Is Becoming a Clinical Research Coordinator Right for You?
The job of a clinical research coordinator (CRC) blends interpersonal skills, protocol management, and behind-the-scenes problem-solving — they’ve even been called the invisible hand in clinical research. These healthcare professionals, which includes nurses, act as the bridge between participants, investigators, sponsors, and regulatory bodies.
If you’re interested in managing clinical trials or research studies, and you’re looking for a role that doesn’t require a master’s degree, this is a great job to learn more about.
What Do Clinical Research Coordinators Do?
A research coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day management of medical studies. This role requires strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to balance regulatory requirements with patient-centered care.
- Identifying and screening potential participants to determine eligibility for clinical research studies.
- Educating patients and families about study protocols, risks, benefits, and expectations, and supporting the informed consent process.
- Coordinating study visits and procedures, including scheduling assessments, lab work, and follow-up appointments.
- Ensuring all trials are conducted in compliance with guidelines, federal regulations, and institutional standard operating procedures.
- Assessing, documenting, and reporting adverse events to the principal investigator and ensuring appropriate follow-up and regulatory reporting.
- Maintaining accurate and complete study documentation, including source documents, case reports, and regulatory checklists.
- Supporting contract and budget processes, maintaining accurate financial records, and ensuring proper billing.
- Communicating with sponsors, monitors, and institutional review boards, preparing for audits and monitoring visits.
- Assisting with data collection and entry ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and data integrity throughout the study lifecycle.
Most coordinator roles are primarily in-person, especially for studies that involve patient visits, specimen collection, or hands-on assessments. Depending on the organization, a CRC may work at a single research site or travel across multiple clinics, hospitals, or outpatient offices.
CRCs typically report to a principal investigator (PI), the clinician or researcher responsible for designing and overseeing the study. Day to day, however, coordinators often work with a wider research team that may include site staff, sponsors, ethics committee members, legal offices, and patients and family members.
Schedules in this role tend to follow business hours, but patient availability, monitoring visits, and study deadlines may require early mornings, late afternoons, or extra planning. For many clinicians, this structure offers a middle ground: less shift work than bedside roles, but more patient contact than purely administrative positions.
Pros and Cons of Clinical Research Coordination
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Predictable schedule compared to bedside roles, often with weekday hoursOpportunity to contribute to medical advancement and evidence-based practice
Builds transferable skills in research, compliance, and data management Clear pathway to advancement (senior CRC, clinical trial manager, clinical research associate) |
Primarily in-person work, with limited remote options in many settingsHigh attention to detail required, with little margin for error
Lower starting salary than some bedside or advanced clinical roles Study timelines and sponsor demands can mean periods of high stress |
What Do Clinical Research Coordinators Make?
The average clinical research coordinator salary is $53,660 per year. Gaining experience, taking on new responsibilities, and earning a certification could help you make more in this role. If you’re interested in learning more about opportunities where nurses earn more, check out jobs in the highest-paying states for RNs:
How to Become a Clinical Research Coordinator: 4 Steps
You don’t have to be a nurse to be a CRC. In clinical research, professionals with backgrounds in statistical analysis and health sciences can also bring high value. With that said, a nursing background can provide a strong foundation in patient care, documentation, and clinical judgment that translates well to research roles. Plus, becoming an RN opens you up to opportunities in hospitals, clinics, schools, long-term care, and so much more.
Step 1: Earn a Nursing Degree
Most nurse CRCs start by earning either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN is typically preferred because it includes additional courses in research, statistics, ethics, and leadership. However, if you want to start working faster, you can complete an ADN and the additional BSN courses while working. Learn more about comparing nursing degrees.
Step 2: Gain Licensure
After graduating, nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain licensure and begin practicing. Generally, this entails submitting a background check, proof of education, and a fee. Then, you’ll schedule your exam and receive a license after passing. This process differs by state, so refer to your state board of nursing for details.
What’s on the NCLEX? You can expect questions that pertain to adult and pediatric nursing, as well as obstetrics, mental health, pharmacology, and more. Here are the categories of questions, as defined by the National Council for State Boards of Nursing:
- Safe and effective care environment
- Health promotion and maintenance
- Psychosocial integrity
- Physiological integrity
How should you prepare for the NCLEX? Many schools have a final review, covering subjects you learned across your time in nursing school. You might also consider purchasing a digital preparation course or forming a study group with friends. Pace yourself, and remember that you can retake the exam if you don’t pass the first time around.
Step 3: Get Nursing Experience
Clinical experience helps nurses develop the skills CRCs rely on daily, including patient education, assessment, critical thinking, and meticulous documentation. Roles typically require at least two years of experience in a patient-facing role.
New graduate nurses often take jobs in acute care hospitals, which offer residency programs. These programs add group classes and mentorship alongside a guided preceptorship, easing the steps from student to practicing nurse. The following specialties typically offer new graduate residencies:
- Medical-surgical
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Critical care (ICU)
- Emergency room (ER)
Step 4: Apply for CRC Roles
CRC positions are commonly found at academic medical centers, hospitals, research institutions, private practices, and contract research organizations (CRO). Job titles may vary and include:
- Research Nurse
- Study Coordinator
- Clinical Trial Coordinator
- Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator
When applying, highlight experience with patient education, regulatory compliance, documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and any exposure to research or clinical trials. Check out the latest CRC jobs for more information.
Optional Step 5: Obtain CRC Certification
As in most nursing specialties, additional certifications are not usually a job requirement, but they can be beneficial for many reasons. If you’re making the case for a raise or a promotion, a certification can be helpful. And when applying for new opportunities, when a hiring manager sees certification on your clinical research coordinator resume, it can help set you apart. One of the most common credentials in this area is the Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) certification.
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