Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

The standards and benchmarks for this program were updated for the 2026-27 academic year.

Program Title: 	Clinical Research Coordinator
Career Cluster: 	Health Science

College Credit Certificate	
CIP Number	0351071901	
Program Type	College Credit Certificate (CCC)	
Program Length	30 credit hours	
CTSO	HOSA	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	For program SOC codes, please see the Program and Course Tables section of the CTE Program Resources page linked below.	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose

This certificate program is part of the Clinical Research Professional AS degree program (1351071902).  

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Health Science career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of Health Science career cluster. 

The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as clinical research coordinators (Natural Science Manager), (Medical and Health Services Manager), (Manager), or (Healthcare Support Workers) or to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in these occupations.  

The content includes but is not limited to communication skills, leadership skills, human relations and employability skills, principles of management, introduction to computer literacy, health care organization, medical ethics, legal aspects, and advanced technical skills in a chosen health-related profession, health and safety, and CPR.

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Program Structure

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 30 credit hours.

When developing the course sequence for the local implementation of this program, select courses that:
•	Meet the skill development requirements of the standards and benchmarks of this program.
•	Where reasonable and practicable, align with programs offered by your institution or other postsecondary institutions in Florida, including: 
o	Related AS and AAS degrees.
o	Baccalaureate degrees within the same career pathway and/or Federal CIP code.

Visit FloridaShines’ Discover Programs website to identify other institutions that offer similar programs to review their course sequencing. Where appropriate, course alignment between institutions offering related programs can facilitate interagency student articulation.

Visit FloridaShines’ Common Prerequisites Manual to identify courses that are prerequisites for admission into an upper division program.  When sub-baccalaureate courses are aligned to the course admissions requirements of baccalaureate programs with the same career pathway, students can enter upper division coursework seamlessly.   

Florida’s Career Readiness Skills for CTE Programs

Employability Skills	
01.0	Apply academic skills to workplace scenarios.	
01.01	Use reading skills.	
01.02	Use writing skills.	
01.03	Use mathematical strategies and procedures.	
01.04	Use scientific principles and procedures.	
02.0	Design a solution to an industry problem.	
02.01	Use critical thinking.	
02.02	Use creativity.	
02.03	Make sound decisions.	
02.04	Solve problems.	
02.05	Reason. 	
02.06	Plan and organize.	
03.0	Manage resources within an industry project	
03.01	Manage time.	
03.02	Manage money or resources.	
03.03	Manage materials.	
03.04	Manage personnel.	
04.0	Oversee the subcomponents, operations and output of a technical or organizational system.	
04.01	Manage systems.	
04.02	Monitor systems.	
04.03	Improve systems.	
05.0	Use information for decision making.	
05.01	Locate information.	
05.02	Organize information.	
05.03	Use information.	
05.04	Analyze information.	
05.05	Communicate information.	
06.0	Apply relevant technology to workplace scenarios to aid productivity.	
06.01	Use technology.	
07.0	Interpret and express interpersonal communication.	
07.01	Communicate verbally.	
07.02	Listen actively.	
07.03	Comprehend written material.	
07.04	Convey information in writing.	
07.05	Communicate nonverbally.	
07.06	Interpret nonverbal communication.	
08.0	Interact with others to accomplish workplace goals.	
08.01	Collaborate with others in a team.	
08.02	Respond to customer needs.	
08.03	Exercise leadership.	
08.04	Negotiate to resolve conflict.	
08.05	Respect others.	
09.0	Manage personal behavior to maximize productivity and professional growth.	
09.01	Demonstrate responsibility and self-discipline.	
09.02	Adapt and show flexibility.	
09.03	Work independently.	
09.04	Demonstrate a willingness to learn.	
09.05	Demonstrate integrity.	
09.06	Demonstrate professionalism.	
09.07	Take initiative.	
09.08	Display positive attitude.	
09.09	Take responsibility for professional growth.	
Job Attainment	
10.0	Find, assess and apply to job opportunities.	
10.01	Identify online job posts relevant to his or her career aspirations.	
10.02	Compare and contrast the job posts’ required qualifications, job duties, compensation, benefits and employers. 	
10.03	Define what information, documentation and writing prompts are required for the positions.	
11.0	Communicate personal competence, character and fit for a job opportunity.	
11.01	Develop a resume.	
11.02	Write a cover letter.	
11.03	Curate a professional portfolio that includes work products.	
11.04	Prepare for and experience a mock job interview.	
12.0	Cultivate and leverage relationships to professionally advance.	
12.01	Request a signed reference letter, letter of recommendation and/or an online skill/professionalism endorsement. 	
12.02	Develop a plan to cultivate a professional digital footprint.	
12.03	Develop a networking plan for a specific industry of interest.	

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Demonstrate basic knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology. 
02.0	Identify and apply basic knowledge of different aspects of wellness.  
03.0	Demonstrate knowledge of funding and site sponsorship related to clinical research including: public/private grants and contracts and lifecycles of clinical trials.
04.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the guidelines and regulations governing clinical trials.
05.0	Demonstrate ability to work as a clinical research professional.
06.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the compliance and monitoring practices in clinical research.
07.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the research process including: consent, screening, phases of clinical trials, product development and adverse events and safety.
08.0	Demonstrate knowledge of current events in the field of public health, biomedical science and clinical research.
09.0	Demonstrate the ability to identify U.S. health care delivery funding sources.
10.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the principles and language of pharmacology, including drugs and drug classes, diagnostic tests, indications, techniques.

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title: 	Clinical Research Coordinator
CIP Number: 		0351071901
Program Length: 	30 credit hours

This certificate program is part of the Clinical Research Professional AS degree program (1351071902).  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Demonstrate basic knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology.  The student will be able to:	
01.01	Define, describe and discuss anatomic names and descriptive terms of the body.	
01.02	Demonstrate an understanding of basic patient discharge and transfer procedures.	
01.03	Describe common abbreviations and commonly used medical terms and their proper usage.	
02.0	Identify and apply basic knowledge of different aspects of wellness.   The student will be able to:	
02.01	Discuss integrating health living into one’s lifestyle.	
02.02	Define: how physical fitness, mental health, nutrition, substance use, and abuse, and family influences connect with the concept of patient wellness.	
02.03	Describe the impact of social media and time in the digital environment on physical and mental health and wellness.	
02.04	Identify the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.	
02.05	Describe the effects of tobacco, smoking and vaping. 	
02.06	Describe the various fitness methods to improve health.	
02.07	Discuss the effects of nutrition on health and wellness.	
02.08	Explain body composition and achieving a healthy weight.	
02.09	Describe stress management strategies.	
02.10	Discuss the use and abuse of illicit drugs in society.	
02.11	Describe the effects of chronic disease on the human body.	
03.0	Demonstrate knowledge of funding and site sponsorship related to clinical research including: public/private grants and contracts and lifecycles of clinical trials.  The student will be able to:	
03.01	Describe key concepts and skills used in the site-sponsor relationship.	
03.02	Classify clinical research funding sources and the protocols used to secure funding.	
03.03	Discuss  constructs related to grants and contracts management in clinical research.	
03.04	Demonstrate knowledge of lifecycles in clinical trials.	
03.05	Define the terms and language used in startup and closing Items on clinical research.	
03.06	Determine communication methods to be used in the startup and closing of items in clinical research.	
04.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the guidelines and regulations governing clinical trials.  The student will be able to:	
04.01	Understand guidelines and regulations  clinical trials.	
04.02	Describe HIPPAA and clinical research privacy issues.	
04.03	Identify Good Clinical Practices/ International Conference on Harmonization guidelines related to human subjects research.	
04.04	Discuss sources and uses of essential documents generated from clinical studies.	
04.05	Explain the role of compliance in maintaining fidelity to a study protocol.	
04.06	Provide examples of a standard response to a request for documentation of meeting award conditions.	
04.07	Understand quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques used in interpreting research findings.	
05.0	Demonstrate ability to work as a clinical research professional.  The student will be able to:	
05.01	Identify clinical and behavioral research settings where Clinical Research Professionals are employed.	
05.02	Demonstrate an understanding of the essential duties of a Clinical Research Professional.	
05.03	Describe procedures and processes used to protect research participants.  	
05.04	Discuss research activities of placement site.	
05.05	Demonstrate an understanding of how placement site works with:  local, county, state and federal agencies to carry out their research activities.  	
05.06	Evaluate the role of Clinical Research Professionals in research settings.	
05.07	Demonstrate the skills necessary to be a productive member of a research team including;  working on a multidisciplinary research team and demonstrating an ability to work with confidential research participant information.	
06.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the compliance and monitoring issues in clinical research.  The student will be able to:	
06.01	Describe the role of compliance in clinical research.	
06.02	Identify issues related to compliance in human subject research.	
06.03	Explain activities associated with monitoring clinical research trails.	
06.04	Discuss processes used to resolve issues that may arise from monitoring as part of a clinical trial.	
06.05	Provide examples of quality assurance audits used in clinical research and discuss their value in relation to performing research with human subjects.	
06.06	Define the types of inspections clinical research facilities are subject to.	
07.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the research process including:  consent, screening, phases of clinical trials, product development and adverse events and safety.  The student will be able to:	
07.01	Describe processes involved in clinical research.	
07.02	Define and describe issues associated with participant consent and assent.	
07.03	Explain the goals, limitations and basic rules for screening participants.	
07.04	Discuss aspects of product development (drugs & devices).	
07.05	Discuss impacts of clinical trial stakeholders.	
07.06	Accurately describe how epidemiology is used in clinical research.	
07.07	Explain processes related to adverse events and safety.	
08.0	Demonstrate knowledge of current events in the field of public health.  The student will be able to:	
08.01	Identify sources and platforms (e.g., news, media, and governmental) used to communicate public health events to the general public.	
08.02	Describe the implications of current events on public health.	
08.03	Discuss concerns related to how public health information is relayed to the public.	
08.04	Recognize how reporting of global events (e.g., epidemics, regime change, and weather events) has the potential to impact other areas.	
08.05	Locate emerging public health trends.	
08.06	Explain etiology of emerging public health trends discussed throughout semester.	
08.07	Discuss legislation designed to protect the public’s right to information during major health events (epidemics, terrorism, natural disasters).	
09.0	Identify and apply knowledge of United States (U.S.) health care delivery and fiscal resources. The student will be able to:	
09.01	Describe the changes landscape of health services and its relevance on the existing healthcare system, facilities, and services.	
09.02	Explain the impacts of public policies on healthcare, such as availability of healthcare services, cost, delivery, and financial implications.	
09.03	Describe the various health care organizations and service delivery options.	
09.04	Identify health professions and explain the role of each and their licensing/educational requirements.	
09.05	Compare and contrast the health care delivery systems of the U.S. with other countries.	
09.06	Understand the array of career choices in the health care sector of the economy.	
09.07	Discuss the various sources and uses of funds for healthcare	
10.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the principles and language of pharmacology, including drugs and drug classes, diagnostic tests, indications, techniques.  The student will be able to:	
10.01	Describe pharmacological principles.	
10.02	Classify routes of administration.	
10.03	Describe the relationships between drug classes and disease processes within medical specialties.	
10.04	Recognize commonly prescribed medications.	
10.05	Use appropriate pharmacological and laboratory references.	
10.06	Describe indications, actions, dosages, and routes of administration.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

CTSOs are co-curricular career and technical student organizations providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills. Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered. Other CTSOs not listed in this curriculum framework or recognized by the Florida Department of Education are permissible provided they support student mastery over the standards and benchmarks of this curriculum framework.

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.