Nucleus Prep
BlogExperiences and extracurriculars

What counts as clinical experience?

If you're interacting directly with patients in a healthcare setting, it counts. Common examples include working as a scribe, medical assistant, CNA, EMT, ED tech, phlebotomist, hospice volunteer, or a patient-facing hospital volunteer role.

What usually doesn't count as clinical experience: shadowing (that's pure observation, tracked separately), stocking medical supplies, or front-desk administrative work with no direct patient contact. Some applicants split "paid clinical" and "volunteer clinical" as separate entries in AMCAS, which is completely fine and often clearer for the reader.

Stats: 2025–2026 AAMC/AACOM cycle data. Always verify school-specific numbers in the MSAR. Nucleus Prep doesn’t guarantee scores or acceptances.

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