What You Need to Know to Become a Clinical Research Associate

A clinical research associate (CRA) is a healthcare or life sciences professional who oversees clinical trials on behalf of pharmaceutical companies, medical research institutes and government agencies.

This may include ensuring protocol compliance, data management, liaising between the sponsor and clinical site, monitoring patient safety, preparing for inspection or audits and training site staff.

CRAs are sometimes called clinical monitors or trial monitors. A key part of the job is to monitor Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines such as the ones developed by the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Human Use (ICH).

CRAs tend to be classified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as clinical and medical informaticians.

Most salaries range between $59,743 and $75,965, according to Salary.com, and the average salary for a CRA in the United States as of October 2024 was $67,966.

Payscale.com cites a broader range, listing an average salary of $75,391 with a low of around $50,000 and a high of around $105,000.

Payscale also noted three ways to increase pay: move to a new employer that pays higher for your skills, gain advanced degrees and get management experience.

BioSpace 2024 salary report data lists the average clinical research associate salary at $84,673.

The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) offers a certification exam to become a certified clinical research associate (CCRA). It is not a requirement to be CCRA certified to work as a CRA, but it does give one an advantage.

According to the ACRP, CRA certification eligibility includes documentation that one has worked independently of the investigative staff conducting research at a site or institution.

This means the employee does not report to the primary investigator or site manager and doesn’t have the ability to otherwise change or manipulate clinical trial data. These employees work on behalf of the sponsor, which is generally a pharmaceutical or device company, a granting organization, a physician or a university department.

CCRA certification eligibility also includes a lengthy list of duties that the applicant must have performed for a cumulative 3,000 hours. Or, the applicant can have an active ACRP certification and have a cumulative 1,500 hours of work experience.

To some, the CCRA certification seems like a Catch-22—to be certified, you need to already have the job, and to get the job, you need to be certified. However, there are ways to work with the system.

Short of a rather circular line of thinking—getting a job as a CRA to get experience as a CRA—there are educational courses. Numerous courses are online, but be careful. There are a lot of scams out there.

In that respect, it would be a good idea before taking a course to make sure it is recommended by ACRP or the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA).

Having a life sciences or medical degree is one the strongest educational backgrounds one can have for this position. Keeping in mind that ICH-GCP is the heart of being a CRA, any and all coursework on Good Clinical Practice as outlined by the ICH is also helpful.

Here are a few ideas—or strategies—that might shorten the time to employment.

Instead of attempting to jump right in, there are clinical research coordinator (CRC) and clinical trial assistant (CTA) jobs available that may be beneficial for those who are not ready to become a CRA right away.

Very broadly speaking, CRAs work for pharmaceutical companies or contract research organizations (CROs). A CRO handles much of the clinical trial work for biopharma companies, running the clinical trials and providing statistical analysis and resources.

Many people looking for CRA jobs may check the big companies first, ones like Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer. However, smaller biopharma companies, hospitals and even doctors’ offices may have a need for CRAs, and they will likely have less applicants for each role.

Focus on coursework that falls under the GCP guidelines. This could be the best route for those who lack the necessary experience for an entry-level CRA position.

Admittedly, this seems counterintuitive. And by and large, big companies are going to post jobs and use recruiters. Smaller companies, though, may be more open to “spontaneous” applications.

Sending a cover letter to some companies that aren’t actively recruiting CRAs and clearly stating your intent could be a great, albeit unconventional, way to get a foot in the door.

All told, being a clinical research associate can be a fascinating, well-paying job with numerous opportunities. If you’re ready to make the switch and become a CRA, know that you’ll be making a positive difference not only for yourself but in the lives of the people and patients you serve.

Interested in more career insights? Subscribe to Career Insider to receive our quarterly life sciences job market reports, career advice and more.