Medical secretaries and administrative assistants

Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology 

and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling 

appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, 

reports, and correspondence.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, 

interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2023, verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 

54.6 percent of medical secretaries and administrative assistants, and were required not constantly, but more than once 

per hour for 43.8 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of medical secretaries and administrative assistants with cognitive 

and mental requirements, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Pace: Pause control 52.5 47.5

Interaction with general public >99.5 <0.5

Working around crowds <0.5 >99.5

Telework 2.3 97.7

Work review: Supervising others 3.8 96.2

Work review: Presence of supervisor 85.0 15.0

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal 

education required, 

credentials necessary, on-thejob training, and prior work 

experience necessary for 

average performance in jobs.

In 2023, credentials were 

required for 8.5 percent of 

medical secretaries and 

administrative assistants. 

Prior work experience was 

required for 53.8 percent and 

on-the-job training was 

required for 91.7 percent.

A high school diploma was 

required for 87.8 percent of 

medical secretaries and 

administrative assistants.
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Environmental conditions

The various tangible or concrete hazards or 

difficulties that are in the vicinity of where jobs’ 

critical tasks are performed.

In 2023, greater than 99.5 percent of medical 

secretaries and administrative assistants were not 

exposed to extreme cold, and greater than 99.5 

percent were not exposed to extreme heat. 

Wetness was not present for 90.7 percent, 

greater than 99.5 percent were not exposed to 

heavy vibrations, and greater than 95 percent 

were not exposed to the outdoors.

Physical demands

Refer to the physical activities required to 

perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in 

some cases, duration of these activities are 

published.

In 2023, keyboarding was required for greater 

than 99.5 percent of medical secretaries and 

administrative assistants and was not required 

for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 

percent of workers, keyboarding was seldom 

performed, for 23.7 percent keyboarding 

occurred occasionally, 71.9 percent frequently, 

and for 4.4 percent keyboarding occurred 

constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required 

for 16.9 percent of medical secretaries and 

administrative assistants and was not required 

for 83.1 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 79.8 percent of medical secretaries and 

administrative assistants. On average, workers spent 86.1 percent of the workday sitting and 13.9 percent of the 

workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of medical secretaries and administrative assistants with physical 

demands, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Choice of sitting or standing 79.8 20.2

Driving 2.5 97.5

Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs 4.6 95.4

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey