{"id":95,"date":"2016-12-16T19:11:31","date_gmt":"2016-12-17T03:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pictureyourselfin.com\/blog\/?p=95"},"modified":"2017-10-16T19:12:12","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T02:12:12","slug":"how-to-get-a-clinical-research-associate-cra-entry-level-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pictureyourselfin.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/16\/how-to-get-a-clinical-research-associate-cra-entry-level-job\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Entry Level Job"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"How
How to Get a CRA 1 Entry Level Job<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is a huge demand for Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) with two years experience so much so that there are dozens of recruiters in the field who are paid thousands of dollars for placing people in a job. \u00a0Also, experienced CRAs can get sign-on bonuses too as part of their new job offer. \u00a0Step one for getting experience is getting an entry level Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Level 1 job; however, if you have no industry experience, it will seem impossible to get one. \u00a0It does seem a paradox, how can you have CRA experience to get a CRA job? \u00a0If you are unsure what a CRA does then read this blog post to learn more about the job responsibilities.<\/a><\/p>\n

I have met many people who want to become a CRA. \u00a0I have also talked to many people who are CRAs. \u00a0From this I have found there is no one way that someone becomes a CRA. \u00a0There are steps you can take to help make sure your job application stands out. \u00a0Overall, most all companies require a bachelor’s degree preferably in science. \u00a0However, I have seen a few people with only a 2-year college degree but who have industry experience get CRA jobs. \u00a0It is getting harder though to get a CRA job without a 4-year college degree.<\/p>\n

First thing is to learn the language of the clinical research industry. \u00a0There are a lot of acronyms and it is important to understand the different groups working in the industry. \u00a0If you can know a few key terms and concepts at the time of the interview, it will show that you have genuine interest in the field and an understanding of what is involved.<\/p>\n

There are a few free resources that you can use to learn this information. \u00a0The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a certificate in Human Subjects Protection that is free<\/a>. \u00a0NIH also has another free certificate for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0A bonus in completing these programs is that you get a certificate of completion and can add it to your resume. \u00a0In clinical research, staff keep their resumes\/CVs on file as documentation that they are trained and qualified by experience to perform study tasks. By having this certificate, you are one step ahead. \u00a0The certificate should take you a few hours to complete and is enough that you can start applying for entry level jobs.<\/p>\n

\"How
How to Get a Clinical Research Associate Level 1 Job<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another path to becoming a CRA is to\u00a0be a Study Coordinator (SC) \/ Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC). \u00a0(Read this blog post about getting this job.)<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0On and off over the years, different Sponsor\/ CROs have hired CRCs as entry level CRAs. \u00a0The benefits of this route is you don’t necessarily have to be near a Sponsor or CRO office. \u00a0Qualified CRCs understand the clinical research process, but they have not learned the Sponsor\/ CRO side of study management. \u00a0A Sponsor\/ CRO will bring the CRCs in-house for approximately 2 weeks of on site job training on how to be a CRA. \u00a0After that time, the new CRA goes back to wherever they were located and works regionally from home. \u00a0The main demand for CRC to CRA positions is in the field of oncology given that it is an in demand therapeutic area but there have been CRC to CRA opportunities in all therapeutic areas. \u00a0A benefit of being a CRC is that you will get to meet CRAs as part of your job. \u00a0If you become friends with the CRAs and are applying to their company then the CRA can be a referral for you too!It is often easier to get into an entry level Clinical Research Associate job once you have a job already somewhere in the clinical research field. \u00a0This often means getting an in-house position at some company like a CRO or Sponsor and then transferring into a CRA 1 job once it becomes available. \u00a0Many companies will hire internally as part of job promotion opportunities. \u00a0Also as an internal employee, you can also an employee, you can request to accompany CRAs on their work trips to observe and learn. \u00a0Often there are data deadlines and a CRA will need an extra set of hands from someone who understands the study. \u00a0This gives you the opportunity to prove yourself as a valuable and qualified job candidate prior to getting the CRA 1 job. \u00a0Internal jobs can be a Clinical Trial Assistant (CTA) \/ Clinical Research Assistant (CRA) or an Administrative Assistant (AA). \u00a0Most people go from CTA to CRA 1 went they want to transition. \u00a0I do know one person who worked 6 months as an AA before she became a CRA. \u00a0To do these jobs requires living near a Sponsor or CRO office so you can work in-house. \u00a0Unfortunately, the industry tends to be clustered in a few key areas in the United States but search to find what is near you.<\/p>\n

For both routes, you’ll need to subject your job application to a Sponsor or CRO. \u00a0The big CROs (Quintiles, Covance, PRA, PPD, Parexel, Inventiv, INC Research, etc.) use an online application form. \u00a0I have talked with the corporate recruiters over the years at the various companies to ask them about their CRA 1 application process. \u00a0Most advise applying online and putting in a job search for the CRA 1 position. \u00a0The recruiters advise submitting an updated resume every 6 months.<\/p>\n

Good luck & start applying!<\/p>\n

Written by Laurel Latto<\/p>\n

ACRP Certified Clinical Research Associate<\/a><\/p>\n

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