To do a secretary course?

[Houseofvelour]

I'm currently a SAHM and DH and I have been talking about what my plan is when I go back to work.

I don't want to return to my old job in a bar and have been thinking more and more about being a medical secretary.
I have no experience in that field and have been looking at courses but people have told me it's not something I really need to do a course for and can just learn on the job.

So AIBU to want to pay for a full course on how to be a secretary?

You can’t learn to be a medical secretary on the job - it’s a highly skilled area.
Have a look at doing RSA courses in medical audio-transcription (to level 2 or 3) and medical terminology. The rest can be taught in house

Sorry should’ve added - do the course Most places won’t shortlist candidates without the AMSPAR diploma (but the qualifications I mentioned in previous post on their own might get you in)

Why medical secretary - wondering how you arrived at this job and what attracts you to it.

Have a look at doing the LCCI (London Chamber of Commerce & Industry) Private Secretary’s certificate. It’s quite a long time since I did it, but it covers a broad range of skills and the qualification is hopefully still well regarded.

However, no course can “train” you to be organised. You need to be able to think outside the box, put up with dickhead bosses (thankfully, I never had one, but witnessed awful stuff friends had to put up with).

These days, it’s less about typing speeds and shorthand, much more about logistics, organisation, managing industry-specific databases.

You won’t be able to just walk in to a medical role. Can be the same re finance and law. Lots of the good jobs now want people with degrees. It’s the usual thing - employers want people with experience, but you need to be given a chance to then show experience.

In today’s digital age, it’s much harder to switch off. Bosses often want continuous handholding.

I joined the temp agency which had the contract with the local hospital at the time (it changed periodically) and got a job as a receptionist. From there I went from being a temp to a permanent member of staff in the same role (band 2) then after a year I moved into a band 3, slightly more complicated admin role, then after a couple more years I moved into a medical secretary role in the same dept (band 4). I could touch type before I started the temp working which helped although some of the other temps who started at the same time couldn't. I would caution that it is a very stressful job and some consultants think it's ok to be absolutely vile to you. And that this is often accepted by everyone because "they have a very difficult job to do" I think it depends very much on which dept you end up working in. Most of the other med-secs kind of fell into the role as well.

OP define secretary please?
As for the course I did one many years ago and the minimum qualifications required to do it was 6 o'levels.
Have you taken career advice?

I've always wanted a role in the medical field as it's something I've always been drawn to. I'm most comfortable in people facing roles and am very organised.
Medical secretary just seems like something I would enjoy.
I've also considered a dental secretary. My DH is a dentist so tbh, this would probably make more sense so I'm open to either.

Thank you for everyone's advice on courses and telling me about the hard parts of the job. I really appreciate it.

I have 16 years experience of working as a medical secretary in Primary Care. We moved 18 months ago and it was too far to commute. I have been looking for a medical secretary job since. Admittedly Primary Care vacancies have dropped dramatically since Covid but my problem is that I don't have experience of the system that they use here. I had one interview where the Practice Manager literally did an eye role when I told her that I didn't have experience of the system they use (even though I had stated it on my CV which she obviously hadn't bothered to read).

My advice would be to try to get into either a Hospital or Primary Care role and work your way up. Hospitals often offer roles internally first then advertise externally so maybe consider reception/admin roles. I would still do the course while looking/working.

These days, it’s less about typing speeds and shorthand, much more about logistics, organisation, managing industry-specific databases.

This. Most bosses are computer literate enough to not need anyone to type for them and voice recognition software means shorthand is not relevant either. It’s more about general support, diary management and organisation..

I've got a secretary and she used to be a medical secretary. She's very good. She's a legal secretary now.

I wouldn't have a clue what her typing speed etc is but I do know she is really organised and extremely focused on helping me and the other three people she supports.

She worked in our Billing Dept before coming to me and she proved herself in there and then was taken on on a temporary basis as a "junior secretary".

About two months ago she was taken on on a more permanent basis but she had to interview for that - was a bit strange but we went with it.

I interview a lot of secretaries and a qualification on paper doesn't do it for me - I want to hear what you've done and how you did it.

I think the previous poster who started on a receptionist basis did it probably the best way for you - start at the bottom and show yourself being reliable and efficient etc and work up to it.

Medical secretary is not something to learn on the job.

I did the AMSPAR course at my local college many years ago. I was aged 29 and had 3 children all in different schools. The course was 2 years full time which was 9-3 to fit around school but there was a lot of homework too, essays to write and had to practise shorthand and medical terminology every evening and weekends.

It was not easy with the children and housework but I managed and passed with good grades and got a Band 4 job as a med sec at the hospital. However, I will warn you that the course was just the starting point and there is a LOT of learning to be done on the job too.

I LOVED my time on the course and made some good friends, but it is something that you have to really want to do and be interested in.

and to echo previous poster, med sec in a hospital is a stressful, busy job.

I'd do the course. A European computer driving license (ECDL) is also worth doing. I thought it sounded ridiculous given most people know how to use Microsoft but it seems to be the norm in public service jobs. My local council, two local universities, the fire service and police have all either put it as essential or desirable.