How to Become A Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
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Scientists, researchers, and doctors make discoveries about drugs, surgical procedures, behavioral therapies, or medical devices through their work in laboratories and healthcare settings. This is only the beginning of the journey for pharmaceuticals, therapies, and devices, as bringing the findings from the lab to the street requires a vigorous scientific process known as a clinical trial. Clinical research associates (CRAs) are the professionals responsible for ensuring that clinical trials move forward following established guidelines and regulations for ethics, safety, and reporting.
Clinical research associates, also known as “monitors,” work on behalf of sponsors funding clinical trials for the new or existing drug, device, surgery, or behavioral intervention. Working directly for the sponsor or through a contract research organization, the main task of a CRA is to monitor the progress of an ongoing clinical trial.
Through in-person site visits or remote monitoring systems, a CRA serves as the central point of contact between a sponsor and testing sites; ensures that the trial is being administered per approved protocols; verifies that the clinical trial is being conducted ethically at all sites; and confirms the validity and accuracy of all data being collected and reported at test sites.
In addition to reading, interpreting, and understanding medical technology, clinical research associates must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. The ability to understand best clinical practices, design protocols, and data standards requires CRAs to have outstanding attention to detail, analytical skills, and the capacity to deliver constructive feedback to participating research sites on their performance.
Although not a requirement, many CRAs travel between multiple research sites for study oversight, which may require a valid driver’s license, the physical capacity to travel, and/or willingness to fly or drive regularly.
This detailed guide explores the education and credentials required to become a clinical research associate (CRA).
Steps to Become a Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
The pathways to becoming a clinical research associate are numerous and available to anyone with a high school diploma or higher. While formal education is not technically required to enter the field, having a bachelor’s degree or higher can make potential candidates much more competitive.
Certification in the field is also not required, but obtaining certification from the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) or the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) can result in more opportunities and even more competitive salaries.
Finally, all aspiring CRAs are advised to check out the International Conference on Harmonisation’s (ICH) guidelines for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) to get a feel for the professional expectations and responsibilities.
Here is how to become a CRA depending on one’s level of education. Please note that in the United States, there are two major certification bodies for CRAs: the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). Each pathway includes the eligibility requirements to pursue credentialing through either of these entities.
PATH 1: Earn a High School Diploma and Gain Experience
Perhaps the most strenuous route to this career is becoming a certified CRA with a high school diploma and between 3,000 and 3,500 hours of qualifying work experience (depending on the certification entity).
These candidates often start out in support positions assisting a more experienced or certified CRA with mundane tasks. An entry-level worker can earn increased responsibilities through a demonstrated capacity to learn the regulations, protocols, and ethical considerations. To qualify for the following CRA certification exams, high school graduates must:
SOCRA Category 1
- Complete two full-time years of CRA work within five years, or 3,500 hours of part-time work
ACRP CCRA (Certified Clinical Research Associate)
- Complete 3,000 hours performing essential duties
- Submit a resume documenting and demonstrating job performance
Please note that in some cases, additional education can be used to substitute for work experience hours. Please see credentialing websites for details.
PATH 2: Earn an Associate Degree and Gain Experience
Depending on the program, an associate’s degree of applied science (AAS) in clinical research can be a standalone degree or a stepping-stone to a bachelor’s or master’s. Licensed vocational or practical nurse (LVN or LPN) programs are designed specifically for practical, job-ready skills and may qualify aspiring CRAs for the ACRP certification.
Similar to the path taken by those with a high school diploma, having an associate degree, LPN, or LVN can open the door to some entry-level jobs in the industry. At this level, some prospective CRAs assist more experienced CRAs or some engage independently in entry-level tasks related to study monitoring. Those working as CRAs with an associate’s degree, LPN, or LVN can qualify for certification after working a certain number of hours in the field.
To qualify for the following CRA certification exams, associate degree graduates must:
SOCRA Category 2
- Hold a “clinical research” degree
- Complete one full-time year as a CRA or 1,750 hours part-time
ACRP Option 2 (Also for LVN, LPN)
- Hold a “clinical research degree” or complete 1,500 hours performing essential duties
- Submit a resume documenting and demonstrating job performance
Please note that in some cases, additional education can be used to substitute for work experience hours. Please see credentialing websites for details.
PATH 3: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree and Gain Experience
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.
Those interested in becoming a CRA can study nursing, health sciences, biological sciences, clinical research, clinical research administration, clinical research management, medical technology, or life sciences, among many other subjects. Because many entry-level positions are looking for those with previous work in the field, those earning a BS should seek internships, part-time work, and/or fellowships involving participation in research, if possible.
To qualify for the following CRA certification exams, bachelor’s degree graduates must:
SOCRA Category 3
- Hold a “clinical research” undergraduate degree
- Complete one full-time year as a CRA or 1,750 hours part-time
ACRP Options 1 & 2
- Complete 3,000 hours performing essential job duties or 1,500 hours of equivalent work experience requirements through ACRP certifications or approved clinical research degree programs accredited by the Council for Higher Education
- Submit a resume documenting and demonstrating job performance
Please note that in some cases, additional education can be used to substitute for work experience hours. Please see credentialing websites for details.
PATH 4: Earn a Master’s Degree for Opportunities in Management
A master’s program in clinical research is generally designed for those already working as CRAs to expand their skills or to advance into management or supervisory roles within the field. However, for those with non-health science bachelor’s degrees who want to become CRAs, seeking a master’s of science in clinical research or a master’s of science in clinical research management could be a pathway to breaking into the field.
Because many of these programs are offered online, earning a degree is possible for even those students who need full flexibility of schedule to complete the degree. Although requirements for admission into master’s programs vary, those looking to gain admission into a master’s of science for clinical research commonly need the following:
- A bachelor’s degree
- GRE scores
- Official transcripts demonstrating specific coursework in science
- A statement of purpose
- Letters of Recommendation or Reference
- A resume or CV
- An application fee
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only)
Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Degree Programs
There is a range of formalized training programs that prepare professionals for this key role in ensuring the safe, and ethical development of medical technologies. Below you will find examples of programs at a range of educational levels available to those interested in a career as a CRA.
Durham tech, located in Durham, North Carolina, offers a 71-credit hybrid on-campus and online clinical trials research associate (CTRA) associate of applied science (AAS) program. Durham’s CTRA AAS prepares graduates to work on any side of clinical research in an assistant’s role.
While most programs require the student to attend on-campus courses, there are several courses that are offered completely online. The program takes 20 to 21 months and includes coursework in research site management; clinical research management; research protocol design; an introduction to ethics; anatomy and physiology; an introduction to clinical data; pathophysiology; and clinical research terminology.
Graduates of the program may be eligible to sit for national certification examinations and will be prepared for opportunities at medical centers, pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, research facilities, clinics, physicians’ offices, and device companies.
- Location: Durham, NC
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 20 to 21 months
- Estimated Tuition: $5,396
Washington University in St.Louis University College – BS, MS, Certificates
Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, has various degree options for CRAs at all stages of their career to work as monitors. Students can enhance their current skills and knowledge in clinical research management, as well as gain a deep mastery regarding how to best move clinical research forward in an ethical, compliant, and safe way.
Those with at least six units of transferable coursework qualify to apply to the 120-credit-hour bachelor of science in clinical research management to start their careers. Anyone with any educational background can pursue University College’s 21-credit undergraduate certificate in clinical research management to enhance career skills or make a resume more competitive.
Students who already have a BA or BS also have options at Washington University. Experienced professionals in the clinical research field who wish to seek formalized training can earn a 21-credit advanced certificate in clinical research management or a 30-credit master of science (MS) in clinical research management. Those with a non-healthcare bachelor’s degree who wish to become high-level CRAs can up their skills and knowledge by choosing the combined bachelor’s and master’s degree options.
Although the coursework in each program varies to suit the level of education, themes across all the programs include the fundamentals of clinical research management; research ethics and regulatory affairs; compliance, legal and regulatory issues; and data and information management in health sciences.
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: BS (up to 48 months); certificate (12 months); MS (24 months)
- Estimated Tuition: Undergraduate courses ($695 to 895 per credit); Graduate courses ($665 to 995 per credit)
Barnett International – Online Seminar
Designed for CRAs with two years of experience or less, this online clinical research associate onboarding program by Barnett International prepares entry-level employees to monitor clinical trials at high levels appropriate to industry standards.
Over ten weeks of synchronous online coursework lasting three hours per week, participants will learn topics including informed consent, investigational product accountability, safety definitions and reporting requirements, and regulatory compliance and quality assurance: audits and inspections. Participants receive 30 hours (3.0 CEUs) of continuing education credits.
- Location: Needham, MA
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
- Expected Time to Completion: Ten weeks
- Estimated Tuition: By Early Bird Deadline ($1,795); After Early Bird Deadline ($1,995); June 10 is the early bird deadline
Continuing Education for Clinical Research Associates (CRAs)
Both CRA certification bodies require continuing education to maintain active certification status.
SOCRA requires recertification every three years. It calls for 45 hours of CE to be completed over the course of the first three years beyond passing the initial test. Twenty-two CE units must be related to clinical research; the remainder can be in the professional or therapeutic area in which one works or specializes. In addition, those looking to maintain or renew certification must complete a “recertification continuing competence learning module.”
The ACRP expects certified CRAs to engage in continuing education (CE) and continuing involvement (CI) to maintain certifications. Continuing education should include coursework in research and healthcare, and continuing involvement requires candidates to engage in activities such as authorship, participating in investigator meetings, or working as a peer reviewer, among other opportunities. Notably, ACRP utilizes an ongoing point system for professionals to maintain their certifications.
CRA Career and Salary
Clinical trials and the objectivity they bring to advances in treatment are extremely important. In an increasingly globalized society, diseases spread across borders, and in an age of increased antibiotic resistance, new ways to fight bacteria will be needed. Furthermore, with an aging U.S. population comes increased rates of chronic conditions and the subsequent reliance on pharmaceuticals to improve people’s quality of life.
It’s not surprising that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022) predicted a 7 percent increase in openings for medical and clinical laboratory technicians between 2021 and 2031, much more than the average growth anticipated across all U.S. occupations during that same decade (5 percent). As far as the salaries are concerned, here are the salary percentiles for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in the US (BLS May 2022):
| United States | |
|---|---|
| Number of professionals employed | 333,600 |
| Annual mean wage | $59,130 |
| 10th percentile | $35,220 |
| 25th percentile | $40,440 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,380 |
| 75th percentile | $74,920 |
| 90th percentile | $84,670 |
Lastly, while the BLS doesn’t track salaries for CRAs, PayScale.com (June 2023)—a site that relies on self-reported data—found that the median annual salary for a CRA was $72,393. Among the 1,391 CRAs reporting their annual salaries, Payscale found these percentiles:
- 10th percentile: $48,000
- 50th percentile (median): $72,393
- 90th percentile: $101,000
Specialized skills in CRA that increased salaries included medical devices (37 percent pay increase over average), team leadership (35 percent), and writing procedures & documentation (20 percent).
Years of experience, predictably, also have an impact on salary. Entry-level CRAs earn 15 percent below the average, while experienced CRAs (ten to 19 years) earn 16 percent above the average and late-career CRAs (20+ years) earn 25 percent above the average.
It is important to note that these figures also vary based on the data source. For illustration, Indeed.com (June 2023) found an average annual salary of $80,957 among United States clinical research associates.
