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Clinical research associate vs regulatory affairs specialist

The differences between clinical research associates and regulatory affairs specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a clinical research associate, becoming a regulatory affairs specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a regulatory affairs specialist has an average salary of $70,060, 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 regulatory affairs specialist are regulatory affairs, FDA, and regulatory agencies.

Clinical research associate vs regulatory affairs specialist overview

Clinical Research AssociateRegulatory Affairs Specialist
Yearly salary$62,966$70,060
Hourly rate$30.27$33.68
Growth rate6%-
Number of jobs94,3369,915
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4446
Years of experience24

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 regulatory affairs specialist do?

A regulatory affairs specialist assists in securing and maintaining government approval for nutritional products, drugs, medical devices, and related supplies. They are often employed by medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies. They may also work in the government or law. Typically, they work on document preparation, file maintenance, information management, and coordination of tasks across various departments. They expanded their duties and responsibilities as a result of company acquisitions and restructuring, worldwide globalization of markets, and constantly evolving regulations.

Clinical research associate vs regulatory affairs specialist salary

Clinical research associates and regulatory affairs specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Research AssociateRegulatory Affairs Specialist
Average salary$62,966$70,060
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $91,000Between $49,000 And $99,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryPharmaceutical-

Differences between clinical research associate and regulatory affairs specialist education

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

Clinical Research AssociateRegulatory Affairs Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBiologyBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Clinical research associate vs regulatory affairs specialist demographics

Here are the differences between clinical research associates' and regulatory affairs specialists' demographics:

Clinical Research AssociateRegulatory Affairs Specialist
Average age4446
Gender ratioMale, 28.3% Female, 71.7%Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage9%12%

Differences between clinical research associate and regulatory affairs specialist 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

Regulatory affairs specialist example responsibilities.

  • Gather, evaluating, organizing, managing and collating information in a variety of formats.
  • Manage CRO (regulatory) in support of the company's approve product in Europe.
  • Manage and submit electronic EPA product registrations.
  • Manage and submit regulatory permit and notification applications to USDA to import, move and release regulate plant materials.
  • Support complaint handling process and screening, ensure FDA 21 CFR compliance.
  • Close complaints receive from external customers in compliance with FDA, ISO, QSR and other regulatory guidelines.
  • Show more

Clinical research associate vs regulatory affairs specialist skills

Common clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • CRA, 6%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
Common regulatory affairs specialist skills
  • Regulatory Affairs, 10%
  • FDA, 8%
  • Regulatory Agencies, 7%
  • Medical Devices, 6%
  • Regulatory Compliance, 5%
  • Regulatory Submissions, 5%

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