Hi everyone, welcome back!

As we all know, clinical research comes with a bucketload of dynamic and rewarding career opportunities. However, many of us have a hard time figuring out how and where to start. For those coming into clinical research from a background in healthcare, be it nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or others, here are some qualifications you can work towards to ease your entry into this field: If you’re looking for a more elaborate discussion on this topic, watch this video.

1. Minimum Requirements: A Bachelor’s Degree with Relevant Experience

Nearly all full-time clinical research positions require a bachelor’s degree. Ideally, this degree should provide experience in research involving human subjects or populations. This could be a degree in health sciences, nursing, psychology, or even a non-health-related field with coursework in clinical research or research involving human participants.

While not mandatory, having a clinical professional degree like nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, pharmacy, or kinesiology can be a significant advantage. These degrees often involve patient interaction and experience with sensitive health data, making them highly desirable for clinical research employers.

• Addressing Knowledge Gaps Through Certifications and Additional Degrees

If your background lacks exposure to clinical research (or research involving human subjects), worry not! Several shorter certifiations can be done to bridge the knowledge gap and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

• Certifications: Numerous certifications specifically target clinical research skills and experiences. These programs often range from six months to a year and can equip you with the necessary knowledge, even if your undergraduate degree wasn’t directly related to healthcare. Look for programs offering hands-on experience and internship opportunities to solidify your learning.
• Secondary Graduate Degrees or Certificates: Consider pursuing a graduate certificate course or a secondary graduate degree focused on clinical research. These programs, typically lasting one to two years, delve deeper into the subject and prepare you for advanced roles. If you’re wondering which institution to choose for these, here are my top picks for the best Clinical Research Programs in Canada.
• Boosting Your Career: Certifications, Licenses, and Advanced Degrees

For those who have already landed their first couple of entry level roles in clinical trials as a research assistant or a clinical research coordinator, you can start thinking about how to keep moving up and establishing yourself as an expert in the field. To achieve this, specific qualifications can further enhance your prospects:

• Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP): Earning a CCRP certification demonstrates your expertise and commitment to the field. This certification requires meeting specific criteria, including a certain number of years of experience in a clinical research role.
• Clinical Licenses: Maintaining a clinical license, such as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) license, holds significant value. These licenses showcase your clinical knowledge and can open doors to leadership or specialized research coordinator positions.
• Graduate Degrees (Master’s or Ph.D.): If you aspire to lead research projects as an investigator or delve deeper into the scientific aspects of clinical research, consider pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. degree in a relevant field. This path allows you to design research projects, apply for grants, and contribute significantly to scientific advancements.

Long-term oppostunities: select your path

Career Paths in Clinical Research: Hands-on vs. Investigative Roles

The beauty of clinical research lies in its diverse career paths. You can choose to focus on the hands-on aspects of patient interaction or steer your career towards the investigative side:

Hands-on Focused Careers: If you enjoy daily patient interaction, a career path progressing through positions like Clinical Research Assistant, Associate, Coordinator, and Project Manager might be ideal. In this track, extensive experience often outweighs the need for additional academic qualifications beyond a master’s degree. A peek into the life of someone in this field can give you better clarity in this regard. This video right here can help you with that.

Investigative Focused Careers: For those drawn to designing and leading research projects, pursuing a master’s degree, Ph.D., or a terminal degree in your field (e.g., MD, NP) is recommended. This path equips you to become a Principal Investigator (PI), conceptualize research projects, secure funding, and spearhead scientific endeavors.

Clinical research offers a fulfilling career path for individuals passionate about improving healthcare. Understanding the educational landscape, from minimum entry requirements to valuable add-ons, empowers you to make informed decisions about your academic journey. Remember, a strong foundation of relevant experience combined with the right qualifications can propel you towards a successful and impactful career in this ever-evolving field.

However, figuring things out by yourself in this extraordinary field of Clinical Research can be quite overwhelming. Hence, if you need help, do not hesitate to request a one-on-one consultation with me by filling out this form! Moreover, once the degree is achieved, acing interview questions as a fresher can also feel scary. Hence, here are some tricks and tips that can help you.

To know more about life as a clinical research professional in Canada, check out The Brown Feminist!