How to Become a Clinical Research Coordinator
A clinical research coordinator is a research professional who helps in formulating, implementing, and organizing research processes to conduct clinical trials. He/She ensures the study complies with all relevant government laws and regulations. He/She hires and screens potential study participants and performs intake assessments. Furthermore, he/she creates and maintains all documents and records related to the study. Also, he/she serves as a point of reference for study participants. Clinical Research Coordinators may work for pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, hospital research departments, or private businesses.
A bachelor's degree in nursing, health science, or a related field is a prerequisite for a clinical research coordinator role. To succeed in the role, candidates must possess analytical, communication, time management, and organizational skills. You must possess at least a year of related work experience. You must understand medical terminologies and standard clinical procedures. These experts earn an annual income of $53,315 on average. This is between $38,000 and $74,000.
What Does a Clinical Research Coordinator Do
Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. They direct activities related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production.
How To Become a Clinical Research Coordinator
Natural sciences managers usually advance to management positions after years of employment as scientists. Natural sciences managers typically have a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or Ph.D. in a scientific discipline or a related field, such as engineering. Some managers may find it helpful to have an advanced management degree—for example, a Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), or a Master of Public Administration (MPA).
EducationNatural sciences managers typically begin their careers as scientists; therefore, most have a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or Ph.D. in a scientific discipline or a closely related field, such as engineering. Scientific and technical knowledge is essential for managers because they must be able to understand the work of their subordinates and provide technical assistance when needed.
Natural sciences managers who are interested in acquiring postsecondary education in management should be able to find master’s degree or Ph.D. programs in a natural science that incorporate business management courses. A relatively new type of degree, called the Professional Science Master’s (PSM), blends advanced training in a particular science field with business skills, such as communications and program management, and policy. Those interested in acquiring general management skills may pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Public Administration (MPA). Some natural sciences managers will have studied psychology or some other management-related field to enter this occupation.
Sciences managers must continually upgrade their knowledge because of the rapid growth of scientific developments.
Work Experience in a Related OccupationNatural sciences managers usually advance to management positions after years of employment as scientists. While employed as scientists, they typically are given more responsibility and independence in their work as they gain experience. Eventually, they may lead research teams and have control over the direction and content of projects before being promoted to an administrative position.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsAlthough certification is not typically required to become a natural sciences manager, many relevant certifications are available. These certifications range from those related to specific scientific areas of study or practice, such as laboratory animal management, to general management topics, such as project management, and are useful to natural sciences managers regardless of the organization being managed.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Natural sciences managers must be able to communicate clearly to a variety of audiences, such as scientists, policymakers, and the public. Both written and oral communication are important.
Critical-thinking skills. Natural sciences managers must carefully evaluate the work of others. They must determine if their staff’s methods and results are based on sound science.
Interpersonal skills. Natural sciences managers lead research teams and therefore need to work well with others in order to reach common goals. Managers routinely deal with conflict, which they must be able to turn into positive outcomes for their organization.
Leadership skills. Natural sciences managers must be able to organize, direct, and motivate others. They need to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their workers and create an environment in which the workers can succeed.
Problem-solving skills. Natural sciences managers use scientific observation and analysis to find solutions to complex technical questions.
Time-management skills. Natural sciences managers must be able to do multiple administrative, supervisory, and technical tasks while ensuring that projects remain on schedule.
Clinical Research Coordinator Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a clinical research coordinator can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as project manager, progress to a title such as general manager and then eventually end up with the title director of pharmacist.
Average Salary for a Clinical Research Coordinator
What Am I Worth?
Top Colleges for Clinical Research Coordinators
1. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
3. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
5. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
6. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
7. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
10. Chamberlain College of Nursing - Arlington
Arlington, VA • Private
Top Skills For a Clinical Research Coordinator
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 7.3% of clinical research coordinators listed study protocol on their resume, but soft skills such as communication skills and interpersonal skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Clinical Research Coordinator Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Clinical Research Coordinator templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Clinical Research Coordinator resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Clinical Research Coordinator Demographics
Clinical Research Coordinator Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among clinical research coordinators, 80.0% of them are women, while 20.0% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among clinical research coordinators is White, which makes up 73.7% of all clinical research coordinators.
- The most common foreign language among clinical research coordinators is Spanish at 52.3%.
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The Essentials of Clinical Trials - Clinical Research for Beginners...
This course presents critical concepts and practical methods to support planning, collection, storage, and dissemination of data in clinical research. Understanding and implementing solid data management principles is critical for any scientific domain. Regardless of your current (or anticipated) role in the research enterprise, a strong working knowledge and skill set in data management principles and practice will increase your productivity and improve your science. Our goal is to use these mo...
Best States For a Clinical Research Coordinator
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a clinical research coordinator. The best states for people in this position are California, Alaska, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Clinical research coordinators make the most in California with an average salary of $66,313. Whereas in Alaska and Connecticut, they would average $63,067 and $61,798, respectively. While clinical research coordinators would only make an average of $61,041 in Rhode Island, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. North Dakota
$58,294
Avg. Salary
2. Rhode Island
$61,041
Avg. Salary
3. California
$66,313
Avg. Salary
How Do Clinical Research Coordinator Rate Their Jobs?
Top Clinical Research Coordinator Employers
Most Common Employers For Clinical Research Coordinator
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $58,653 | $28.20 | 38 |
| 2 | Premier Research | $57,884 | $27.83 | 44 |
| 3 | Aerotek | $54,908 | $26.40 | 56 |
| 4 | Karmanos Cancer Institute | $52,916 | $25.44 | 37 |
| 5 | Emory University | $52,437 | $25.21 | 71 |
| 6 | University of Florida | $52,437 | $25.21 | 50 |
| 7 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | $52,437 | $25.21 | 48 |
| 8 | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | $52,437 | $25.21 | 45 |
| 9 | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | $51,969 | $24.99 | 74 |
| 10 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $51,847 | $24.93 | 205 |
Clinical Research Coordinator Videos
Becoming a Clinical Research Coordinator FAQs
Are clinical research coordinators nurses?
No, clinical research coordinators are not nurses. Instead, nurses sometimes switch careers to become clinical research coordinators.
Registered nurses often have the appropriate skills, knowledge, and experience to transition to a career in clinical research.
How do I start a career in clinical research?
To start a career in clinical research, start by getting relevant post-secondary education and experience. Most employers require at least a bachelor's degree in a related field such as nursing, biology, or biotechnology. Depending on the company and industry, they may also prefer a master's degree.
How long does it take to become a clinical research coordinator?
It typically takes four to six years to become a clinical research coordinator. Clinical research coordinators are expected to gain a bachelor's degree in their designated field, which takes approximately four years. They are also expected to have some clinical experience from volunteer work, an internship, or a part-time job.
Is a clinical research coordinator a good job?
Yes, being a clinical research coordinator is a good job due to its good salary range and employment growth.
The average yearly salary for them is $50,000 or $24.48 hourly. On the lower end of the salary range, they might just make around $36,000. However, on the higher end, they can make $70,000 or more. As most jobs go, factors like industry, location, and experience can determine your salary.
What do clinical research coordinators make?
Clinical research coordinators make an average yearly salary of $50,000 or $24.48 hourly.
On the lower end of the salary range, they might just make around $36,000. However, on the higher end, they can make $70,000 or more. As most jobs go, factors like industry, location, and experience can determine your salary.