How to get an entry-level Clinical Research Associate job

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[@sayalijawale1727]

Thank you! This is very informative!

[@stasidasilva]

Thanks Mario! This has been a wealth of information. (Time-stamping 9:50 for future reference.)

[@lindabliss4674]

Hi Mario, very informative video. Thank you.

[@goreabhishekvpa485]

Very much informative❤

[@youssefjam4071]

Nice video

[@JulyBrown]

Hi !! Good video ! Some advice for start in clinical trials like cra or other in Europe? I am medical technologist and i would like to know if also you recommend some course for start your cra career. Have a good day ! 😊

[@jayasridevimn5547]

Hello Mario, I have been watching your videos, and I find them very resourceful. I have done my PharmD ( doctorate in Pharmacy) and had worked as a research associate handling coordinator duties in Rheumatology clinic in India for an year and had also simultaneously published research abstracts. I also worked as CRA-I at a midsize CRO in India for 7 months (monitoring Narcotic Trial). I have been wanting to work as a CRA in Europe especially Germany. So I started learning the language while I was working, and now I took a break for 6 months to learn and master the language as it's one of the main requirements. Could you please give me some insights, as I will be actively applying for jobs in a couple of months. Thank you in advance.

[@MarioDeSouza]

I think one of the most common requests I've gotten is to provide insight into CRA positions in Europe. Unfortunately, all I can say is that the language of clinical research is global and we all comply with ICH guidelines. Aside from that, I don't really know much about what being a CRA in Europe is like. What I do know is that before you start interviewing, become familiar with the language of clinical research. As a PharmD, you'll be familiar with the medicine aspect but make sure you know what AEs, SAEs, con-meds, PDs, PKs etc. You can use my interview videos as a starting point. Also, Dan Sefra has a 4-hour crash course available to get your feet wet into clinical research.

[@jayasridevimn5547]

@@MarioDeSouza thank you for the advice.

[@LA_337]

I worked in an academic center as a CRC for 5 years and I can not find a job! I've been applying for CRA positions and CTM positions all to no avail. What could I possibly be doing wrong?

[@MarioDeSouza]

You’re not very likely to get CTM positions out of being a CRC at a academic center. You’d want to look at assistant CTM or something along those lines. You should definitely be able to get a CRA position pretty easily though. Are you getting interviews? If not, your resume needs to be fixed ASAP. If yes, your interview skills need work. It’s likely one or the other.

[@sayalijawale1727]

Could you also throw some light on internships for master’s student!

[@MarioDeSouza]

Hi Sayali, I know the major pharma companies have internships listed on their websites for masters students. It'll likely depend on what type of masters you're obtaining on how useful it is to the organization.

[@4chukwuebuka]

Hello Mario sir, how are you doing? I thank you for all your helpful videos. I have a very urgent question. I applied for a In-House CRA position on January 10th for a major CRO company. But on January 25th they wrote back with this "You recently applied for the position of In House CRA Early Development ProgramThis is to bring to your kind attention that the IHCRA hiring is on pause owing to an official internal audit. I shall get back to you possibly in next few days soon once we resume back with the hiring process." And i replied a day later that i am waiting to hear back from them. It has been 2 and half weeks now since I got the email. What should I do now, because I'm getting really curious. Like what's going on? Do you have any clue as to what's going on? Do you think I am going to get the position? Do I wait for them to reply first? Also the title of the email is "position on hold" what do I do?

[@MarioDeSouza]

Doing well. If the firm is on a hiring hold and is being audited it’ll be at least six months before you hear anything. They said you would hear a few days after they resume hiring. That likely won’t be till September or so. I wouldn’t wait for this position. Look elsewhere.

[@kadijasittasesay8437]

Hey Mario, I am currently a practical nurse with no CRA experience. Do you think I should get a CRA certificate for a start? Thank you!

[@MarioDeSouza]

Hi Kadija, do you have coordinator experience? If not, the CRA certificate is worthless. If you have coordinator experience, your best bet is to network with the monitors coming on-site. Many CROs/sponsors are looking for a RN or Bachelor's degree. It's not impossible, but it'll be hard to get to the CRA position without finding someone willing to take a chance.

[@kadijasittasesay8437]

@@MarioDeSouza thanks so much for your response, but I don’t have CRA experience. I am in School for my RN . Can I volunteer to be a CRA just to the experience?

[@MarioDeSouza]

@@kadijasittasesay8437: Give it a shot. I don't think you'll get much traction for a CRA role without experience. My advice would be to find a local clinical research site and volunteer there shadowing a coordinator.

[@kiv8731]

As a licensed social worker.. would you have any advice to get into the field as a Clinician?

[@MarioDeSouza]

I can't think of a clinican entry point as a social worker within clinical research. To do medically rated procedures, you'd need to be a RN. MSN, MD, DO or PA. The only person I know with a background in social work started off as a Clinical Research Coordinator which is a non-clinican job.

[@marma7451]

What about if you have CTA (clinical trial assistant) experience?

[@MarioDeSouza]

You're fine applying to CRA positions with prior CTA experience. Ideally, you'd have at least one to two years of CTA experience.

[@CrissyUnfiltered]

Hello Mario, I find your content very useful. I still struggle to understand if I would be a good candidate for this role or if I lack the skills needed for entry level. I'm actually an oncology infusion nurse. I administer medication to patients enrolled in clinical trials as a part of the study. I'm unsure how to use this as leverage for a CRA role. Technically I am "monitoring" patients throughout the study. Would this be a good start for entering this field? I'm still researching appropriate ways to list these skills on my resume so that I can at least receive a call back. Also is it beneficial to include "oncology nurse" as my title since it would technically be a career change?

[@MarioDeSouza]

Hi Crissy, look at research nurse positions at sites. You can also consider a CRC position. If you do that for 6 months to a year, you'll gain the needed clinical research knowledge to apply to a CRA role. I don't think you have the prerequisite experience at the moment having not worked in clinical research. That said, you have a leg up since you have the needed medical knowledge.

[@rsgalarza1]

What if you work as a research lab technician? Does this experience count?

[@MarioDeSouza]

It'll be helpful experience to get hired but it won't count toward accelerating where you start. You likely are still going to need to find an entry-level clinical research job.

[@ginaveltdoe5711]

What are your thoughts about CRA fast track programs?

[@MarioDeSouza]

Are you referring to the ones that take study coordinators and move them to CRAs (through CROs) or ones that are done in isolation. Programs that take study coordinators (or remote monitors, CTAs etc.) and train them to be CRAs are good. Anything that's fast track to CRA without a clinical research foundation isn't worthwhile.

[@ginaveltdoe5711]

I believe it is allowing you to get the fundamentals and hours so you can be a CRC then eventually once you get your experience you can go that route. I’m thinking more in terms of cost. I’ve seen some programs go for $5k-10k for this and career help

[@MarioDeSouza]

@@ginaveltdoe5711: I don't think it's worth it if you have some form of background in science (biology, medicine or something along those lines). You can watch my KZbin channel and that of other content creators for free and learn the basics of clinical research. Getting an entry-level CRC position isn't hard and you'll learn everything on the job. Paying to help navigate getting a CRA position might be worthwhile (someone to walk you through applying, review your resume, prep you for interviews) but what you're describing isn't worth $5k - $10k in my opinion especially if there's no guarantee of a job after it (then you're just out the money).

[@ginaveltdoe5711]

Thank you so much for that insight. I will be sure to watch your other videos.

[@sumedhparalkar869]

Sir, Can I get CRA job in uk as a master of pharmacy degree holder from india?

[@MarioDeSouza]

I am not very familiar with hiring in the UK. My recommendation, if you were in the US, would be to seek out a coordinator role for a year to gain research experience and then apply to the CRA role.

[@sumedhparalkar869]

@@MarioDeSouza ok, thank you so much sir for support.

[@ctr4218]

Hello @@MarioDeSouza, when you said to work as a coordinator, do you mean as a coordinator related to the CRA field or it doesn't matter? I mean I'm working as a coordinator but as a coordinator of the physiotherapy section of one hospital. It could work? Thanks sir for your information.

[@MarioDeSouza]

@@ctr4218: I'm specifically referring to a Clinical Research Coordinator position where you are consenting subjects, entering data, possibly doing regulatory and interacting with CRAs frequently as part of your job duties.

[@coco3almond497]

How about an International Medical graduate, i.e. a fresh MBBS graduate ? Can they get CRA positions in UK?

[@MarioDeSouza]

I get a lot of questions about UK/Europe. Unfortunately, I don't know much. In the U.S. it would be a challenge and I'd tell you to get a year of coordinator experience. I'm headed to London this week for the first time and will attempt to learn a little bit about how clinical research works there.

[@coco3almond497]

@@MarioDeSouza thanks for your efforts