Clinical Research Career Path
Role Summaries
Field Clinical Research Associate
Pay Scale: 70k - 120k
Field CRAs are the link between investigation center staff, Sponsors or CROs, and the patients. Field CRAs manage investigational sites and confirm compliance with clinical study protocols, and relevant regulations, and verify the accuracy of data reported to the Sponsor. This involves but is not limited to traveling to the site to provide protocol training, verifying data reported in the study database matches what is documented in the investigational center’s medical records, documenting investigational center performance in monitoring visit reports and communication, and developing collaborative relationships with coordinators, physicians, and in-house CRAs to facilitate resolution of issues.
Other common titles to use in job search:
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Monitor or CRA.
In-house Clinical Research Associate
Pay Scale: 70k - 120k
The in-house CRA is a partner to the Field CRA, these CRAs work collaboratively to manage the site. The in-house CRA will primarily help with the collection, QC, filing, and maintenance of regulatory documentation, assist with the development of key trial documentation, contribute to vendor management, negotiate clinical site budgets, and support the Clinical Project or Study Manager with central data review and cleaning activities. A Key difference between these roles is that the in-house CRA is not expected to travel to the site or complete monitoring visit reports.
Other common titles to use in job search:
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Clinical Trial Associate
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Clinical Trial Specialist
Additional Resources
Want to know what a day in the life of a Field CRA looks like? Listen to Alexa break it down for Field CRAs here: