High School

Classes that are a good foundation for future clinical research coordinator work include math, science, English, health science, psychology, statistics, and computers. Clinical research is conducted in compliance with local, state, and federal laws and institutional policies, and coordinators must have a good grasp of ethics. If your school offers ethics classes, be sure to add them to your curriculum. Knowledge of a foreign language may also be helpful for future work on international projects.

Postsecondary Education

A bachelor's degree is required for clinical research coordinator jobs. Many coordinators have a bachelor's in clinical research, which includes courses in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, biology, biomedical ethics, psychology, pharmacology, and business management. Students also learn scientific methods and laboratory procedures, and how to start, research, and coordinate clinical trials and record data properly. Many schools require students to be certified in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and to pass a drug-screening test to participate in the laboratory classes.

Other Education or Training

Knowledge of various computer software programs is required for clinical research jobs. Coordinators can find computer classes offered by colleges, vocational schools, and professional associations for clinical research professionals. Useful software programs include, but are not limited to: InferMed MACRO Electronic Data Capture; SAS; StataCorp Stata; Mathworks MATLAB; drug-coding software; FileMaker Pro; patient-tracking software; and Microsoft Excel.

Certification

Clinical research coordinators who have received voluntary certification demonstrate their knowledge and skills to prospective employers. The Society of Clinical Research Associates offers the certified clinical research professional credential to applicants who pass a comprehensive examination. The Association for Clinical Research Professionals offers the certified clinical research coordinator (CCRC) credential to individuals who meet education and work experience requirements and pass an exam. There are also certification programs for clinical research associates, principal investigators, and clinical research professionals who demonstrate knowledge of medical device trials.

Entry-level positions for clinical research coordinators often require at least one or two years of prior experience monitoring clinical research trials.

Coordinators must have strong organizational and research skills, the ability to work well with team members and subjects, and clear communication skills. The job entails gathering and analyzing information and solving problems. In addition to interpersonal abilities, strong technology knowledge is required for tracking patients, recording data, and writing reports. People who do well in this field have initiative and are willing to step up to various responsibilities and challenges. They are able to stay on top of all the details, are adaptable to changing work conditions, and approach their work in an honest, ethical manner.