Clinical Trials: Medical Device and Drug Development

• Average Cost
  ^$5,500
• Certificate Program
• Format
  Online
  
  Duration
  12-18 months
  
   Course Schedule
  
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Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)

Individuals seeking this designation from The Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA), and who hold an Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s degree in science, health science, pharmacy, or a related (science/healthcare) field, may complete the Clinical Trials Certificate Program in lieu of one year of SOCRA’s eligibility requirement of two years’ work experience in clinical research. For more information about the CCRP designation, please visit the SOCRA Website.

Advisory Committee

• Maribelle Guloy, DHSc, CCRP, Director, Clinical Development, American Regent, Inc., a Daiichi Sankyo Group Company
• Richard Nichol, President, Nichol Clinical Technologies Corp.
• Albert Rego, Scientific Consultant to the Life Science Industry
• Nancy Schwartz, Principal, SearchLight Consulting
• Charles Stark, PharmD, Sr VP, Research and Development, Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc.

Career Advancement Network (CAN)

We are proud to provide our certificate students and alumni with newly enhanced career services that include one-on-one coaching, technology tools, webinars and workshops, networking events, mentorship/internship opportunities, and a rich collection of free online career resources. Learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does the program cost?
• Fees for each course vary from $450-$735 based on unit value. There is also a one-time candidacy declaration fee of $125, to be paid after your second class. Therefore, the entire program costs $5,500. Note that you pay for each class as you enroll, as opposed to the entire tuition sum at once. Please keep in mind that this cost does not include textbooks, which some of our instructors do require. Textbook information for specific courses can be found on our website on the enrollment page. Students may purchase textbooks from the vendor of their choice. Prices are subject to change without notice.
• How long will it take me to complete the entire program?
• It depends on how many courses you can take at once. A certificate is awarded upon completion of 16 total units, the 11 required courses and minimum of 5 elective credit units each with a letter grade of “C” or better. On average, you can complete the program in 12-18 months. Most students who work full time take one or two classes per quarter, depending on their work schedules and other obligations. You can take as many courses as you wish simultaneously, but we strongly recommend starting with one or two to ensure you have the necessary time to devote to the course(s).
• If I am interested in taking courses from other Life Sciences Certificate Programs can these programs share electives?
• Yes, you can share up to six units or two Electives courses between the Medical Device Development Certificate Program and the Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Certificate Program.
• Do I have to apply and be accepted before I start?
• No. This is an open-enrollment program, and you will not have to provide transcripts or prove prerequisites before you begin.
• Where can I find the course schedule? Do I have to take the classes in order?
• The course schedule can be found here. You may take the classes in any order that you like. We recommend, starting with the required courses as they build the foundation of the program and then moving onto the elective courses.
• Can I complete the entire program online?
• Yes, this is a fully online program.
• I’ve never taken an online class. How does it work? Is it self-paced?
• No, the classes are not self-paced. Our online classes take place in an asynchronous online environment, meaning there will not be a day of the week or time of day that you will need to be online. You can log in when you have time to do so. However, the courses are structured week-to-week, from Monday to Sunday, and you are expected to log in multiple times during the week to keep up with class discussions and assignments. Some instructors may hold optional synchronous sessions which happen in real time. These sessions will be recorded and posted in the course for all students to access.
• I am an international student / I am located overseas – am I able to enroll?
• Yes. As an open-enrollment program, international students are welcome in the program. Please note that if English is not your native language, enrollment in this program assumes that you have a working proficiency in English to allow you to engage in high-level academic discourse without any additional language coaching. If you are interested in taking the program fully online, you may enroll in courses via the Continuing Education website at your convenience and on a quarter by quarter basis. You are not required to have a student visa while taking online courses from your home county.
  
  If you wish to apply for an F-1 student visa to study in person at UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education (DCE), you must formally apply to UC Irvine DCE’s International Programs and request an I-20. Please keep in mind that not all evening certificate programs are available to F-1 student visa holders based on the availability of classes that meet on campus. We cannot issue an I-20 for fully online programs. Please visit International Programs or email uciesl@uci.edu for more information.
• Do you offer job placement at the end of the program?
• No. While UCI DCE does not offer placement services, our certificate certainly puts you in a good position to find employment. Additionally, the networking to be done in the class can also be invaluable. Our advisors, instructors, and a good number of our students, are current professionals in the industry, and are an excellent resource for hiring trends and opportunities.
• Is UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education an accredited institution?
• Yes. We are affiliated with the University of California system of schools, and are accredited through WASC. DCE programs are all approved by the respective school within UCI. For more information, please visit UCI Accreditation.
• What is the “declaration of candidacy”? When do I have to complete it?
• The declaration of candidacy can be thought of as declaring your major for the certificate program. This lets our student services know that you intend to complete the entire program, and puts you on track for the certificate when you have completed all requirements. We strongly recommend that you complete the declaration of candidacy and pay the applicable fee before enrolling into your third class.
• Are there scholarships or financial aid available for this program?
• Since UCI DCE is the continuing education unit of the university, we do not offer/accept any federal financial aid or scholarships. If you take courses through us, you may apply directly to private lenders for funding. It is recommended that you begin the loan application process early as UCI DCE does not enroll students in courses until payment is received, and applying for a loan does not reserve a space in the course. For more information, please visit Student Loan Programs. If you have any questions regarding student loans, please contact Student Services at 949-824-5414. For more financial information, please go to Financial Information.
• I can’t find the answer to my question.
• If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact EngineeringSciences@ce.uci.edu.

English Proficiency Requirement
All certificate programs at UCI Division of Continuing Education (classroom and online formats) require professional-level English language proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation.

Clinical Trials Information Session
Recorded 3/11/20
View Webinar