Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for applying to the Certificate in Clinical Trials Management?

What is the format for certificate-credit courses?

What are the employment opportunities in clinical trials management?

What are the minimum admission requirements?

How do I know if I've been accepted?

Who should I contact if I need more information?

Do I need to have completed a degree to be admitted to this program?

Is the program eligible for OSAP?

How long do I have to complete the program?

Can I take courses before being admitted to the program?

How do I log on to my online course?

I have been working in a clinical trials related field for a few years; do I still need the undergraduate degree-credit courses to apply?

What is the difference between the Diploma and Certificate in Clinical Trials Management?

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What is the deadline for applying to the Diploma in Clinical Trials Management?

The application deadline is March 1. Applicants who must apply for admission to the University are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible. To determine whether or not you need to apply for admission or readmission to the University, click here. Application forms are typically available in early November.

 

What is the format for diploma-credit courses?

All of the diploma-credit courses are offered in an intensive online format. Although all courses are 36 hours in length, courses are offered over 12 weeks in the fall and over 12 weeks in the winter.

 

What are the employment opportunities in clinical trials management?

Clinical trials managers and researchers are professionals who function as administrators, co-ordinators, consultants, educators, or researchers in a clinical trials setting. They may come from a variety of academic backgrounds, including health sciences, medicine, nursing, health informatics, statistics, psychology, etc.

Clinical trials researchers and managers are involved in numerous aspects of clinical trials research, including data collection, analysis, and monitoring. They may also be responsible for recruiting human subjects, case management, and protecting subjects and their rights. Clinical researchers are required to develop informed consents, protocols, and case reports, and to ensure compliance with national and international guidelines and standards. They are responsible for maintaining drug accountability records, grant and budget developments, report preparation, program administration and research program audits.

Careers and employment in the field of clinical trials and clinical research are difficult to obtain without specific education and training in the areas identified above. The field is expanding, and Southwestern Ontario is a major centre for clinical trials research.

 

What are the minimum admission requirements?

Successful completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited university in Health Sciences or a related field. At least two years work experience is also required.

Students have only three years from the time of acceptance to complete the entire program.

This program may be taken on a part time or full time basis.

How do I know if I've been accepted?

All decisions regarding admission to the program are communicated in writing. Admission decisions may take approximately 6 to 8 weeks after receipt of the completed application. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all pieces of both the supplemental application, as well as the OUAC application (where applicable) arrive at their appropriate destinations well before the application deadline. Decisions will not be communicated over the telephone.

 

Who should I contact if I need more information?

Prospective students are encouraged to contact Continuing Studies at Western at 519 661 3658 or email post-degree@uwo.ca.

 

Do I need to have completed a degree to be admitted to this program?

Yes, to be eligible for admission to the program applicants must have an undergraduate degree in Health Sciences or related field.

 

Is this program eligible for OSAP?

Yes, online OSAP applications are available at http://osap.gov.on.ca

 

How long do I have to complete the program?

The Certificate must be completed within three years. This program may be taken on a full or part-time basis.

 

Can I take courses before being admitted to the program?

Yes, students may take up to two of the certificate-credit courses before being admitted to the program.

Registration for up to two of the certificate-credit courses prior to formal admission to the program may be done online from the Continuing Studies website by following the directions for registration. Please note that courses taken prior to admission into the program will be counted toward the program requirements upon acceptance as will the grades received.

How do I log on to my online course?

To access your online course, please visit the OWL site and log on with your Western username and password

I have been working in a Clinical Trials related field for a few years; do I still need the undergraduate degree-credit courses to apply?

If you have a minimum of two years of relevant work experience, you should apply to the Certificate in Clinical Trials Management, not the Diploma. Documented work experience and references are to be submitted with the supplemental application. If you are not sure whether you should apply for admission to the Diploma, please contact Continuing Studies at Western for guidance.

For information on the Diploma please click here.

 

What is the difference between the Diploma and Certificate in Clinical Trials Management?

The difference between the Diploma and Certificate in Clinical Trials Management is as follows:

Successful completion of the Diploma includes completion of both the diploma-credit and the undergraduate degree-credit courses. The Diploma is geared toward students with little or no experience in the field of clinical trials and includes a practicum during which students gain work experience.

Successful completion of the Certificate includes only the completion of the certificate-credit courses. Students admitted to the Certificate are not required to complete any undergraduate degee-credit courses. Students must have a minimum of two years work experience in a related field to be admitted to the Certificate. Students wishing to gain work experience in the field must apply and meet the admission criteria for the Diploma.