Clinical Research

Career Guide: Becoming Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC)

If you are curious in clinical study, working with other individuals and looking for office based work, then a career as a clinical research coordinator (CRC) is probably a good fit for you!

Listed below we have defined what you will need to be successful in a career, as a clinical research coordinator (CRC). We have also provided handy information for a clinical research coordinator profession, such as a job description (JD), remuneration, a list of prospective employers and much more!

Education and Professional Training in Clinical Research required to Become a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC)-

Even though educational specifications on how to become a clinical research coordinator differs from employer to employer, aspiring clinical research coordinators generally need to have clinical research knowledge and experience, due to the medical nature of the job. Clinical Research Certification/Diploma enables clinical research coordinators to demonstrate that they have met eligibility requirements and at least have a minimal level of job-related knowledge and skills.

Having a professional training in a clinical research field, such as diploma in clinical research, master in clinical research or certificate in clinical research is an excellent way to break ice into the industry and work as a clinical research coordinator. Any life science graduate is also acceptable for entry-level jobs as a clinical research coordinator.

Who Employs Clinical Research Coordinators (CRC)?

Companies who generally hire clinical research coordinators include:

  • Contract research organization (CRO)
  • Hospitals
  • Site Management Organization
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Federal government
  • Universities

Job Description (JD) Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC)

Clinical research coordinators are accountable for assisting, coordinating, and facilitating daily clinical trial activities of clinical studies. Clinical research coordinators need to provide assistance on the administration of the trial such as financial, compliance, staff members and other relevant factors.

Average Salary of Clinical Research Coordinator

The pay scale may vary for clinical research coordinators, based on factors such as place of work, their level of education and expertise, and a lot of other aspects. According to the National Center for Biotechnical Information (NCBI), clinical research coordinators generally earn in excess of $46,000 per year in USA and Canada.

We also looked at different sources such as reputed job portals, pay scale organization and the website of few organizations where they posted CRC jobs to get salary information for Clinical Research Coordinators. Following is the data:

Country Average Annual Clinical Research Coordinator Salary
USA US$ 46000
Singapore S$ 32042
India INR 175000
South Africa R 180,000
Clinical Research Coordinator Job Duties
  • Coordinate and assist to Principal Investigator in providing all coordinator functions as specified by the site delegation log for the proper conduct of the clinical study. These characteristics consist but are not limited to:
  • Training and explaining to patient and his/her family in regard to the treatment method and any possible side effects connected to study treatments.
  • Facilitates Principal Investigator in obtaining informed consent form (ICF) and also document the informed consent process
  • Make sure study protocol adherence, which includes completion of protocol specific procedures and the finalization of protocol specific documents.
  • Obtain applicable health-related details from patient.
  • Manage and maintain site study logs / progress reports to monitor both presently enrolled as well as expected follow-up participants.
  • Enter patient data onto case report forms (CRFs) and /or into electronic database as applicable.
  • Complete corrections /site queries needed at site audits / monitor visits.
  • Make sure data reliability and consistency in electronic database and written records.
  • Maintain screening, patient recruitment, deviation, adverse events (AE), concomitant medication and tumor measurement.

 Clinical Research Coordinators Work Conditions

The usual work environment for a clinical research coordinator is in a laboratory environment. In this environment, clinical research coordinator interacts with study subjects, the principal investigator and other study staff and laboratory staff.

The work routine of a CRC depends extremely on the clinical research activities being performed. For instance, if the CRC is involved in a study pertaining to eating habits in the day time vs. the evening time, the CRC must be present at the site with the patient at corresponding times.

JLI offers multiple online training programs that can help you become a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC). To know more about the training programs available please click here: http://www.jliedu.com

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