A clinical research coordinator has the job of helping to coordinate, run, and document research studies and clinical trial projects. Often, a person in this field seeks certification, as it may open doors to more job opportunities and even higher pay. The requirements a person must meet to earn clinical research coordinator certification may vary from country to country. In most cases, however, a person pursuing certification in this field has to gain related experience and pass an examination. Often, there are renewal requirements as well, which typically include either taking continuing education courses or passing another exam.
A person who works as a clinical research coordinator typically performs a number of tasks to facilitate the completion of a clinical trial. A person in this position may work at enrolling participants and collecting pertinent information from them, monitoring procedures, ensuring compliance with standards and regulations, and documenting various aspects of a study. An important part of this position is also working to ensure the safety of those who participate in a trial.
When a person wants to gain clinical research coordinator certification, he typically has to get some experience in the field first. The amount of experience a person will need typically depends on the unique requirements set by the certifying organization. Often, these organizations provide a couple of different options for earning certification. For example, one option may require a person to have a certificate in clinical research as well as about a year’s worth of experience in the field. Another option may not include requirements for the person’s education level but may require him to have about two years’ worth of full-time experience in clinical research.
In most cases, a person who wants to gain clinical research coordinator certification also has to pass an examination in order to earn his credential. This type of exam may cover such topics as clinical trial sponsorship, audits, ethics, and record maintenance and retention. The clinical research coordinator certification exam may also cover such topics as quality assurance and regulations. In some case, organizations that offer certification require applicants to be members of their organization before they can take the exam.
Once a person has earned certification in this field, he typically has to seek renewal every two to three years, depending on the organization through which he is certified. A person who seeks renewal usually has to either earn continuing education courses or pass a re-certification exam and pay a fee for renewal. Some organizations, however, may require a person to earn continuing education courses and take an exam in addition to paying a renewal fee.
