When and how do I get paid?
Payment schedules are written into each protocol and disclosed in the informed consent form. The three most common structures are per-visit (you're paid after each completed study visit, usually within 24-48 hours), milestone-based (you receive larger payments after completing groups of visits or specific procedures like a biopsy), and completion-bonus (a final lump sum after you finish the study, designed to encourage retention). Payment methods vary by site: most use reloadable debit cards from vendors like ClinCard or Greenphire, others issue paper checks, and a smaller group offers direct deposit. Travel reimbursements may be paid the same way or as a separate stipend. You can ask the coordinator at any time for an itemized payment ledger showing what you've earned, what's pending, and what's coming. If a payment is delayed, contact the site's research coordinator first — they have direct access to the payment vendor.