Clinical Documentation Specialist Jobs
Clinical Documentation Specialist jobs are open across hospitals, health systems, physician groups, and long-term care facilities, at every level from entry-level to senior and lead, with specializations in inpatient coding, outpatient documentation, and clinical documentation improvement. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 225+ Clinical Documentation Specialist jobs
Job Description
The Clinical Documentation Specialist (CDS) II is a more experienced CDS, spending at least 75% of their time on independent reviews without supervision, creating queries, and facilitating their follow-up. Level 2 specialists create trend reports to provide insights into documentation practices and engage directly with physicians to manage queries. They spend 25% of their time mentoring the CDS I and providing feedback to leadership.Qualifications
Education- High School Diploma/GED - minimum
- Assoc. Degree/College Diploma Clinical Degree – Nursing, Health Information or Foreign Trained Medical graduate. - preferred
Experience
- 2 years Performing CDI reviews within an acute care facility or bedside experience - minimum
- 3 years Utilization review, coding or case management experience - preferred
Licenses and Certifications
- - Upon Hire minimum -OR- Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS)
- RN State License - Upon Hire minimum -OR- (Does not need to be CA)
- Registerd Health Info Admin - Upon Hire minimum -OR- (RHIA)
- - Upon Hire minimum -OR- Clinical Documentation Integrity Practitioner (CDIP)
Diversity and Inclusion at Cedars-Sinai
We are caretakers and innovators committed to the pursuit of equitable healthcare. But health equity is not possible without representation. Our commitment to diversity goes beyond demographics or checking boxes. Our people must reflect the diverse identities, experiences and geographies of the communities and patients we serve – because that’s what our patients, colleagues and communities deserve Quality Care and Research—For All, By All.
Our compensation philosophy
We offer a competitive compensation package for our employees. The base pay range shown generally applies to the greater Los Angeles area and may vary based on work location. Our range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including knowledge/skills: relevant experience and training, education/certifications/licensure; and other business and organizational factors. The base pay range does not include any incentive payments that may be applicable to a role. Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination Provision (PDF) .
Cedars-Sinai is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Cedars-Sinai does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of the race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics or any genetic information), marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age (40 or older), military and/or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal or state law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at Applicant_Accommodation@cshs.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
Cedars-Sinai will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
At Cedars-Sinai, we are dedicated to the safety, health and wellbeing of our patients and employees. This includes protecting our patients from communicable diseases, such as influenza (flu). For this reason, we require that all new employees receive a flu vaccine based on the seasonal availability of flu vaccine (typically during September through April each year) as a condition of employment, and annually thereafter as a condition of continued employment, subject to medical exemption or religious accommodation. For the same reason, you may also be required to receive other vaccines as a condition of employment. Cedars-Sinai reserves the right to make modifications to its required list of vaccines as required by law and/or policy.
Job Description
The Clinical Documentation Specialist (CDS) II is a more experienced CDS, spending at least 75% of their time on independent reviews without supervision, creating queries, and facilitating their follow-up. Level 2 specialists create trend reports to provide insights into documentation practices and engage directly with physicians to manage queries. They spend 25% of their time mentoring the CDS I and providing feedback to leadership.Qualifications
Education- High School Diploma/GED - minimum
- Assoc. Degree/College Diploma Clinical Degree – Nursing, Health Information or Foreign Trained Medical graduate. - preferred
Experience
- 2 years Performing CDI reviews within an acute care facility or bedside experience - minimum
- 3 years Utilization review, coding or case management experience - preferred
Licenses and Certifications
- - Upon Hire minimum -OR- Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS)
- RN State License - Upon Hire minimum -OR- (Does not need to be CA)
- Registerd Health Info Admin - Upon Hire minimum -OR- (RHIA)
- - Upon Hire minimum -OR- Clinical Documentation Integrity Practitioner (CDIP)
Diversity and Inclusion at Cedars-Sinai
We are caretakers and innovators committed to the pursuit of equitable healthcare. But health equity is not possible without representation. Our commitment to diversity goes beyond demographics or checking boxes. Our people must reflect the diverse identities, experiences and geographies of the communities and patients we serve – because that’s what our patients, colleagues and communities deserve Quality Care and Research—For All, By All.
Our compensation philosophy
We offer a competitive compensation package for our employees. The base pay range shown generally applies to the greater Los Angeles area and may vary based on work location. Our range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including knowledge/skills: relevant experience and training, education/certifications/licensure; and other business and organizational factors. The base pay range does not include any incentive payments that may be applicable to a role. Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination Provision (PDF) .
Cedars-Sinai is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Cedars-Sinai does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of the race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics or any genetic information), marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age (40 or older), military and/or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal or state law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at Applicant_Accommodation@cshs.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
Cedars-Sinai will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
At Cedars-Sinai, we are dedicated to the safety, health and wellbeing of our patients and employees. This includes protecting our patients from communicable diseases, such as influenza (flu). For this reason, we require that all new employees receive a flu vaccine based on the seasonal availability of flu vaccine (typically during September through April each year) as a condition of employment, and annually thereafter as a condition of continued employment, subject to medical exemption or religious accommodation. For the same reason, you may also be required to receive other vaccines as a condition of employment. Cedars-Sinai reserves the right to make modifications to its required list of vaccines as required by law and/or policy.
Clinical Documentation Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsClinical Documentation Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Optum12
- UASI5
- Mayo Clinic5
- Tenet Healthcare4
- Ensemble Health Partners4
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services26
- Insurance7
- Education6
- Human Resources4
- Staffing & Recruiting1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical documentation specialist jobs.
- RHIA, RHIT, CDIP, or CCDS certification strongly preferred or required
- Proficiency in ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS coding guidelines
- Experience reviewing clinical records and drafting compliant physician queries
- Familiarity with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Knowledge of MS-DRG methodology and reimbursement implications
- Minimum two to three years of clinical documentation or coding experience
Tips for Your Clinical Documentation Specialist Job Search
Highlight CDI certifications prominently on your resume
Recruiters scanning clinical documentation specialist resumes look for CDIP or CCDS credentials near the top. List your certifying body, credential, and year earned in a dedicated credentials section, not buried in a skills list.
Quantify your query resolution and denial impact
Generic phrases like 'improved documentation quality' won't stand out. Replace them with concrete outcomes: the volume of physician queries you managed weekly, your response rate, or how your work reduced claim denials for a specific DRG category.
Filter openings by care setting before applying
Acute care, outpatient, and long-term care facilities expect different clinical documentation specialist skill sets. Tailor your resume to each setting by leading with the most relevant ICD coding experience or specialty service lines you've supported.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists clinical documentation specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare to walk through a live query scenario
Many clinical documentation specialist interviews include a case review where you identify a documentation gap and draft a compliant physician query. Practice writing queries that are non-leading, specific to a DRG, and formatted to your target facility's preferred style.
Negotiate start date around credentialing timelines
If you're pursuing a CDIP or CCDS exam before your start date, disclose the timing upfront during offer discussions. Most health systems can accommodate a few weeks, and being transparent avoids gaps in your licensure status at onboarding.
Clinical Documentation Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most clinical documentation specialists?
The companies hiring the most clinical documentation specialists right now include Optum, UASI, and Mayo Clinic, with the largest share of openings in California, Florida, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Large academic medical centers and regional health systems consistently account for a significant portion of active openings.
How many clinical documentation specialist jobs are remote?
About 71% of clinical documentation specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting a shift that accelerated after health systems invested in telehealth infrastructure. Remote roles are most common in outpatient CDI, audit, and query management positions, while inpatient concurrent review roles more frequently require on-site presence.
How do you become a clinical documentation specialist?
Start by building a foundation in clinical coding or nursing, as most employers require direct patient care or health information management experience. Earn a coding credential such as an RHIT or RHIA through an accredited health information program, then pursue a specialized CDI credential like the CDIP from AHIMA or CCDS from ACDIS. Hands-on experience reviewing inpatient records and drafting physician queries before you apply strengthens your candidacy significantly.
Can you get hired as a clinical documentation specialist with little experience?
Yes, entry-level clinical documentation specialist roles do exist, particularly at facilities with formal CDI training programs. Candidates with a background in inpatient coding, nursing, or respiratory therapy often move into CDI with less than a year of dedicated CDI experience. Completing a CDI boot camp or obtaining your CDIP or CCDS while in a related role signals commitment and helps bridge the experience gap for hiring managers.
What does the clinical documentation specialist interview process look like?
Most clinical documentation specialist interview processes include an initial phone screen with HR, followed by a technical interview with the CDI manager or director covering coding guidelines, DRG methodology, and query writing standards. Candidates are often given a case-based exercise where they review a sample medical record and identify documentation gaps. A final panel interview with compliance or revenue cycle leadership is common at larger health systems.
Where can I find and apply to clinical documentation specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to clinical documentation specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, care setting preference, and location, then apply directly to each opening that fits.
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