the most out of their course. I want you to be satisfied that the course content is exactly as described on this page, and I very much care about providing a high-quality, valuable course for all students. If you are not happy with the course content after you receive the first lesson, I encourage you to let me know so we can discuss your concerns together. If we can’t come to an agreement, you may be eligible for a refund (less $80 administration fee). This guarantee is valid for 5 days after your course commencement date and all refunds are discretionary as determined by me. (Please note: refunds do not apply if you simply change your mind.)

Can I start the course before or after the official start date?

Many of my students have schedules which can make it difficult to commit – and, that’s why I’m very flexible with all my courses. You can absolutely start earlier, or later, as a lot of the learning is self-directed. If you would like to register and have early access to the course, please email me.

How do I access the course?

This course is conducted online, so you will need a laptop and an internet connection – as well as a PDF reader. You are welcome to download the course materials to your desktop to read them offline at a later date.

How long will I have access for?

You can access all course materials for as long as you need to. If you still need access after the 4-week course period, you will be able to continue to use the materials.

Do I only have one week to review the weekly lessons?

You have as long as you like. Many students like to take their time with the materials. The choice is yours, and rest assured I’m not going anywhere – once you sign up for the course, you will have my support whenever you need it.

How is this course different to other copywriting courses?

Principles Of Health & Medical Copywriting is designed for writers who are specifically interested in health & medical copywriting as opposed to copywriting in general. All of the information in the course is designed for writers who intend to write about healthcare and medical topics, and it’s applicable to the medical writing industry.

How often is the course material updated?

The course material is reviewed and updated throughout the year. All students are surveyed after they have completed the course and their suggestions are incorporated. Additionally, I am constantly keeping up to date with new industry trends and looking for the latest advice to include – helping to ensure the content is always as relevant and current as possible.

Can I still take the course if I’m American/ English/ Australian/ European?

I often get students contacting me and asking this question! I have designed the course to be relevant for any English-speaking writer, anywhere. I don’t believe that your location should limit your freelance health writing opportunities, and everything that is taught in this course is applicable at a global level. We’ve had students from Australia, America, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the UK take this and other Health Writer Hub courses.

Do you offer CPD points or accreditation?

When you successfully complete the course, meaning you’ve reviewed the modules and completed your assignments, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. You can use this to demonstrate hours for self-assessed CPD. If you’d like to find out more or discuss your accreditation requirements, please contact me here.

Do you offer loyalty discounts?

I do indeed! All students who take one of my courses will receive a voucher for 30% off any of my other courses. You can get in touch with me if you have any questions about this.

Do you offer a payment plan?

In some circumstances I can offer a monthly payment plan. Please contact me to discuss your requirements.

Do you offer a student discount?

Yes – students are eligible for a discount. Please contact me to discuss your requirements.

What’s the difference between health copywriting and medical copywriting?

For the purposes of this course, nothing! Generally speaking, for some people there is no difference between the terms ‘health’ and medical’ while others tend to equate ‘health’ writing with consumer writing and ‘medical’ writing with academic and scientific writing. My course is relevant for all styles of copywriting within the healthcare niche.

What feedback do I get?

The Premium course includes personalised feedback on your writing tasks. You’ll receive a detailed critique of each task with actionable tips for improvement. This feedback is just between us. You’ll get a list of techniques to work on based on any issues or areas for improvement I identify while marking your tasks. The feedback is extremely beneficial if you’re looking for practical tips to help you improve your writing skills.

Can you be a referee for me?

I sometimes act as referees for students who I have worked closely with. I am more than happy to discuss how this works with you after you have completed your course. For me to act as your referee, we will need to have developed a close working relationship, Also, I need to feel comfortable I know you well enough to provide honest, accurate and valuable insight into your writing and working habits. Any decisions will made on a case-by-case basis. Please contact me if you’d like to know more about how this works.

I have a question – how can I contact you?

I welcome questions and enquiries and am happy to hear from you. Please contact me via the contact form here.

Principles of Health & Medical Copywriting Course