How to Get Into a CRA Role

Last Updated: March 12th, 2026

It’s not impossible to get into a CRA role straight out of college. Some sponsors and contract research organizations (CROs) may recruit recent graduates with the necessary traits and skills. However, most employers will require some relevant prior experience for a CRA role.

Experience

Similar to many other career fields, experience is the key to obtaining a CRA position. My own career path started with a Bachelor of Science in engineering. I worked in an academic research lab for 6 years after college before switching to a clinical research coordinator (CRC) role at a hospital for 3 years.

From there, I transitioned into a clinical research associate (CRA) role at a sponsor company, an in vitro diagnostic device manufacturer, for 3.5 years. I then progressed into my current position overseeing clinical trial management at a non-profit drug company.

Switching jobs helped me gain experience and pushed me to develop new skills. In addition, every new position was an increase in responsibilities, job title, and compensation.

What if you don’t have prior experience?

This question came up when I switched my career path from working in an academic research lab to working in clinical research. It also came up again and again as I changed jobs into roles with greater responsibilities. The keys to conquer a new career path without prior experience are:

• Building on prior applicable skills and knowledge
• A willingness to work hard and start somewhere

These two factors were the reason that helped me transition into a clinical research coordinator (CRC) position in an emergency room setting at a hospital. I had applicable skills in science and research when I was in academic lab. The other factor was that I was willing to work at night and on the weekend. In addition, I had to push myself beyond my comfort zone. I was recruiting pediatric patients into clinical trials in emergency settings.

Imagine yourself as a parent who brought a really sick child into an emergency room late at night, participating in clinical trial is probably not the first thing on your mind. This pushed me to work hard to succeed. I used the same approach to advance my career into a CRA role and into my current role as a manager.

Different Pathways Towards a CRA Role

Similar to my career path, those without experience can get into clinical research at a lower level. These starting positions may be directly or indirectly applicable to clinical research industry. Once experience has been gained, a clinical research associate (CRA) position can be pursued using the applicable skills and knowledge acquired.

Directly applicable starting positions may include:

• Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC): Role at a clinical site
• Clinical Trials Associate (CTA): Role at a sponsor company
• Nursing role with patient care experience.
• Clinical Trial Assistant (CTA): CTAs assist with eligibility assessments, personnel management, and participant needs, and also oversee some of the clinical site’s daily functions.
• CITI Program: This is one of the most common stepping stones to a CRA role at CROs.
• In-House CRA / Site Support CRA: Some CROs hire entry-level CRAs to focus on document review, remote data checks, and site correspondence before transitioning them to field-based monitoring.
• Clinical Data Coordinator: Working directly with clinical data quality gives transferable skills in query resolution and data integrity, which are core CRA competencies.

Indirectly applicable starting positions may include:

• Pharmacy or medical sales
• Clinical laboratory work
• Clinical data work
• Academic or pharmaceutical research

A Note on Remote & Hybrid CRA Roles

It’s worth knowing that the CRA role today looks quite different from what it did even a few years ago. Many CRA positions are now listed as “remote” or “home-based,” meaning the CRA works from home and travels to clinical sites as needed rather than being based out of a company office. This hybrid model has become the norm across much of the industry, particularly at CROs.

For those looking to break into a CRA role, this is relevant for a couple of reasons.

• First, you are no longer limited to applying only to companies with offices near you – remote CRA positions open up opportunities nationwide.
• Second, while travel is still a core part of the job, the frequency and expectations can vary. Some roles may require travel 50 – 75% of the time, while others, especially those involving centralized or remote monitoring, may involve significantly less.

When searching for entry-level CRA positions, look for keywords like “home-based CRA,” “remote CRA,” or “CRA I – remote” on job boards such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and individual CRO career pages. Being located within reasonable distance of a major airport is still an advantage, as it keeps travel costs lower for employers and can make you a more attractive candidate.

CRO Entry-Level CRA Training Programs

One pathway into a CRA role that has become much more common in recent years is through structured training programs offered by major contract research organizations (CROs). These programs are specifically designed to take early-career professionals (often those with some clinical research or healthcare background but no prior monitoring experience) and develop them into field-ready CRAs.

These programs typically combine classroom-style learning (often virtual), hands-on training with real studies, and mentorship from experienced CRAs and managers. They vary in length and structure, but most run several months and result in placement into a full CRA role upon successful completion.

Some well-known CRO training programs include:

• Parexel – APEX CRA Program
  Parexel’s APEX program offers early-career professionals a structured pathway into clinical research through comprehensive training and hands-on experience. The program has won multiple industry awards, including GOLD in the Novice CRA category. Recruitment cycles open periodically based on business needs. Candidates typically need a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Clinical Research, or Nursing.
• IQVIA – CRA Training Program
  IQVIA’s program combines virtual learning activities, on-the-job training, and mentorship. IQVIA offers several CRA alignment models which include full-service, sponsor-dedicated, and biotech-focused tracks, giving trainees exposure to different types of clinical research environments. IQVIA is one of the largest CROs in the world, so completing their training program also opens doors to a wide internal network.
• ICON – CRA Bridge Program
  ICON’s bridge program is designed for candidates who are transitioning into CRA roles from related positions such as CRC, CTA, or other clinical research support roles. ICON also runs the EPIC internship program for entry-level professionals interested in CRO careers more broadly.
• Medpace – CRA Development Program
  Medpace, a mid-size CRO known for its focus on therapeutic expertise, offers development opportunities for candidates with CRC or clinical research coordinator backgrounds looking to move into monitoring roles. Medpace is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and operates globally.

A few things to keep in mind about CRO training programs:

These programs are competitive. Major CROs receive a high volume of applications for a limited number of spots. Having prior clinical research experience (even in a CRC, CTA, or data role) and completed GCP training will strengthen your application significantly. These programs also typically require a willingness to travel, since the end goal is a field-based CRA position.

If a program isn’t currently accepting applications, don’t be discouraged! Recruitment cycles open periodically throughout the year based on business needs and study volume. It’s worth checking back regularly and setting up job alerts on the CRO’s careers page.

For a broader view of CRA career levels and what to expect at each stage, visit our CRA Career Progression & Levels page.