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What is Certification?

The designation of Certified Research Administrator (CRA) means that an individual has met the requirements of the Research Administrators Certification Council's eligibility requirements and has demonstrated a level of knowledge necessary for a person to be a professional research or sponsored programs administrator.

CRA ® is a Certification Mark registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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Why Should I Become Certified?

The benefits of certification are many:
     • Professional recognition
     • Personal Satisfaction
     • An indicator of expertise
     • Increased opportunities for employment
     • Advancement opportunities
     • Increased credibility with clients
     • Serve as a role model to others

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How Do I Become A CRA?

The CRA is conferred on successful candidates upon completion of the requirements detailed below.  The Council notifies each applicant as to whether or not s/he has been granted the right to use the designation CRA.  The right is effective for five-year periods, either after initial certification or upon completion of the recertification process.

Applicants for designation as a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) must  (1) submit an application which indicates they meet the criteria below, (2) pay the examination fee, (3) pass the examination.

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Qualifications/Credentials: 

1. Experience.
Candidates applying to sit for the Certified Research Administrator's Examination  must possess a Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of
substantial involvement in research or sponsored programs administration
either in a sponsoring or recipient organization or the equivalent in a
self-funded organization.

Exceptions MAY be granted upon petition and meeting the
minimum experience and education requirements of an Associate's Degree
and six (6) years of experience OR eight (8) years of substantial experience in the sponsored programs/research administration field.

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2. Examination.
Candidates must pass the written examination developed by the Council and administered by the Professional Testing Corporation.  The examination tests a broad base of fundamental information required to meet the demands and responsibilities of the profession.  The examination is based on the Council’s  “Body of Knowledge”. 

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Recertification:

At the end of each five-year period, individuals must apply for recertification to continue using the designation of CRA. The application must include. Information documenting continued participation/employment in the field. A list of educational activities
either taken or taught. These may include teaching, serving on professional journal or
newsletter review boards, writing articles, serving on board of relevant national association, participating in workshops and seminars, as well as academic courses at an undergraduate or graduate level. Academic credits will be considered as contact hours. These should include forty (40) hours of continuing education OR activities without CEU's which are equivalent. Payment of the recertification fee.

The Council will advise applicants as to the final status of their application for recertification. Every five years, one must document the attainment of a minimum of forty hours of continuing education OR activities without CEU's which are equivalent to retain certification.
 

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What is the “Body of Knowledge”?

Construction of the CRA examination required a framework of subject
matter, which came to be known as the Body of Knowledge. All
examination questions are keyed to four general areas and to subtopics
contained therein.  The outline of the  Body of Knowledge may be found
at this link.

The Body of Knowledge covers four broad areas:
     • Project Development and Administration
     • Legal Requirements and Sponsor Interface
     • Financial Management
     • General Management

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How Do I Prepare for the Certified Research Administrators (CRA) Exam?

1)           Practice the profession!  In research administration you see something new each and every day.  Learn from it!  And talk to colleagues within the profession whose research administration duties are different from yours.

2)            Log on to the Research Administration Certification Council’s (RACC) web site, http://www/cra-cert.org, and review the Body of Knowledge, (BOK) to examine the subject matter the certification test covers.  It is annotated with primary information resources for each subject area.  Other informative materials may also be posted.

3)                  Attend professional meetings!  SRA-International and NCURA national, regional, and chapter meetings have very useful and informative programs.  Sometimes there are special tracks organized around a research administration responsibility; as soon as you know the basics in your work area, start following other research administration informational tracks.  However, note that no single track or even special “certificate” covers the breadth of the BOK.

4)         Join the RESADM-L mailing list (listserve).  Over 1500 practicing research administrators ask and answer questions here.  Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web‑searchable archive, are available via their web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists").

5)        Some vendors advertise training to prepare for the test.  This training is neither a product of RACC nor is it endorsed by RACC, and we do not know the quality of these programs.

6)                  RACC offers a structured review session that covers the body of knowledge.  They are frequently held in conjunction with SRA and NCURA meetings, and at other times and places.  See our website at http://www.cra-cert.org/Sched.htm for scheduled times and places, and see the paragraph below about setting up special reviews.  The review does not “teach to the test,” but reviews the BOK, and the exam tests on the BOK.  Those who have taken the review state that it validates much of what they know, it sometimes reminds them of details they had forgotten, and it shows them areas they need to study to become a Certified Research Administrator.  The review hand-out material has references to primary information sources.  We recommend taking the review a few months before you sit for certification so you can assess your expertise and learn of any areas you need to study more.

7)            Our most successful CRAs get together with others to study or review.   Join with others at your institution or in your geographic location and start a study group.  Contact RACC to arrange a special review session when you are ready.  If you can arrange a group of ten or more, e‑mail racc@ptcny.com and we will arrange a special review session for that threshold group.  This can really pay off, and then the group can be a continuing educational endeavor to train new people in the profession, or deepen your studies beyond the level of the CRA.

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What is the Research Administrators Certification Council?

The Council is a private, independent, nonprofit organization that develops and administers a voluntary program for the certification of individuals who meet the requirements established by the Council.  The Council is composed of volunteer individuals committed to the continuing improvement of the research administration profession and to assisting in the education and training of individuals who wish to become proficient in this field.  Through the Body of Knowledge and the certification process, the Council provides those entering the field with a training guide and a goal by which they can measure themselves as professionals.

Click here to view the Board of Directors.

The Council consists of representatives from a variety of settings, including institutions of higher education, hospitals, private businesses, research institutes and foundations, governmental organizations, national professional organizations, and private educational and research consulting firms.