Certification

Applications Open: October 1, 2010
Exam Dates: March 3-12, 2011
Applications Due: January 23, 2011
Note: Applications will be accepted through February 6 with a $150 late fee.

Future Exam Dates: September 15-24, 2011
Applications Open: June 1, 2011
Applications Due: August 1, 2011
Note: Applications will be accepted through August 15 with a $150 late fee.

Learn More About: CRA Certification; CRC Certification; CPI Certification; CTI Certification

What is Certification?
Certification is the formal recognition of clinical research professionals who have met eligibility requirements and demonstrated specific, job-related skills.

What are the Benefits of Certification?
Earning your designation demonstrates you have achieved the clinical research industry's premier Certification. This career milestone will validate your clinical research knowledge, skills, and application — joining almost 24,000 of your colleagues in their dedication to improving the quality of clinical research.

Taking the step to become Certified, or requiring Certification for your team, leads to the advancement of the clinical research profession due to subject safety, regulatory compliance, and the public's understanding of clinical trials.

For employers, Certification can serve several purposes from providing evidence of experience and qualifications of a research team to the FDA during an inspection, to validating competency when considering a new employee. Recently, evidence has indicated that regulators believe Certification reduces risk to research subjects. There are fewer errors, lower costs, more rapid turnaround, and greater safety in clinical trials when Certified professionals are involved.

Feedback from the industry is clear — Certification is invaluable.

Am I Eligible? When are Certification Exams Offered?
CCRA^®, CCRC^® and CPI^® exams are offered in March and September every year. Test your expertise on topics and regulations specifically related to your ability to make decisions in specific scenarios. Exam eligibility is determined by academic qualifications and practical work experience. Two years full-time or equivalent part-time clinical research experience performing specific job functions is required to sit for an exam. Please view the Certification Guides for more details.

Who is ACRP/APPI?
Since 1992, the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) has been the leading certifier of clinical research professionals with almost 24,000 professionals holding a designation from our accrediting bodies to date. As the importance of Certification increased throughout the profession, ACRP recognized the need for all Certifications to be administered by an independent entity. In 2005 and 2006, The Academy of Clinical Research Professionals (The Academy) was created to house all non-Physician Certification Programs (CCRA^®, CCRC^®, CCTI^®). The Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators (APPI) also affiliated with ACRP and became the administrative entity for the Physician Investigator (CPI^®) exam. Together, these two entities improve the organization in a way that enhances our integrity and representative efforts for members of the clinical research team.

ACRP/APPI Certification is granted in recognition of verified work experience and successful performance on a multiple-choice exam. ACRP currently offers two Certification exams, one for Clinical Research Associates/CRAs (Monitor) and one for Clinical Research Coordinators/CRCs (Site). APPI offers the Physician Investigator (CPI) exam. The exams are based on the industry's largest validated job analysis to ensure the exams reflect the frequency and importance of what CRAs, CRCs, and CPIs do in the clinical research process. ACRP also offers the Core Knowledge Assessment test, which allows individuals who are new to clinical research to demonstrate their knowledge of the international guidelines for conducting clinical trials with volunteer human subjects.

NEW - CCRA^® and CCRC^® are Accredited
On April 15, 2010, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) granted accreditation to the Academy of Clinical Research Professionals' Certification Programs for Clinical Research Coordinators and Clinical Research Associates for demonstrating compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (formerly the National Organization for Competency Assurance). The NCCA Standards were created in 1977 and updated in 2003 to ensure certification programs adhere to modern standards of practice for the certification industry. ACRP joins an elite group of more than 100 organizations representing over 200 programs that have received and maintained NCCA accreditation. More information on the NCCA is available online at www.credentialingexcellence.org/ncca.