Certified Research Administrator

The Certified Research Administrator® (CRA®) is a designation granted in the United States by the Research Administrators Certification Council to individuals who demonstrate the knowledge necessary to serve as an administrator of professional and sponsored research programs.[1] To be eligible to certify, candidates must meet one of three sets of requirements (see "Requirements" below). Once a candidate passes the Certified Research Administrator® examination, they are conferred the right to use the CRA® designation.[2] The RACC also offers Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator® and Certified Financial Research Administrator designations.

CRA® designation

According to the RACC, the CRA® designation carries numerous benefits to those who hold it, such as recognition among professionals, a sense of personal satisfaction, indication of expertise in the administration of sponsored research endeavors, greater opportunities for employment, greater opportunities for advancement, robust credibility, and the ability to serve as a role model to research peers. The CRA® designation is a registered certification mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.[3]

As of June 2, 2022, 3,296 active CRAs® are listed in the RACC's online database.[4]

History

In 1993, the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) was founded as a private non-profit organization.[5] Active CRAs® sit on the council and have the role of certifying that an individual possesses adequate knowledge for serving as a professional research administrator of sponsored programs, particularly federally-funded research grants and contracts.

Requirements

Candidates must meet one of the following sets of requirements:

  1. Bachelor's or advanced degree and three years of professional experience in research administration or sponsored programs administration either in a sponsoring or recipient organization or the equivalent in a self-funded organization; OR
  2. An associate degree and five years of professional experience in research administration or sponsored programs administration either in a sponsoring or recipient organization or the equivalent in a self-funded organization; OR
  3. No degree and six years of professional experience in the research administration or sponsored programs administration either in a sponsoring or recipient organization or the equivalent in a self-funded organization.

The third option requires approval of a petition to the RACC in order to receive a waiver.[6]

Candidates must pass a written Certified Research Administrator® examination designed by the RACC and administered by Professional Testing Center, New York, which covers fundamental information necessary for meeting the demands and responsibilities of a career in sponsored program administration.[6]

CRA® exam curriculum

The curriculum covered by the CRA® examination is referred to by the RACC as the "Body of Knowledge," and has four broad components:[7]

  1. Project Development and Administration
  2. Legal requirements and Sponsor Interface
  3. Financial Management
  4. General Management

Recertification

Every five years, CRAs® must recertify to continue using the CRA® designation. Recertification applicants are expected to demonstrate continued participation or employment in the field of research administration, including requisite hours of continuing education activities and a collection of several questions for potential use on future revisions of the CRA® exam.[8]

References
  2. "What Is Certification?". Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  3. "Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) Entry for Certified Research Administrator". Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  4. "Find a Certificant". Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  5. Andersen, J.; Toom, K.; Poli, S.; Miller, P.F. (2017). Research Management: Europe and Beyond. Elsevier Science. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-12-805208-2. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  6. "Certification Examination for Research Administrators, Candidate Handbook 2022" (PDF). Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  7. Dade, A.; Olafson, L.; DiBella, S.M. (2015). Implementing a Comprehensive Research Compliance Program: A Handbook for Research Officers. EBL-Schweitzer. Information Age Publishing, Incorporated. p. 513. ISBN 978-1-68123-133-4. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  8. "Recertification". Retrieved 2 June 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.