A Clinical Research Coordinator also ensures that the clinical study protocol is properly followed. A CCRC has to follow the rules and regulations pertaining to clinical studies. This includes the submission of the application, the submission of all the details and the submission of the study protocol. A good Clinical Research Coordinator ensures that all these things are done without any glitches.
Many people often wonder how does a clinical research coordinator earn the title “clinical research coordinator”. It is believed that a clinical research coordinator can get this position by taking a certification exam which is known as the Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA). However, this is not true. Anyone who wants to become a clinical research coordinator can apply for this job after completing a certificate program at an accredited college or university.
In case you are worried about the certification exam and whether or not you will pass it, don’t worry. Most people who want to make this their career do not bother about the certification exam. After all, they have heard that clinical research coordinators get paid the big bucks for carrying out clinical trials. However, this is not really the case. The salary of a clinical research coordinator largely depends on the kind of institution they work in. Large institutions pay more than smaller institutions while smaller institutions pay less than the research laboratories located in large colleges or universities.
A lot of people nowadays are earning a very comfortable living working as clinical research coordinators at large medical research organizations. Most of them get promoted to senior level positions once they attain a few years of experience. If you wish to break into this field, you must complete a certificate program at a medical school or a technical school. There are also online courses which can help you prepare for this exam.
The job of a clinical research coordinator involves a great deal of travelling. Basically, the role requires you to cover a wide variety of duties, depending on the institute from where you are recruited. It is important to have a positive attitude towards the work at all times. It can be quite demanding at times but it pays off in the long run.
Your professional growth as a clinical research coordinator will be helped by attending conferences and special lectures. These will give you an opportunity to network with other professionals in the field. Most professionals are willing to help new graduates in their quest to become a clinical research coordinator. If you have some good friends in this field, you can always talk to them and find out what opportunities they are offering. You can also inquire from them about various scholarships and fellowships that can help you acquire your academic degree.
One very good way of becoming a clinical research coordinator is by taking part-time job from a hospital or a similar organization. Doing so will help you build up enough experience as you progress towards your career goal. You will be able to gain much needed confidence as you tackle your first few cases as a clinical research coordinator. Once you have a lot of hands on training and have been appointed as the clinical coordinator of a specific research laboratory, you will start getting a steady stream of case assignments. Working in such a big and prestigious medical institution will surely boost your career prospects and pave your way to becoming a highly qualified clinical research coordinator.
