If you are interested in starting a career in the clinical field, you may want to consider applying to the position of Clinical Research Associate (CRA). There are a few requirements to joining this field of work, the most significant being a bachelor’s degree. This career path can offer you a generous salary as well as plenty of opportunities for growth within the position.

In this article, you will discover what it takes to start your career in this field and get a few tips from a professional along the way. Madison Driggers of Advanced Recruiting Partners has over 6 years of experience placing candidates into clinical positions such as a CRA. She currently plays the role of Director of Business Development at ARP. With her advice and knowledge in this article, you will learn what it takes to become a Clinical Research Associate and other important information about the position.

What is the average salary range for a CRA?

The annual salary you can expect to earn as a Clinical Research Associate can range anywhere between $60k and $130k. The salary of each position depends on various factors like whether the position is contracted vs permanent and the experience level of the candidate. 

There are different titles associated with the position of a CRA which are dependent on experience level. The positions range from CRA level 1 to CRA level 3. Each position comes with different responsibilities and will range in salary. The more experience you have in the position, the higher your salary and CRA grade will be. Madison of ARP gives an estimated annual salary of $85-130k for a permanent position as a CRA. The salary range she gives considers the variability in each position and the experience each requires.

“Entry-level CRAs as a permanent position can expect to earn around $60,000/year when starting out and up to $130,000 and perhaps beyond with 8+ years of experience”

– Madison Driggers | Director of Business Development at ARP

What Skills/Experience is required to be a CRA?

There are different programs that allow for individuals to obtain some experience before applying to a CRA position, however, it is not required to get into the field. More experience in the clinical field will help you with your experience of finding an employer but it is far from necessary. 

If you have prior experience at a training position such as a clinical data coordinator or clinical data trial assistant, this will always help you with the hiring process. Experience in the field is always something that can improve your chances of being hired, so make sure to bring it up in an interview with a potential employer.

As far as skills go, Madison suggests that those who are interested in this position would be a good fit if they have an outgoing personality and love to travel. If you have both of these characteristics, and also have some interest in clinical work, you may be the perfect candidate for this position!

What education level is required to be a CRA?

To become a CRA, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational program. Many candidates who apply for CRA positions usually have a degree in a scientific field, but it is still very possible to obtain the position with other types of college degrees.

“A science background in something like biology, chemistry, or nursing is preferred by most employers but is not absolutely necessary to enter this career field. However, a bachelor’s degree is a requirement for a CRA position.”

– Madison Driggers | Director of Business Development at ARP

Are CRAs in demand right now?

Madison confirms that CRAs are in very high demand right now. The position requires a lot of traveling and a college degree making it difficult to find candidates. If you have the skills required to fit into this position, you have a good chance of landing a job as a CRA due to this high demand.

Do CRAs Travel a lot or at all?

The position of a CRA comes with a large amount of your time being spent at different clinical facilities. CRAs need to be on-site in order to do things like monitoring patients and clinical trials. Although medical records are digitized, having a physical copy of reportings and records makes this job much easier than having to work remotely.

“At a minimum, 70% of a CRAs time is spent at a remote location. For example, you may be traveling 3 out of 4 days of your workweek.”

– Madison Driggers | Director of Business Development at ARP

What does the day-to-day look like for a CRA?

A position as a clinical research assistant requires you to be on-site in order to perform your daily tasks. This is why the position requires a lot of traveling. Each day a CRA may be doing things such as monitoring clinical trials and writing thorough reports on trials. Written and verbal communication is very important in this position because of how thorough a CRA must be in reporting.

How to prepare for becoming a CRA and the interviewing process?

If you are interested in getting a position as a clinical research assistant, you will probably want to know what you should be doing to prepare yourself for the interviewing process. Attempting to break into a new career can be difficult, especially at the entry-level. The best way to prepare yourself for becoming a CRA is to connect with others that are already in the industry.

Madison recommends reaching out to other CRAs via social networks such as LinkedIn. It is always good to speak with somebody that is familiar with the field you are finding a career in. If they don’t mind speaking to you on the phone, you can interview a CRA and ask any questions you may have about what this career entails. It is important to build networks early on in your career as you can get a tremendous amount of information from those who have already taken the path that you are just beginning.

Get in touch with a recruiter at ARP

Here at Advanced Recruiting Partners, we specialize in placing candidates in the field of healthcare and clinical research. If you are interested in a position as a clinical research assistant, we can help you through the interview process and connect you with employers. View our job listings page to see what kind of CRA positions we currently have open. Please contact us today if you are interested in starting a career as a CRA or are looking for employment as an experienced CRA.