The Study Coordinator Role
also known as Clinical Research Coordinator
If you’re interested in a career in clinical research, becoming a clinical Study Coordinator may be a great option for you. Study Coordinator play a critical role in the design, planning, and execution of medical research studies and clinical trials. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the education and experience required to become a clinical study coordinator, as well as the typical responsibilities of the job and the benefits of certification.
Why to start as Study Coordinator
Becoming a Study Coordinator can be a rewarding career path for a number of reasons.
As a Study Coordinator, you would be involved in the planning, coordination, and execution of clinical trials and other medical research studies. This can be an opportunity to contribute to the development of new treatments and therapies that could improve the lives of patients.
Clinical research is a constantly evolving field, and as a Study Coordinator, you would be at the forefront of this work. You would be responsible for ensuring that studies are conducted in compliance with regulatory requirements and ethical standards, and you would need to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field.
Ultimately, the work of a Study Coordinator is about improving patient care. By helping to facilitate studies that could lead to new treatments or better understanding of disease, you could have a significant impact on the lives of patients and their families.
The salary of a clinical study coordinator can vary depending on a number of factors, including location, years of experience, and the specific industry or organization in which they work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for clinical research coordinators in the United States was $51,510 as of May 2020. However, salaries can range from around $32,000 to over $83,000 per year. It’s worth noting that salaries may also be higher for study coordinators with advanced degrees or specialized expertise in certain areas of research.
The ROLE
The Study Coordinator is critical to the success of any medical research study or clinical trial. By ensuring that the study is conducted ethically and according to regulatory requirements, and that data is collected accurately and securely, study coordinators help to advance our understanding of disease and improve patient care.
Typical tasks and responsibilities
Study Coordinator have a variety of responsibilities, including planning and coordinating the study, obtaining informed consent from participants, managing study documents, collecting and analyzing data, ensuring compliance with regulations and ethical standards, communicating with study participants and other stakeholders, and managing study finances. They must have strong organizational and communication skills, attention to detail, knowledge of good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines and regulations, proficiency in relevant computer software and electronic data capture systems, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Obtaining informed consent: Study coordinators must ensure that study participants understand the risks and benefits of participation and that they have given their informed consent to be part of the study.
- Managing study documents: Study coordinators maintain all necessary documentation for the study, including regulatory submissions, study protocols, and participant consent forms.
- Collecting and analyzing data: Clinical study coordinators are responsible for collecting data from participants and ensuring that it is recorded accurately and securely. They may also be responsible for analyzing the data and reporting on the findings.
- Ensuring compliance with regulations and ethical standards: Study coordinators must ensure that the study is conducted in compliance with all applicable regulations and ethical standards, including those related to patient privacy and confidentiality.
- Communicating with study participants and other stakeholders: Clinical study coordinators may communicate with study participants to answer questions and provide updates, as well as with other stakeholders such as study sponsors, principal investigators, and regulatory agencies.
- Managing study finances: Study coordinators may be responsible for managing study finances, including tracking expenses and ensuring that the study stays within budget.
Multiple Educational Backgrounds work
Most employers prefer or require Study Coordinator to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as nursing, biology, life sciences, or a health-related field.
Some employers may also prefer or require candidates to have a graduate degree, such as a master’s degree in clinical research or a related field.
Relevant experience in the field of clinical research or healthcare is also important. This can be gained through internships, volunteer work, or entry-level positions in a clinical research organization. Clinical experience, such as experience as a nurse or medical assistant, may also be valuable.
Get Trained as Study Coordinator
If you’re interested in becoming a Study Coordinator, consider obtaining your certification through VIARES. We offers a comprehensive training and certification program for clinical research professionals, including the certification.
With VIARES, you’ll receive high-quality training from experienced professionals in the field, gain practical skills and knowledge, and be prepared to take your career in clinical research to the next level. Don’t wait – start your journey towards becoming certified with VIARES today.
The Study Coordinator role is an excellent entry point for newcomers to the healthcare and research industries. With opportunities for growth and career advancement, a Study Coordinator role can be a rewarding and fulfilling career choice. Become certified by VIARES and take the first step towards a career in clinical research.
POSTED JOBS
Hear from our Graduates
VIARES already supported 7000+ talents from 120+ countries on all continents. Here is a Snapshot of Graduate Experience and how they benefited from our Clinical Research Training Courses and Job Support.
Izabela
I wanted to progress in my career, as I already was working in the field of clinical research. For me the course was a great experience, I learned a lot. I was able to broaden my knowledge about clinical trials and now
[expand]
I feel prepared for the interviews and career steps to come! The teachers were extremely good trained and it was a pleasure to learn from them.
[/expand]
Vassil
Proud to announce that I have passed the Final Exam on the VIARES Clinical Research Talent Program. I strongly recommend it to all people interested in the field of clinical trials. Of course many thanks to Dietmar Eglhofer for creating this program
[expand]
and all the great tutors: Eric Klaver, Gavin Chait and Gabriele Disselhoff.
[/expand]
Shilpa
The VIARES Clinical Research Talent Program provided me a great opportunity to refresh and rebuild my clinical research skills and competencies. The program was well structured and covered the key aspects related to clinical research, drug
[expand]
development, ICH guidelines, and clinical research regulations. The self-learning modules, followed by live webinars led by subject matter experts, provided the participants a platform to understand the key concepts and engage in great dialogue and discussions. I thank VIARES for giving me this opportunity and highly recommend this program to professionals looking to start a career in clinical research.
[/expand]
Iwona
VIARES Academy supported me at every step in my course and answered my questions instantly. Moreover the platform is very organized and I could find my way around very fast.
[expand]
The course content provided by the courses at VIARES have helped me to improve my knowledge at my current job as a clinical trials assistant.
[/expand]