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Clinical research associate vs clinical trials associate

The differences between clinical research associates and clinical trials associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clinical research associate and a clinical trials associate. Additionally, a clinical trials associate has an average salary of $74,952, which is higher than the $62,966 average annual salary of a clinical research associate.

The top three skills for a clinical research associate include patients, informed consent and CRA. The most important skills for a clinical trials associate are informed consent, patients, and clinical operations.

Clinical research associate vs clinical trials associate overview

Clinical Research AssociateClinical Trials Associate
Yearly salary$62,966$74,952
Hourly rate$30.27$36.03
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs94,33655,487
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a clinical research associate do?

A clinical research associate is responsible for assisting medical professionals in clinical trials and conducting research studies on medications and medical procedures. Clinical research associates monitor the research materials, ensuring its safety and reliability through trial procedures, writing comprehensive reports of results, and disseminating information across the concerned parties. They also provide recommendations on improving clinical processes, reiterating protocol requirements, and maintaining strict confidentiality of the trial subjects. A clinical research associate must have extensive knowledge of the medical industry, including its disciplines and principles, to perform duties accurately under minimal supervision.

What does a clinical trials associate do?

A clinical trial associate is in charge of coordinating and executing clinical trial operations, ensuring to meet all goals within budgets and deadlines. Their responsibilities revolve around preparing and processing necessary documentation and certifications, submitting requirements to government agencies, distributing essential materials within the clinical teams, and reviewing study sheets, ensuring every paperwork is complete and accurate. Furthermore, as a clinical trial associate, it is vital to lead while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

Clinical research associate vs clinical trials associate salary

Clinical research associates and clinical trials associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Research AssociateClinical Trials Associate
Average salary$62,966$74,952
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $91,000Between $46,000 And $121,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaDorsey & Whitney
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between clinical research associate and clinical trials associate education

There are a few differences between a clinical research associate and a clinical trials associate in terms of educational background:

Clinical Research AssociateClinical Trials Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Clinical research associate vs clinical trials associate demographics

Here are the differences between clinical research associates' and clinical trials associates' demographics:

Clinical Research AssociateClinical Trials Associate
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 28.3% Female, 71.7%Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 13.0% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical research associate and clinical trials associate duties and responsibilities

Clinical research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage, schedule and train up to 15 CRAs.
  • Recruit patients, attain patient inform consent form, educate subjects on compliance, and ensure patient safety per ICH guidelines.
  • Manage site TMF to ensure communication requirements adherence
  • Manage CRO and regional monitor to complete close out activities, including device accountability management.
  • Manage regional academic and community base oncology practices as the primary contact for all communications and support.
  • Manage the monitoring CRO and the data clean-up efforts for a 510k submission and interim/annual study reports by effectively collaborating cross-functionally.
  • Show more

Clinical trials associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage trial master files and study document to meet GCP/ICH and internal guidelines for records retention.
  • Audit TMF to ensure all require regulatory documentation are collected and lead.
  • Work closely with investigators to recruit eligible patients to clinical protocols, manage data collection and preparation.
  • Preform ICF customization in accordance with ICH guidelines, GCP s and local regulatory requirements.
  • Support the setup, data entry and QC of the system to ensure accuracy and quality of data.
  • Monitor clinical data and resolve inconsistencies according to FDA regulations and ICF guidelines.
  • Show more

Clinical research associate vs clinical trials associate skills

Common clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • CRA, 6%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
Common clinical trials associate skills
  • Informed Consent, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Clinical Operations, 6%
  • FDA, 6%
  • Consent Forms, 5%
  • TMF, 5%

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