How do I become a CRA with no experience?

To become a CRA with no experience requires work experience. To become a clinical research associate (CRA) requires only a high school diploma and work experience. To become a certified CRA with a high school diploma, you will need somewhere between 3,000 and 3,500 hours of work experience.

How much do clinical research assistants make?

Clinical research assistants make $39,492 a year, on average. That equates to $18.99 an hour. This pay is extremely low compared with other technical careers and careers requiring a college degree. That is because it is an entry-level role that provides essential training.

What qualifications do you need to be a research assistant?

The qualifications you need to be a research assistant are a bachelor's degree (or in the process of earning one) and a keen interest in the research process. The duties of a research assistant can vary throughout the life of a research project. In the early stages, you may be required to look for grants or funding opportunities. Many research projects cannot be undertaken without funding from an overseeing body such as a government department, research council, or private company.

How To Become A Clinical Research Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a clinical research assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Clinical research assistants work in laboratories or healthcare facilities as members of a research team. They assist in clinical trials and scientific studies, finding subjects, documenting processes, and collecting data. They contribute to the analysis of the assembled data as well and work on evaluating the results.

You will work under the supervision of a clinical research associate or the lab manager. You might be tasked with collecting samples, recruiting volunteers, attending study meetings, or preparing research material. You will have to perform safety and quality checks on equipment daily, order stock if necessary, and answer patient inquiries.

This list of duties is far from exhaustive, of course. The role of a clinical research assistant is highly varied and exciting. It requires patience and careful attention to detail, and in-depth knowledge on the subject of the research. A bachelor's in life sciences is generally required to get on board.

ScoreClinical Research AssistantUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,837

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 12.94%

Black or African American 2.45%

Hispanic or Latino 13.65%

Unknown 7.39%

White 63.07%

Gender

female 73.22%

male 26.78%

Age - 43.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43.5

Stress level

5.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a clinical research assistant

Explore clinical research assistant education requirements

Most common clinical research assistant degrees

Bachelor's

66.8 %

Master's

13.2 %

Associate

8.4 %

Start to develop specific clinical research assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	16.02%
Informed Consent	8.18%
Data Collection	6.76%
Data Entry	6.31%
IRB	6.05%

Complete relevant clinical research assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clinical research assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a clinical research assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clinical research assistant resumes.

Gain additional clinical research assistant certifications

Clinical research assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific clinical research assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for clinical research assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).

More About Certifications

Research clinical research assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage patient caseload with emphasis in occupational rehabilitation
Maintain compliance with ICH, GCP and federal regulations as well as reporting adverse events to the FDA.
Perform medical assessment procedures including phlebotomy, laboratory processing, vital signs, and electrocardiogram.
Skil in CPR and patient distress.

Prepare your clinical research assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your clinical research assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a clinical research assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable clinical research assistant resume templates

Build a professional clinical research assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your clinical research assistant resume.