How To Become A Clinical Trials Associate: What It Is and Career Path

What is a clinical trials associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Sharolyn Kawakami-Schulz Ph.D.

A clinical trial associate is a healthcare individual who coordinates and manages clinical trials for hospitals, universities, or pharmaceutical companies. They work according to strict clinical guidelines and protocols, manage budgets and deadlines, and ensure that all trials follow FDA and other government-regulated rules. A clinical trials associate works with other healthcare professionals and researchers and is responsible for keeping clear records, ensuring that research teams have adequate staff and materials and that all documentation is complete and accurate.

Most clinical trial associates have a bachelor's degree or an advanced degree in chemistry, biology, nursing, or a related healthcare field. These individuals should possess a strong knowledge of clinical trial methodology, clinical research protocols, and US and government agency guidelines and regulations.

A clinical trials associate should have strong communication, analytical, problem-solving, and research skills and be comfortable working in a lab environment with other researchers. A clinical trial associate can make up to $75,000 annually in the US, and the career field is expected to grow 6% by 2028.

What's a day at work look like for a clinical trials associate?

Sharolyn Kawakami-Schulz Ph.D.

Director, Office of Professional Development, University of Minnesota Medical School

As the workforce continues to adapt to restrictions resulting from the pandemic, graduates can expect to find more workplaces discussing hybrid workdays, with a combination of in person and work from home activity. In some sectors, the pandemic has demonstrated that remote work can be a new normal. As graduates work across various sectors and in a variety of types of roles, each person's day will look different. However, flexibility and adaptability will continue to be key skills for success.

ScoreClinical Trials AssociateUS Average

Salary

5.9

Avg. Salary $74,952

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 13.36%

Black or African American 2.47%

Hispanic or Latino 13.90%

Unknown 7.42%

White 62.35%

Gender

female 74.70%

male 25.30%

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 trials associate

Explore clinical trials associate education requirements

Most common clinical trials associate degrees

Bachelor's

61.9 %

Master's

14.6 %

Associate

11.3 %

Start to develop specific clinical trials associate skills

Skills	Percentages
Informed Consent	9.43%
Patients	7.45%
Clinical Operations	6.40%
FDA	5.69%
Consent Forms	5.28%

Complete relevant clinical trials associate training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clinical trials associates 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 trials associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clinical trials associate resumes.

Research clinical trials associate duties and 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.

Prepare your clinical trials associate resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your clinical trials associate 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 trials associate 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 trials associate resume templates

Build a professional clinical trials associate 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 trials associate resume.