Regulatory Coordinator Careers
While many employment sectors are still struggling, public health jobs are still on a steady rise. This is partially due to the healthcare demands of the population, but also due to the number of supportive careers that are in the same field. The position of regulatory coordinator is just one such job that combines development with health services.
As employment in public health continues, new jobs are not only created, but advancement opportunities also arise. This makes working in public health a stable and well paying choice for a career path. If you are interested in helping to provide new treatment options and services to the public, then a regulatory coordinator job can offer you a great starting point.
What Is A Regulatory Coordinator?
Regulatory coordinators help the advancement of medical treatment by overseeing clinical trials and establishing a legal basis for the acceptance of new service methods. This position requires strong observation skill as it involves both collecting data on the proceedings of these trails and charting outcomes. Regulatory coordinators will also fill out compliance reports and coordinate with ethics boards regarding the process for accepting new treatment options as valid.
As a regulatory coordinator, you would perform the following tasks as part of the job:
- Prepare and record data that is generate through clinical trials of new treatment methods.
- Review compliance with regulations on testing trials.
- Monitor trial procedures.
- Observe conduct to evaluate ethical code adherence.
- Submit data and findings reports to regulatory agencies.
Characteristics
Regulatory coordinators will also require the following professional skills to make work more efficient and productive:
- Organization: You must be able to keep track of multiple streams of information. You must also be able to clearly and accurately record this information.
- Communication: You will have to act as a liaison for regulatory agencies and effectively impart information to the clinical trial managers. You must also be able to generate verbal and written reports of your observations.
- Sound moral values: This position requires that you not only have an understanding of current legal codes for testing medical treatments, but that you are also able to uphold the code of ethics in regards to medical science and human subjects.
- Computer proficiency: You must be able to operate a number of computer systems for tracking data and generating reports and presentations.
Nature Of The Work
Many regulatory coordinators work in research labs, although some trials are conducted on a public basis. The majority of the work you will do is observing these proceedings, although you will also be required to work in an office environment for data entry and the completion of documentation. If fault is found in the process of the clinical trials, you may need to testify at civil hearing. This may also be the case if your observations indicate that the outcomes of the trials are biased, or that the treatment method may pose a risk to public welfare.
Education And Training
Most regulatory coordinators are able to gain employment with a four year Bachelor’s degree. Studies should include subjects such as law, ethics, health information systems and strategic planning. This provides a good background for the work that is required, although higher education that has a greater legal focus may be necessary for some jobs. Many federal positions will even require a law degree and passing the bar exam for the state of employment.
Regardless of the degree you have obtained, you will also need to complete an internship of one to three years, in order to gain the practical experience in the field. This may also include at least a year of supervised administrative work. Certifications as a regulatory agent are obtainable through state exams, and prerequisite for taking these exams can vary.
Regulatory coordinators have a relatively high salary, even for entry positions. The lower 10% in this field make around $50,000 per year, while the median salary for this job is closer to $80,000 per year. This offers both an attractive wage for people who are new to the field, as well as good incentive to advance.
Openings for regulatory coordinators are also very positive. The projected hob growth over the next ten years is estimated at close to 23% or nearly 70,000 new positions. This provides you with ample prospects for employment at a variety of levels. If you are interested in ensuring community safety through quality monitoring as well as securing a stable entry level position, then the job of regulatory coordinator could be a good start.
