Clinical research associate : Entry requirements

This area of work is open to graduates with a degree in life and medical sciences. In particular, the following subjects may increase your chances:

• biochemistry;
• anatomy;
• biology;
• biomedical science;
• chemistry;
• dentistry;
• microbiology;
• medicine;
• nursing;
• immunology;
• molecular biology;
• toxicology;
• physiology;
• pharmacology;
• pharmacy.

Entry without a degree or with an HND only is unlikely. It is occasionally possible to enter from the administration side, e.g. as a study-site coordinator in The National Health Service (NHS)  or as a clinical trials administrator.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification may be useful. In the UK, there are MSc/diploma courses available in clinical research, which provide experience in clinical trials. A relevant PhD can also be advantageous in some companies. It can be considered as highly relevant work experience and may count towards gaining promotion to senior positions or moving into protocol development.

It is relatively unusual for a graduate with no relevant prior experience to go straight into this area of work, although some companies will recruit recent graduates with the necessary personal skills. Graduates without previous experience are more likely to enter the field at a lower level, e.g. as a clinical data coordinator or clinical trials administrator, without the involvement of initiating and designing the trials. Once experience has been gained in this type of work, it is generally possible to move on to a full clinical research associate (CRA) position.

Relevant pre-entry experience can include a background in nursing, pharmacy or medical sales, clinical laboratory work, clinical data work and academic or pharmaceutical research.

Candidates need to show evidence of the following:

• excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and the ability to build effective relationships with trial centre staff and colleagues;
• the ability to motivate others;
• numeracy and an eye for detail;
• the ability to multi-task and think on your feet;
• good organisational, IT and administrative skills - the job involves a lot of documentation and recording of information. Traditional paper files are rapidly being replaced by electronic records, which require the use of various information systems, including the use of web-based data capture (WBDC) and eClinical.

In addition, you must understand the importance of good clinical practice (GCP), which is now law throughout Europe. A clean driving licence is usually essential.

The ever-tightening government regulations on the licensing of new drugs and re-licensing of existing drugs mean that the need for CRAs is increasing. Competition is strong amongst graduates with no relevant experience and therefore work experience in a clinically relevant field will considerably improve your chances.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.