Clinical Instructor vs. Assistant Professor: What Are the Differences?

A career in academia can be both rewarding and challenging. Two common roles in higher education are that of a clinical instructor and an assistant professor. Though these positions share some similarities, there are several key differences between them.

In this article, we discuss the differences between a clinical instructor and an assistant professor, and we provide additional academic professions you may be interested in pursuing.

What is a Clinical Instructor?

Clinical Instructors are typically professors who teach at a medical school, though they may also teach at a nursing school or other health sciences institution. They typically have a terminal degree in their field, such as an MD or PhD. Clinical Instructors typically teach students who are in their clinical years, which are the years in which students gain hands-on experience in patient care. Clinical Instructors may also conduct research and publish their findings in medical journals. In addition to their teaching and research duties, Clinical Instructors may also see patients in their own clinical practice.

What is an Assistant Professor?

Assistant Professors typically teach undergraduate and graduate level courses at colleges and universities. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books in their field of expertise. In addition to their teaching and research duties, Assistant Professors may also be responsible for advising students, serving on departmental committees and participating in professional development activities. Some Assistant Professors may also have administrative responsibilities such as coordinating research projects or developing curriculum.

Clinical Instructor vs. Assistant Professor

Here are the main differences between a clinical instructor and an assistant professor.

Job Duties

Clinical instructors and assistant professors share some of the same job duties, including creating lesson plans, leading class discussions and assigning coursework. However, an assistant professor typically has more responsibilities than a clinical instructor because they also supervise student research projects and independent studies. In addition, an assistant professor may hire undergraduate and graduate students as research assistants to help them with their classes and independent studies.

A clinical instructor’s main job is to teach medical students how to perform patient examinations and diagnose illnesses. They do this by working closely with the medical students on actual patients in hospitals and clinics. A clinical instructor may have less authority over the medical students than an assistant professor, but they can still provide important feedback about the students’ work.

Job Requirements

Clinical instructors typically need a master’s degree in their field, though some may have a doctorate. They also must be licensed to practice in their state and have several years of experience working in their chosen field. Many clinical instructors are certified by professional organizations, such as the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy or the American Nurses Association.

Assistant professors usually need a doctorate in their field, although some may only hold a master’s degree. They must also have several years of experience working in their chosen field. Assistant professors typically complete postdoctoral fellowships or research positions before moving into teaching roles. Some assistant professors are also certified by professional organizations, such as the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy or the American Nurses Association.

Work Environment

Clinical instructors and assistant professors work in different environments. Assistant professors typically work in a traditional classroom setting, where they instruct students on course material and help them understand concepts. They may also travel to other locations to give lectures or attend conferences to share their research with colleagues.

Clinical instructors often work in clinical settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes or rehabilitation centers. They may spend most of their time working directly with patients, helping them learn new skills or recover from illness or injury. Clinical instructors may also teach classes at local community colleges or adult education programs.

Skills

Both clinical instructors and assistant professors need to have excellent communication skills. This is important because they both work with students and need to be able to effectively convey information. Additionally, both positions require excellent organizational skills in order to keep track of students’ progress, create lesson plans and manage their time.

Clinical instructors need to have strong teaching skills in order to effectively convey information to students. They also need to be able to assess student performance and give feedback. Additionally, clinical instructors need to be able to work well under pressure as they often have to deal with last minute changes or emergencies. Assistant professors also need to have strong teaching skills, but they additionally need to be able to conduct research and write papers. Additionally, assistant professors need to be able to work independently as they often have more autonomy than clinical instructors.

Salary

Clinical instructors can earn an average salary of $80,334 per year, while assistant professors can earn an average salary of $77,042 per year. Both of these average salaries may vary depending on the size of the company at which you work, location of your job and the level of experience you have prior to pursuing either position.