Contract Research & Development Career Pathways
So you want to make a difference, but you don’t know where to start? We’ve carefully curated a list of education and training resources to get you started in clinical research and development.
Career pathways
Below is a list of job types that are available with specific levels of training. Opportunities increase with additional training. Salaries vary by company and experience, and are provided as a general guide.
Associate degrees
Durham Technical Community College is home to the only Clinical Trials Research AAS Degree in the nation that’s accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
The Medical Laboratory Technology curriculum prepares students for careers in medical labs. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) Board of Certification MLT examination. Currently offered at:
- Alamance Community College
- Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
- Beaufort County Community College
- Central Piedmont Community College
- Coastal Carolina Community College
- College of The Albemarle
- Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Halifax Community College
- Mitchell Community College
- Sandhills Community College
- Southeastern Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- Stanly Community College
- Wake Technical Community College
- Wayne Community College
- Western Piedmont Community College
- Davidson-Davie Community College
NC BioNetwork’s Biotechnology program prepares graduates to serve in three distinct capacities: laboratory or instrumentation technician, research assistant to a biologist or chemist, or a quality control/quality assurance technician. Currently offered at:
- Alamance Community College
- Cleveland Community College
- Craven Community College
- Forsyth Technical Community College
- Gaston College
- Guilford Technical Community College
- James Sprunt Community College
- Martin Community College
- Nash Community College
- Pitt Community College
- Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
- Surry Community College
- Wake Technical Community College
- Wilson Community College
Bachelor’s degrees
North Carolina Central University’s Clinical Research B.S. prepares students for clinical research positions in clinical management and clinical trials.
Campbell University’s B.S. in Clinical Research provides didactic coursework and a semester-long internship to prepare students for careers in contract research organizations, pharmaceutical companies, or academia.
UNC-Wilmington’s B.S in Clinical Research provides students with a broad understanding of the science, regulatory, and business aspects of developing new therapies.
Master's degrees
Wake Forest University’s online Master of Science in Clinical Research Management.
Campbell University’s online Master of Science in Clinical Research prepares students for careers as clinical investigators, clinical research associates, clinical research coordinators, data research coordinators, project managers, and many other positions.
UNC’s Masters of Science in Clinical Research emphasizes study design and fundamental analytical skills.
UNC-Wilmington’s online Master of Science in Clinical Research and Product Development prepares students for careers in fast-paced clinical trial teams involved in moving new medicines, biologics, and biomedical devices through the regulatory approval process.
Continuing education
Durham Tech’s Biotechnology Lab Assistant course teaches students who already have an associate degree the skills to become trained lab assistants for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemical companies.
Carolinas College of Health Sciences’ Medical Laboratory Science Program is a 12-month course to prepare individuals who already have a Bachelor’s degree for a career as a medical laboratory scientist.
UNC-Wilmington’s online Certificate in Clinical Research Operations is for students with a Bachelor’s degree who are entering the clinical research field or moving to a different area within the field.
North Carolina Central University’s Clinical Research Sciences Certificate includes didactic course work and hands-on clinical rotations.
Durham Technical Community College’s Clinical Trials Research Associate curriculum includes certificate programs in core competencies and data management.
Header image photo credit: BioLabsNC / LaunchBio
