I would really like to agree with the bunny bunny,If you have a MSc or BA in any health science (MD,Pharmacy,Dentist,Registered Nurse) or even microbiology, molecular biology etc. you can become a CRA if you are persistent enough . Training programs are more or less a smart way for getting "experience" even if you don't have it. But if you manage to enter to a CRA position you will see that every normal CRO or Pharma company has their own training program. I would recommend (for the Europe) British recruiters specialized in the field of Clinical Research .(Barrington- James ,Square One Pharma,Hays Pharma,Talentmark etc...). Also make yourself VISIBLE , make LinkedIn profile , put your CV to Pharmiweb and similar Job hunting sites for Pharma industry.Take a GCP cource , there is a dozen online GCP courses. Apply for the CTA and then progress to CRA . Know the EU Directives for Clinical Trials, GCP, FDA regulation,   familiarize yourself with the Clinical research terms (can be easily found on the internet), join the free forums for the clinical research. Most important, believe in yourself and never give up. During a year there are several job opportunities in every country for a person without previous CRA experience ( I worked in Quality Assurance and after a year I started working as a CRA). Find someone who is already working as a CRA.Therefore, it is really important to be VISIBLE on the internet if you want to be notified immediately about new job openings.Good luck.

congratulations dude, I've read the comments and I tried to post one but I need password for it...1. A forum is for people to share their opinions with a specific company, both positive and negative. This negative comment does not have to be approved by a corporate b*****d since it is not addressed to him and it is not his corporate website. If I say a took a specific CRA course and I did not like it since it was full with mistakes, redundant, without any logic and rationale and of very very poor  quality I just express an opinion. And it helps even the company, who may want to improve the quality of the course.2. If someone posts negative comments about a company, this reflects personal experience, and this is the very reason why people use forums and blogs. Of course, we assume honest individuals do that, not people from other companies who try to denigrate other companies (which I don't think it happens very often, only paranoid and very stupid people belive in "hidden agendas" and conspiration theories). But what such very stupid people don't realize is that by becoming histerical and behaving in a stalinist manner does not help, actually on the contrary.

it is all not about a certificate but i think this course really gives you a knowledge about a clinical research. it does not work the way that if you have theri certificate you could be 100% sure you got the job, but it is not that you loose if you have it! if anyone who does not have the knowledge about clinical research and has some money to invest is interested in this course should take it. i am happy with what i have learned from them!

Re Espoirbridge--they never answer. There is no extension for Ms. Williams. Their English is embarrassing to say the least. After I expressed an interest in a supposed position I got tons of spam for CRA classes. Mind you, I am a health professional with a masters. I've also been in industry for over 9 years. It's really sad that they take advantage of people in this economy. Predators to say the least and shame on them.

congratulations dude, I've read the comments and I tried to post one but I need password for it...



1. A forum is for people to share their opinions with a specific company, both positive and negative. This negative comment does not have to be approved by a corporate bastard since it is not addressed to him and it is not his corporate website. If I say a took a specific CRA course and I did not like it since it was full with mistakes, redundant, without any logic and rationale and of very very poor  quality I just express an opinion. And it helps even the company, who may want to improve the quality of the course.

2. If someone posts negative comments about a company, this reflects personal experience, and this is the very reason why people use forums and blogs. Of course, we assume honest individuals do that, not people from other companies who try to denigrate other companies (which I don't think it happens very often, only paranoid and very stupid people belive in "hidden agendas" and conspiration theories). But what such very stupid people don't realize is that by becoming histerical and behaving in a stalinist manner does not help, actually on the contrary.

So now I have read all of the comments about the fact that most of these companies are scams and I am wonder what probably others are... WHERE CAN I GET TRAINING TO BE A CRA??? I have applied for positions that ask for what seems like minimal experience, and no response. I find tons of openings on Medzilla for CRA's, but I must be a total loser, because I don't get even a "you suck, but thank you for applying" email. I have been a RN for 20 yrs, have my BSN and did about a years work as a CRA 12 yrs ago for a tiny research institute.
I would love to find a job as a CRA and work my way up to being home based and have a stable job! I know it won't happen over night, but I need help finding out how to start the entire process. I keep hitting brick walls because no one wants to hire and train you, and no one wants someone without experience!! It's a catch 22, which is so frustrating I want to scream!!

Can anyone shed some light on what to do? Thank you for anything you have to offer!
Gina