Becoming a medical administrative secretary: duties, skills and career prospects
Updated on 2026-10-31
What does the job involve?
The medical administrative secretary, often simply called a medical secretary, welcomes patients, manages healthcare professionals' diaries and handles the administrative follow-up of medical records. They are an essential link in the patient's care pathway.
The job combines organisation, people skills and social usefulness. It is for people who like helping others, know how to stay calm and value confidentiality.
Day-to-day duties
In practice, the main duties are:
- Welcoming, informing and directing patients, at the desk and on the phone
- Managing healthcare professionals' schedules and diaries
- Handling the patient's administrative and financial registration
- Passing on administrative and medical information internally and externally
- Handling the medical-administrative follow-up of patient records
- Transcribing, checking and formatting medical documents
- Providing information on access to medical records or preparing the requested items
Skills and qualities sought
- A welcoming manner, good listening skills and empathy
- Respect for professional secrecy and confidentiality
- Excellent spelling and grammar
- Knowledge of medical terminology and practice management software
- Calm, organisation and the ability to manage priorities
Where can you work?
Medical secretaries work wherever care is provided:
- medical, paramedical and dental practices, health centres
- hospitals and clinics
- medical laboratories and imaging centres
- medico-social facilities (care homes, specialised care facilities)
Career progression and further studies
The Medical Administrative Secretary professional qualification is at level 4, equivalent to the French baccalauréat. With experience, several paths are open:
- Supervisory roles: secretarial services coordinator
- Senior administrative roles: assistant to hospital managers
- Specialisation as a medical information technician (TIM)
- Hospital civil service competitive examinations to progress to senior administrative positions
Salary
There is no single salary for this job: pay depends on your experience, the size of the company, the region and the applicable collective agreement. For reliable, up-to-date benchmarks, check the France Travail job sheet (ROME M1609).
Train with Assistant Academy
Assistant Academy prepares you for the Medical Administrative Secretary professional qualification (level 4, equivalent to the French baccalauréat), a certification recognised by the French State. The programme lasts 400 hours and can be followed remotely, in enhanced remote mode or on site at our premises in Gennevilliers. The course is eligible for CPF funding (France's personal training account).
Still hesitating, or want to check that this job is right for you? We are here to support you in your plans.
- Discover the Medical Administrative Secretary programme
- Take the career guidance quiz
- Book an appointment with an adviser