A background in clinical studies should be required depending on the profession and work environment. For example, a Principal Investigator (PI) is the “primary individual responsible for the preparation, conduct, and administration of a research grant or other sponsored project in compliance with applicable laws and regulations” and for this reason they should have a firm understanding of clinical procedures and studies. Additionally, any professions involving patient interactions should demand a clinical background in order to effectively treat individuals. One way to ensure and test the clinical knowledge of healthcare professionals is through the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). This exam is an “evaluative tool that can be utilized to assess health care professionals in a clinical setting”. This is a very accurate way to measure clinical competency since it tests the knowledge of individuals through direct observation. Some professions may not require this kind of testing – such as Monitors and Statisticians. However, for those making a direct impact to healthcare, it is necessary to have a clinical background.

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3191703/
https://www.umass.edu/research/policy/pi-and-co-pi-roles-and-responsibilities