Clinical Research Associate

To be a successful Clinical Research Associate you should… 

• be a creative, imaginative, hardworking individual who enjoys interacting with other scientists
• be persistent
• be cooperative and able to work well with others
• have strong oral and written communication skills

What will my job be like?

A clinical research associate (CRA) is responsible for research in collaboration with others. A CRA makes detailed observations, analyzes data, and interprets results. Research associates prepare technical reports, summaries, protocols, and quantitative analysis.

A CRA may also be responsible for identifying patentable inventions and acting as the principal investigator in conducting their own experiments. A CRA may also be asked to participate in scientific conferences and contribute to scientific journals.

Where could I work?

Scientists can work independently or as part of a team at universities, hospitals, or in research and testing laboratories.

Other workplace settings:

• Clinics and Hospitals
• Consultants to Business Firms and Government
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Federal, State, and Local Governments
• National Institutes of Health
• U.S. Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, and Defense

What is the average annual salary?

$95,500

What is the future of this career?

According to the BLS, employment of medical scientists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 12,600 openings for medical scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

The number of science-related jobs in sales, marketing, and research management, for which the number of non-PhDs usually qualify, is expected to be more plentiful than independent research positions.

What type of education and/or training do I need?

At the entry level, the job requires a Bachelor of Science or advanced degree in a scientific discipline or equivalent with a minimum of up to 2 years of related experience.

Where can I get the education and/or training?

• Albertus Magnus College, New Haven
• Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
• Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic
• Middlesex Community College, Middletown
• Quinnipiac University, Hamden
• Sacred Heart University, Fairfield
• University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport
• University of Connecticut School of Allied Health, Storrs
• University of St. Joseph, West Hartford
• Wesleyan University, Middletown
• Yale University, New Haven

Do I need a license or certification for this career?

Licensure is not required in the state of Connecticut.

Where can I get more information?

Association of Clinical Research Professionals
610 Madison Street, Suite 101 – #613
Alexandria, VA   22314
(703) 254-8100
www.acrpnet.org