Subjects Covered In Clinical Data Management
Though the curriculum of a program in Clinical Data Management can vary as per the course as well as the institution, there are some key subjects under this discipline which are included in the study of Clinical Date Management. To help you understand what CDM comprises of, the following table lists down a few of the major sub-disciplines that are often incorporated under courses offered in this field:
CRF Design | |
Electronic Data Capture | Managing Lab Data |
Note: The above-mentioned list is only for indicative purposes. The course offerings might differ as per the program as well as the university.
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What Degree Do You Need To Become A Clinical Data Manager
Because Clinical Data Managers must be proficient in IT, most jobs require a minimum of a Bachelors degree. However, most people with clinical data manager jobs hold a masters degree in computer science, engineering, or life sciences. Additionally, a degree in health informatics is helpful.
Though it isnt a prerequisite, knowing more than one language may be beneficial for professionals seeking work in CDM. Because travel is probable in many cases, knowing a second language may even result in higher pay.
Clinical Manager Skills To Acquire
- Must be able to think analytically
- Must know how to follow current regulations and new laws
- Speaking a second language is a plus
- Must be an excellent communicator, relaying important policies and procedure to employees
- Should possess strong decision-making skills
- Must be skilled in finance including how to create a budget
- Should demonstrate exceptional managerial abilities, whether its managing projects or people
- Should be able to work in a team
- Excellent interpersonal skills is a requirement
- Must have strong leadership skills, motivating and inspiring greatness among staff
- Should have great critical thinking skills, discovering innovative solutions to simple and complex issues
- Should know how to delegate tasks to the right workers
- Must have excellent time management skills and should know how to multi-task
- Must be able to cultivate a positive work environment
- Must maintain incredible organization skills to ensure the clinic operates smoothly
- Should demonstrate excellent technical abilities
- Must be proficient in medical terminology
- Exceptional technical skills is a must
- Must possess active listening skills, giving ones undivided attention to what employees are saying
- Should know how to hire and train staff
- An ability to negotiate and persuade when communicating with difficult patients
- Advanced knowledge of appropriate patient care
- Must maintain up-to-date knowledge regarding patient privacy
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Clinical Data Manager Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia’s data science team found that:
- Among clinical data managers, 70.1% of them are women, while 29.9% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among clinical data managers is White, which makes up 66.6% of all clinical data managers.
- The most common foreign language among clinical data managers is Spanish at 43.3%.
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AtrásSitios O*NET
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor’s degree, but some do not.
- Related Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Job Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
- Job Zone Examples
- Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
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Career Outlook For Clinical Data Managers
The overall job outlook for Clinical Data Manager careers has been positive since 2019. Vacancies for this career have increased by 93.70 percent nationwide in that time, with an average growth of 93.70 percent per year. Demand for Clinical Data Managers is expected to go down, with an expected -16,280 jobs shed by 2029. This represents an annual decrease of 3.03 percent over the next few years. Join our career community today!
There are currently more Clinical Data Managers in the following states
California |
Clinical Data Managersbright Outlook Updated 2022
The occupation code you requested, 15-2041.02 , is no longer in use. In the future, please use 15-2051.02 instead.
Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.
Sample of reported job titles:Clinical Data Management Director , Clinical Data Management Manager , Clinical Data Manager, Clinical Informatics Manager, Data Deliverables Manager, Data Management Manager
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Best States For A Clinical Data Manager
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a clinical data manager. The best states for people in this position are California, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Maine. Clinical data managers make the most in California with an average salary of $111,847. Whereas in Massachusetts and Virginia, they would average $103,381 and $101,753, respectively. While clinical data managers would only make an average of $100,405 in Maine, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. California
$111,847
2. Maine
$100,405
3. North Carolina
$97,050
Becoming A Clinical Data Manager
Because this role combines technical expertise with management responsibilities, an array of skills outside of building or managing databases and processing data may be necessary for success. Leadership is at the top of the list of additional traits you should possess to become a clinical data manager. Throughout the clinical trial process, you may need to train team members, evaluate staff performance and find solutions to any issues that arise.
Other important competencies include:
- Being detail-oriented to accurately and effectively collect data.
- Thinking critically to address surprise situations that may come up while a clinical trial is in progress.
- Managing time and working efficiently to handle incoming data from more than one clinical study at a time.
When applying for clinical data manager jobs, you may find that most positions require at least a bachelorâs degree. However, many individuals in this role have a graduate education in computer science, engineering or information technology. Earning an advanced degree may be an effective way to stand out from other candidates in this field.
Certifications can further show hiring managers that you are a trained and qualified professional. For example, the Society of Clinical Data Managers offers the Certified Clinical Data Manager program. Eligibility requirements give applicants multiple options to pursue, which require varying levels of education and work experience.
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Sample Job Description #3
ABC Company is seeking an experienced Clinical Data Manager who will thrive in a quickly scaling clinical trial technology environment. The clinical operations team at Abc Company is deeply collaborative, and you will work with nearly every function at the company to oversee clinical trial data and set priorities to ensure that all data management procedures are executed on time and to the clients specifications.
Learn More About Your Potential Career As A Clinical Data Manager
If you’re seeking an IT career that allows you to work directly in the health care industry, you may want to consider a job as a clinical data manager. Individuals in this position need the right combination of relevant skills and subject matter expertise that a graduate degree may be able to provide.
Arizona State University’s Master of Science in information technology online can help you gain a more in-depth understanding of information systems and develop the ability to conceptualize, organize and manage professional projects. The MS in Information Technology aims to prepare you for increased responsibilities and leadership demands to advance your IT career.
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Clinical Data Manager Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what’s a career path you ask? Well, it’s practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of manager you might progress to a role such as service manager eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title quality assurance manager.
What Is A Clinical Trial Manager

A clinical trial manager is responsible for the overall coordination and management of a clinical trial. This includes developing and managing the budget, timelines, and study protocols, as well as overseeing the recruitment of patients and monitoring of data. Clinical trial managers also work with regulatory agencies to ensure that trials are conducted in compliance with all regulations.
Clinical trial managers require a detailed understanding of the clinical research process, as well as strong organizational and communication skills. They must be able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and work effectively under pressure. It is also important to have a good understanding of the drug development process, as well as the principles of human subjects research protections.
The role of a clinical trial manager is critical to the success of a clinical trial. They are responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the trial run smoothly and that the data collected is accurate and reliable. Clinical trial managers are an essential part of any drug development team and play a key role in bringing new drugs to market.
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What Do We Do As Clinical Data Managers Or Clinical Data Associates During A Clinical Trial
Every clinical trial starts with an approved protocol. The protocol is a study document that gives you all the information on how to start a clinical trial. After the approved protocol, the sponsor selects the required sites. Clinical sites are mostly hospitals with a targeted group of patients who are suffering from a disease or disorder our clinical trial is focused on.
Once the sites are selected, investigator selection takes place and continues with the approval process. Once the clinical trial is approved, continues with the patient recruitment and participation and the clinical trial starts collecting the data. The role of a clinical data manager starts with the approved protocol.
After the protocol is approved, there should be a database where the clinical data is stored. We, clinical data managers, build the clinical database as per the protocol requirements. Once the database is live, its clinical data managers responsibility to clean the data periodically so that the final data that is submitted to statisticians should help to interpret the data into results which should be easy to analyze and take decisions. Please find the typical workflow of a clinical trial below.
So, if you want to start a career in Clinical data management, you should have the following traits or qualities: Background in science., passion for solving different problems, a good understanding of databases, and interest in using computers.
Roles Similar To Clinical Data Manager
Clinical Data Manager also qualify for the following roles. You should evaluate them to see if they are better fit for your financial and life style goalsUpdate Career Goals
- Data Coordinator $35.68 – 89.38/hour
- Data Analyst$23.41 – 77.33/hour
Collect, clean, refine and analyze data. Create and test a hypothesis based on different interpretations of data. Develop, maintain, and update the database to ensure accurate reporting of essential data. Build reports and dashboards to ensure smooth monitoring of business and/or process status. Update data collection systems and enable automation of data collection. Work with changing priorities and prioritize based on current business needs. Make ad-hoc reports and identify areas for increased efficiency, profitability, and reliability. Study market trends based on customer data and identify trends.
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Clinical Data Manager Job Duties
Overall, clinical data managers are responsible for collecting data from a variety of medical research projects, such as clinical and pharmaceutical trials. They work collaboratively to make sure data is collected, managed and reported clearly, accurately, and securely.
While some managers work for large pharmaceutical companies, others work for hospitals, governmental organizations, or private companies and research universities. Preparing reports, statistical comparisons, data charts, and other presentation materials is an important part of the collaborative process between the clinical data manager and the research team.
Because the work is collaborative in nature, regular group meetings and some travel may be required.
Clinical Data Team Lead / Senior Clinical Data Team Lead
At this level, you will lead all CDM activities relating to the delivery of subject data for clinical trials. You will work directly with clients to reach a complete understanding of customer needs, contractual timelines and deliverables. Your duties will include working across departments to exceed customer expectations and providing ongoing, quality communications and deliverables for projects.
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What Are The Skills You Need To Become A Clinical Trial Manager
There are a few skills that are essential for clinical trial managers. These include:
- Detailed understanding of the clinical research process- This includes an understanding of the drug development process, as well as the principles of human subjects research protections.
- Strong organizational skills- This includes being able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and effectively prioritize work.
- Good communication skills This includes being able to communicate effectively with study participants, the research team, and other members of the organization.
- Ability to work under pressure- This includes being able to handle stress and ambiguity, as well as make sound decisions in a timely manner.
- Familiarity with clinical research software- This includes being able to use electronic data capture systems and other software that is used in clinical trials.
The role of a clinical trial manager is critical to the success of any clinical trial. They are responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the trial run smoothly and that the data collected is accurate and reliable. Clinical trial managers are an essential part of any drug development team and play a key role in bringing new drugs to market. If you have these skills, then a career as a clinical trial manager may be a good fit for you.
What Are The Challenges Of A Career In Clinical Trial Management
The challenges of a career in clinical trial management include:
- Staying up to date with the latest developments The pharmaceutical industry is constantly changing, so it is important to keep up with the latest advances in order to be effective in your job.
- Managing multiple tasks- A career as a clinical trial manager involves juggling many different tasks at once, so it is important to be organized and efficient.
- Handling stress- Clinical trials can be stressful and demanding, so it is important to be able to handle pressure.
- Handling difficult situations- Clinical trials can be stressful, and sometimes things go wrong. It is important to be able to handle difficult situations calmly and effectively.
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Future Of Clinical Data Management Career
There are huge opportunities in CDM as it is an evolving field. Data has become a great repository for drawing accurate conclusions in the field of medicine. Experienced clinical data managers play a critical role in the clinical research process.
In any pharmaceutical and contract research organization, the CDM department is considered the most important because it is responsible for the collection and processing of clinical trial data.
The entire team develops tools to collect data from clinical trial sites, and quality checks it to find anomalies. With India emerging as one of the most preferred destinations for clinical trials and clinical research outsourcing, candidates have a bright future in this field.
Low Income & Lower Income Country

Application Confirmation
Once an application has been processed, approximately 14 working days after it is received by SCDM, the applicant will receive an e-mail of acceptance/denial. The e-mail of acceptance will include instructions on how to access the platform and schedule your exam date.
The accepted applicant will have 90 days from the date of the acceptance e-mail to take the exam. It is recommended that an accepted applicant schedule an exam immediately upon receipt of the acceptance e-mail to secure an exam date within the eligibility period. Except as set forth in this Handbook, the eligibility period will not be extended. The eligibility ID is not transferable.
Applicants must meet at least one of the eligibility requirements listed below, if an applicant does not meet the requirements, the application will be denied and the applicant will be refunded their application fee and $25 of administration costs will be charged on this refund.
APPLICANTS FOR THE CERTIFIED CLINICAL DATA MANAGER PROGRAM MUST MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA
- Bachelors degree or higher and minimum two years full-time CDM experience
- Associates degree and minimum three years full-time CDM experience
- Four or more years full-time CDM experience
- Part-time work experience equal to or surpassing full-time equivalent in criteria above
Scheduling the Exam
What to expect when taking an exam
Before the Exam
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Howand Whythe Role Of Clinical Data Manager Is Changing
Clinical trials are becoming increasingly complex. New data collection technologies, data visualization tools, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all impacted the way trials are conducted. As these changes disrupt the industry, the data management profession continues to evolve.
We spoke to Monica Pimazzoni, Director of Clinical Data Management of CROS NT, an Alira Health company, about what the future holds for data managers.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed data collection in clinical trials and the life of data managers?
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we were running clinical trials, notably: no or very few contacts with the sites and no possibility for CRAs to have onsite visits. As a result, we realized we did not have processes or tools in place to allow us to do a proper data oversight remotely.
We had to quickly implement changes to the eCRF to allow telephone visits, adjust validation checks to allow wider time windows, capture additional data to justify missing visits or missing examinations when the patient had a telephone interview instead of an on-site visit, and re-think protocol deviations possibly caused by the pandemic. And we had to be flexible and fast in implementing all these changes!
At the same time, we also had to investigate the recommendations and guidance from different regulatory bodies, like EMA and FDA, and implement their recommendations on how to manage pandemic challenges for clinical trials.