How to Get into Clinical Research Step by Step

Jun 2

What is Clinical Research?

Clinical research is a branch under the healthcare sciences that is responsible for finding out the effectiveness and safety of medical devices, medications, diagnostic products and treatment regimens that are intended for human use to help cure illnesses. Clinical research is important for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, alleviating of symptoms of a disease, but it is much different from clinical practice.

You want to get a career for yourself in clinical research, then let's take you through the drill.

The first step is to get an education.

Earn a bachelor's degree in a life science or health related discipline. Courses like medicine, pharmacology, biology, molecular biology, genetics, anatomy, biotechnology, nursing, physiology, chemistry, or bioengineering will equip you with the necessary and relevant knowledge to get you into clinical research.

Supplement your education by applying for the courses offered at your university or from professional organizations like Certified Clinical Research Professionals (CCRPS) and Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). These courses will include; study designs, Good Clinical Practices (GCP), research ethics, drug development cycle, regulatory affairs and requirements both in the US and internationally, among others.

Get a certification from a reputable organization, such as CCRPS, ACRPS, and Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA).

Make sure you study the ICH GCP guidelines and ethics to make you competent. Training in the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Good Clinical Practices (GCP) ethics and guidelines improves your chances greatly. At CCRPS, we offer a free ICH GCP certification to help you get started.

Keep proper documented records of your certifications as well as your education.This will save you a lot of time and stress.

The next step is to gather experience.

The following are ways you can gather experience:

Volunteer - Look for volunteering opportunities around your area and volunteer to help with the projects that will be carried out in the clinical research industry. This helps you get closer to the professionals as well as the tasks itself. You can volunteer at clinical research professionals organizations related to the clinical research field or medical field, medical centers or hospitals, International Review Boards (IRB) or Research Ethics Committees.

Research Projects - Take up clinical research monitoring projects and you can gain at least two years of experience.

Internships - Seek out an internship with medical firms, biotechnology companies, and pharmaceutical companies while you're still in college. CCRPS offers an internship program that can help you develop your resume.

The next step after getting an education and gathering experience is to apply for entry-level positions

A job as a clinical research professional is a rewarding career, and as such you must not only get an education and experience, but you must also be able to put in a high quality CV and cover letter for your application.

As long as you have a bachelor's degree and at least one year of experience in clinical research, you can easily qualify for an entry level position in clinical research. A quick search for “clinical research jobs near me” allows you gain more insight into the clinical research industry.

So, how do you get a job?

Here are tips that you need to keep in mind when you are applying for clinical research jobs.

• Be realistic about the jobs you can go into with your educational background and experience. Apply for entry-level positions firsts, then work your way to the top with targeted efforts and tenacity.

• Read each job descriptions clearly and highlight on your CV the relevant experience that you have that matches the specific role requirements. That little edit can change the way clinical research recruiters and consultants look at your CV as compared to others.

• Network with hiring managers and clinical research recruiters to expand your base as not all companies will advertise their vacancies. Upload your CV to a database that enables employers, clinical research recruiters, and hiring managers to easily find you.

Take courses from CCRPS and learn more on how to become a clinical research professional.

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