A candidate with a bachelor’s or graduate degree in any science or allied health field, or who is a certified or licensed healthcare professional, such as a registered nurse, physical therapist, or medical technologist, can pursue various types of clinical research coordinator training. Clinical research coordinator training is also open to anyone who is currently a clinical research associate. Basic training, certificate training, and national certification training are the three main types of clinical research coordinator training.
A clinical research associate (CRA) is responsible for planning and overseeing clinical research projects, such as those looking into the safety of new pharmaceuticals for use in both animals and humans. A clinical research associate’s main responsibility is to create complex documents called protocols that specify how clinical trials should be conducted. Clinical research coordinator training prepares a clinical research professional to supervise junior staff, oversee staff activities, and ensure the quality of clinical testing facilities. A clinical research coordinator is also responsible for a variety of other tasks. He or she is involved in the recruitment, screening, and enrollment of clinical study participants, as well as the scheduling of tests and procedures, ensuring documentation accuracy, and maintaining databases.
On-the-job training, online modules, or workshops for continuing education credit are all options for basic clinical research coordinator training. Certificate training usually entails attending workshops that last two to five days and may result in university credit. Clinical research professionals who want to be certified on a national level can get training from one of several clinical research associations, such as the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). The ACRP, which has over 60 countries as members, provides training for entry-level clinical research associates, such as one- or two-day workshops, online modules, or exam preparation courses.
Clinical research coordinators are in high demand, as they are in many other medical and healthcare professions. Clinical research coordinators can work in a variety of settings. Academic medical centers, the pharmaceutical and healthcare technology industries, as well as clinical and private research organizations, are among them.