Your key to entering the rewarding field of clinical research
The Applied Clinical Research program is designed for individuals seeking to enter the field of clinical research.
Online
Approx. 6-8 hours per week, per course
Certificate: 16 months-3 years
Schedule and fees
Open enrolment
The Applied Clinical Research program provides a solid introduction to the varied areas of knowledge and skills related to clinical research. The program is intended for individuals seeking to enter the field or professionals upgrading knowledge and skills.
Earning a Certificate in Applied Clinical Research opens doors to wide range of rewarding careers such as:
Upon completion of the program it is recommended that you consider obtaining a professional designation from ACRP or SOCRA. By considering your background and future career goals you will find a professional designation that best suits your needs.
Upon completion of the program, learners will be able to:
ACRP: Association of Clinal Research Professionals
Program content is based on knowledge and skills for clinical research associates and managers as identified by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)
There are 6 designations at the ACRP, we encourage you to explore these opportunities to determine which would best align with your interests and background. Contact ACRP for more information.
SOCRA: The Society of Clinical Research Associates
Students completing the Applied Clinical Research program with McMaster Continuing Education could qualify for the SOCRA certification under Category 3 as long as they meet all requirements. Candidate eligibility for the SOCRA certification can only be assessed by SOCRA according to SOCRA full list of requirements. Acceptance is not guaranteed and it is up to SOCRA’s discretion to accept candidates after reviewing candidate’s profile. If you have a question about Candidate eligibility please email SOCRA at certification@socra.org.
CoARCR: Consortium of Academic Programs in Clinical Research
The Consortium of Academic Programs in Clinical Research (CoAPCR) facilitates the development of high-quality educational programs encompassing all areas of clinical research that are based in academic credit-granting institutions.
McMaster’s affiliation with the CoAPCR provides a medium for communication among educators, institutions, and industry
This educational offering has been approved for the following continuing education credit/professional development credit by the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists. McMaster University Continuing Education maintains all responsibility for this offering and its content.
ACR 101: Principles of Clinical Research (36 credits) ACR 102: Research Ethics (39 credits) ACR 103: Clinical Trial Design (39 credits) ACR 104: Clinical Trial Management (39 credits) ACR 105: Clinical Research Capstone (36 credits)
Are you a current McMaster University undergraduate student?
Explore the ElevateYourSkills option to learn how you can earn an Applied Clinical Research certificate as part of your degree.
Learn more here.
I wanted to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that.
I wanted to be able to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that because of McMaster Continuing Education. Being a nurse, there are so many different avenues of nursing that I can try new things and continue to learn. The instructors were really understanding. When you’re working full-time, having someone that will promptly answer your questions and make time for you when you need it, they made it really easy.
Explore the requirements below and register today!
Earn the Certificate in Applied Clinical Research by completing all 5 courses listed below.
Academic Credit – 15 Units
Admission requirement: A completed post-secondary education (diploma or degree) is strongly recommended.
Students are given a three-year period to complete all required components of the certificate program. This requirement is based on the need to remain current with legal, regulatory and ethical considerations in the field of work.
Note: Courses must be taken in the following order:
3.0 UNITS
$1,010.30
Registration: Fall and Winter terms open in mid-July and Spring term opens in mid-March. Program Requirements: Review certificate or diploma tab. Time Zone: Courses run in the Eastern Time (ET) Zone. Course Fees: A McMaster Part Time Student fee is included in the cost of academic credit courses. There is no tax on courses unless indicated at the bottom of the schedule chart. Additional Fees: New students pay a one-time, non-refundable $39 activation fee for their first academic-credit course. Not every program or course requires textbooks. Learn more about textbooks. Learning Formats: Each course is offered in Online, Online Self-Study, or Virtual Classroom formats, as shown below. Visit Learning Formats for details.
The schedule table is subject to change. Please visit the course pages to browse classes currently available for registration and the latest cost information.
This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online. Our courses can be taken as part of a program or individually.
To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:
To ensure you are successful in your online courses, you are required to have knowledge and skills with general computer applications, such as keyboarding, file management, video conferencing and word processing.
Language Requirements
If English is not your native language, you must meet McMaster University’s English proficiency requirements by either qualifying for an exemption or passing a McMaster-approved English test. You will not need to provide proof of meeting this English requirement prior to registration. If you demonstrate English proficiency below the required standard, you will be asked to provide proof or to withdraw.
A payment receipt email will be issued to you immediately after registering, and a course confirmation email will be sent to you overnight. Within approximately 24 hours of registering, you will also receive an important email containing credentials used to activate your MacID, which you must do before you can access courses in Avenue to Learn. Please review our Getting Started page to learn more about the next steps for beginning your studies after registration, and our Help Centre for our Refund Policy and other frequently asked questions. Please note that on average, each course requires 6-8 hours of study per week, per course (sometimes more) and some courses may have listed prerequisites. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Most students take 1-2 courses per term across a few different terms and a full-time equivalent course load is typically 3-4 courses per term.
For more information and a walkthrough on how to register, please check out this video.
Visit the Schedule tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.