How to become a clinical research associate (CRA)

What is the demand for clinical research associates? 

Driven by a rise in the number of healthcare facilities, increasing healthcare expenditure, advances in technological and research capabilities and an aging population, the need for new treatments has increased exponentially in recent times. With the clinical trials market being calculated to be $54.39 billion USD and is expected to almost double by 2024, more companies are hiring for new, clinical research jobs, maintaining a steady momentum in the years to come. 

How do I get the right experience for a clinical research associate job? 

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.  

You could start your career as a Clinical Trials Assistant (CTA), this role can help you gain the necessary experience to advance to a Clinical Research Assistant role.  

Do your research 

Larger life science companies are typically better equipped to hire inexperienced graduates and usually offer graduate assessment days and internships. Research who the top pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers and contract research organisations are. Make sure to check their career websites and social media for graduate programme opportunities. 

You could gain valuable experience by working on academic projects or within a healthcare body. However, later in your career, you may find yourself moving into a more junior position with a lower salary if you decide to move into a commercial environment. 

Tips for applying to clinical research jobs    

Even with all the relevant qualifications, skills and experience that you need to become a clinical research associate, there can still be challenges in landing your perfect clinical research job. For example, making sure you have an optimised CV can make all the difference. 

Be realistic 

Be realistic about the types of jobs that you can attain. If you don’t have industry experience, you are unlikely to be hired for anything above an entry-level role. Don't apply to senior CRA jobs or clinical project manager roles unless you have been working as a CRA for some time already and have the required experience. Save yourself time and effort by avoiding speculative applications. Instead, focus on a more targeted approach to roles that match your current experience and qualifications. 

Highlight your relevant experience 

If you are applying for a clinical research associate job, ensure that you read each job description carefully and highlight on your CV the relevant experience that matches the specific description. Your cover letter should be personalised to the specific company and describe why you want to work for them and which of your skills match the specific requirements of the role. Employers and life sciences recruitment consultants are looking for the most relevant applications and will readily discard those that have put little effort into personalising them. 

Make sure you network 

Remember, not every company will advertise all its vacancies so you should consider other approaches too. Networking for jobs in the life sciences industry  and uploading your CV to a database are two great ways that employers and recruiters with CRA jobs can find you. 

There are a variety of ways to progress your career in clinical research, with pharma, biotech and medical device companies and CROs all offering opportunities. Roles will vary from company to company but typically CRAs will progress to be a senior clinical research associate. With the right experience, CRAs will have the potential to progress all the way to clinical director or even VP level. 

Once a CRA has reached a senior level, there are typically three main routes a career in clinical research can take.

Clinical trial management 

Usually responsible for managing, coordinating, and overseeing various aspects of the trial. Typical duties will involve supervising staff, implementing study tools and documents, overseeing trial budgets and providing strategic input into trials. 

Clinical team management 

Responsible for acting as the direct line manager to associates. Clinical team managers will manage and support team members, ensure staff are trained effectively, review the effectiveness of business processes and plan professional development activities. 

Clinical project management 

Involved with the planning and directing of clinical trials and is also responsible for evaluating clinical data. Day-to-day tasks include maintaining study records, ensuring activities are being delivered on time and on budget, interpreting study data and developing trial plans. 

Are you already a CRA professional or looking to start your career in clinical research? We might have something that is the right fit for you. We are looking for experienced professionals for a broad and extensive range of clinical research positions. Take a look at our latest clinical research jobs and apply today. 

Are you wanting to grow your company? 

Our team of recruitment specialists excels at identifying the perfect talent to fit into your company. We collaborate with clinical research organisations worldwide to place highly skilled researchers in roles that drive innovation and address staffing needs. Submit a vacancy, and we'll begin the search for your ideal candidate. If you'd like to learn more about our services, please get in touch. Or submit a vacancy to our site. 

Find your next clinical research associate opportunity with Proclinical 

Are you looking for your next clinical trial role but aren’t sure where to look? Our team at Proclinical will support you every step of the way to help you get into your dream position. If you still haven’t found what you are looking for, upload your CV to receive exclusive roles and industry insights.