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.
[*] 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.
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.
As of June 2, 2022, 3,296 active CRAs® are listed in the RACC's online database.
History
In 1993, the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) was founded as a private non-profit organization.
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:
- Bachelor's or advanced degree and three (3) 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
- An Associate’s degree and five (5) 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
- No degree and six (6) 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.
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.
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:
# Project Development and Administration
# Legal requirements and Sponsor Interface
# Financial Management
# 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.
References
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External links
Research Administrators Certification Council
Professional titles and certifications