Certified Research Administrator

The CRA: What is It and Why Should I Care?

The CRA, or Certified Research Administrator, designation is a fairly recent addition to the professionalization of research administration. It is a nationally recognized credential, although only in recent years has the value of the CRA been embraced by universities, colleges, sponsoring agencies, and others involved in research administration functions. The RACC now offers 3 different types of certifications: 

1. Certified Research Administrator (CRA),
2. Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA), and
3. Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA). 

All exams are administered by the Research Administration Certification Council (RACC). The Council is composed of volunteer individuals, consisting 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. The CRA, CPRA, and CFRA designations provide documented evidence that an individual has been examined by an independent professional organization and found to have the basic knowledge essential to fulfill the responsibilities of a research or sponsored programs administrator. Candidates must pass a 250-question examination developed by the Council and administered by the Professional Testing Corporation. Details about the CRA exams can be found on the RACC website.