How do I get a job in clinical research?
John Johnson
Updated on April 01, 2026
A clinical research job will often require education to degree level in a related subject. However there are some opportunities for school leavers and apprenticeship programs may be available in some countries which allow people to study for degrees or equivalents and gain work experience at the same time.
Is clinical research associate a good career?
If you have an interest in the medical industry but don’t want to work with patients directly, a career as a clinical research associate may be ideal for you. With a strong earning potential and the ability to impact millions of lives by working on research trials, this job can be extremely fulfilling.
How do I get my first job in clinical research?
As a minimum, you will typically need a bachelor’s degree in life sciences, nursing, biotechnology, or a relevant clinical science to be eligible to work in the clinical research sector. These degrees will provide the foundation you need to understand the work that is conducted.
Are clinical research Associates in demand?
Demand is Soaring in this Field Demand is soaring for these skilled workers and according to a paper by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, more than 10,000 Clinical Research Associate positions are vacant and they are not going to be filled soon.
How do I get a CRA job with no experience?
CRA Career & Jobs says, “If you don’t have any monitoring experience, you will increase your chances to get an entry-level CRA position if you take certain courses. If you have spent a couple of weeks, or preferably months, learning GCP you will meet the basic requirements to begin training as a CRA.”
How do I become a CRA with no experience?
Therefore to get hired as a CRA is very difficult without any previous experience. You will usually need around 2 years of monitoring experience, often as a clinical trials administrator (CTA) or clinical project assistant (CPA), before you will be considered for a CRA job.
What are the highest paying jobs in clinical research?
Highest Paying Jobs in Clinical Research | Career
- 1) Clinical Research Coordinator:
- 2) Clinical Research Associate.
- 3) Research Scientist :
What is the best CRO to work for?
Top 10 Contract Research Organisations (CROs) to Watch in 2019
- PPD. Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) is a leading CRO that operates in 48 countries across the globe.
- Clintec.
- PRA Health Sciences.
- ICON.
- IQVIA.
- PSI.
- Parexel.
- Covance.
How do I become a research associate?
The role usually requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics, business, or finance, as well as facility with numbers and the ability to distill large amounts of data and communicate it effectively to others. Other skills would come into play as the individual advances in the role of research associate.
Do you need a degree to be a CRA?
Most entry-level clinical research associate positions require candidates to have a bachelor’s of science (BS) in a health-related field from an accredited four-year university. In some cases, programs are designed to add practical hours needed to qualify for certification tests.
How to get a job as a clinical research associate ( CRA )?
You will usually need around 2 years of monitoring experience, often as a clinical trials administrator (CTA) or clinical project assistant (CPA), before you will be considered for a CRA job. How do I get clinical monitoring experience?
Can you get a job in clinical research?
Getting your first job in clinical research can be challenging, and many graduates at the start of their clinical research career can become frustrated by the ‘catch 22’ scenario: they can’t find work because of a lack of experience and they can’t get experience because they can’t find work.
Can a clinical research associate ( CRA ) career at IQVIA?
IQVIA empowers you to drive your own path within the organization. As no person’s route is the same and the clinical research landscape is forever changing, you are encouraged to continually seek career growth opportunities and to align your interests with your career goals.
What can you do as a clinical research coordinator?
Many current clinical research professionals, which includes CRAs, started their careers as a clinical research coordinator (CRC) at a trial site. Hospitals and clinics are looking for CRCs to enroll clinical trial patients, perform medical chart review or perform tasks such as data entry in clinical databases.