Top 10 Research Associate Certifications
Updated 16 min read
Certifications are important for a research associate in the job market because they demonstrate a commitment to professional development and knowledge in the field. They can also be used as proof of competency, distinguishing applicants from their peers and providing evidence that they have the necessary skillset to succeed in the role. Certifications can also help research associates stand out in a competitive job market by showing potential employers that they have taken the time, effort and expense to stay up-to-date on trends, regulations, and best practices. Finally, certifications often provide access to valuable resources such as industry networks, conferences, and more.
The purpose of this article is to review some of the top certifications for Research Associates and explain how they can help further a research associate's career.
What are Research Associate Certifications?
Research associate certification is a type of professional certification that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and expertise in conducting research. This certification may be earned through a variety of organizations, depending on the field in which one specializes. For example, the American Evaluation Association offers the Certified Research Associate (CRA) credential to recognize those with experience and expertise in evaluation research.
Having research associate certification can be beneficial for individuals seeking positions in research-related fields, as it signals to potential employers that they possess the necessary skills and qualifications to conduct effective research. It also allows employers to easily identify qualified applicants, as it indicates an individual has met certain standards of excellence. The certification can provide a competitive edge when applying for jobs or pursuing promotions within an organization. Additionally, having research associate certification can help demonstrate credibility and trustworthiness to clients and colleagues, as well as boost one's confidence in their work.
Pro Tip: Research Associate Certification is an important step in becoming a successful researcher. It provides a platform for you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills related to research and data analysis, as well as helping you build your professional network. Make sure to take advantage of all the resources available to help you prepare for the certification exam, such as practice tests, study guides, and online tutorials.
Related: What does a Research Associate do?
Top 10 Research Associate Certifications
Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Research Associates today.
1. Certified Research Associate (CRA)
Certified Research Associate (CRA) is a professional certification offered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and experience in the clinical research field. The CRA credential is earned after passing an examination that covers topics such as Good Clinical Practice, clinical trial operations, data management, regulatory affairs, and ethics.
The CRA exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately three hours to complete. To be eligible to take the exam, candidates must meet certain educational requirements and have at least two years of full-time clinical research experience or its equivalent.
To get Certified Research Associate (CRA) credential, you need to first register with ACRP and pay an application fee. Once your application has been approved, you will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule your exam date and time. After completing the exam successfully, you will be awarded the CRA credential.
The cost for taking the CRA exam varies depending on your country of residence but typically ranges from $500-$1000 USD.
2. Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA)
A Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA) is a professional certification that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated expertise in the field of clinical research. This certification is offered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and is recognized worldwide.
To become a CCRA, individuals must meet certain eligibility requirements, including having at least two years of direct clinical research experience or one year of full-time clinical research experience and a bachelor's degree in a related field. Once these requirements are met, individuals can then apply for the CCRA exam. The exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP), regulatory compliance, study design, data management, ethics, and other aspects of clinical research.
The cost to take the CCRA exam is $495 for ACRP members and $595 for non-members. The exam takes approximately 3 hours to complete and can be taken at any Pearson VUE testing center. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their CCRA certificate within 6-8 weeks.
3. Certified Professional in Clinical Research (CPCR)
Certified Professional in Clinical Research (CPCR) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated proficiency in clinical research. It is offered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). The CPCR program provides a comprehensive assessment of knowledge and skills related to clinical research, including Good Clinical Practice (GCP), regulatory affairs, study design, data management, and project management.
To obtain the CPCR certification, applicants must first meet the eligibility requirements, which include having at least three years of experience in clinical research or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Applicants must also pass an exam that covers topics such as GCP, regulatory affairs, study design, data management, and project management. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within two hours.
The cost for the CPCR certification exam is $595 for ACRP members and $795 for non-members. Additionally, there are fees associated with maintaining the certification which vary depending on whether you are an ACRP member or not.
Overall, it can take up to several weeks to complete the process from start to finish depending on how quickly you can prepare for the exam.
4. Certified Clinical Trials Professional (CCTP)
Certified Clinical Trials Professional (CCTP) is a certification program designed to recognize the professional achievements of clinical research professionals who have met a set of standards for education, experience, and knowledge. The CCTP certification is awarded by the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA).
To become certified, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Have a minimum of two years full-time equivalent experience in clinical research or related activities;
2. Have completed at least four hours of continuing education in clinical research or related activities within the last five years; and
3. Pass an examination that covers topics such as Good Clinical Practice, regulatory requirements, ethics and compliance, study design and management, data management and analysis, budgeting and contracting, and monitoring/auditing.
The CCTP exam is offered twice a year in April and October. It takes approximately three hours to complete the exam. The cost to take the exam is $325 for SoCRA members or $425 for non-members.
5. Certified Regulatory Affairs Professional (CRAP)
Certified Regulatory Affairs Professional (CRAP) is a professional certification offered by the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency and knowledge in regulatory affairs. This certification is offered to professionals working in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and other regulated industries.
The CRAP certification requires applicants to pass an exam that covers topics such as regulatory strategy, product development, regulatory compliance, and global regulations. Applicants must also demonstrate their experience in regulatory affairs through a portfolio review process.
To become certified as a CRAP, applicants must complete an application form and submit it along with the required documentation. The application fee for the CRAP certification program ranges from $400-$800 depending on the applicant's experience level. The exam fee is an additional $500.
Once an applicant has been accepted into the program, they will be assigned a mentor who will help guide them through the process of studying for and taking the exam. The entire process typically takes six months or longer to complete depending on how quickly one can study for and pass the exam.
6. Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) is a professional certification awarded by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). It is designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate expertise in auditing quality management systems and processes. The CQA certification is one of the most sought-after credentials in the field of quality assurance and control.
The CQA exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within four hours. To qualify for the exam, applicants must have at least three years of full-time work experience in quality auditing or related fields, or a bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience.
To get the CQA certification, applicants must first register with ASQ and complete an application form. Once approved, they must pass the CQA exam with a score of at least 70%. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their certificate from ASQ.
The cost to take the CQA exam varies depending on whether you are a member or non-member of ASQ. For members, it costs $349 USD; for non-members, it costs $449 USD.
7. Certified Biomedical Investigator (CBI)
Certified Biomedical Investigator (CBI) is a professional certification program designed to recognize the expertise of individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and experience in the field of biomedical research. The CBI certification is granted by the National Institute for Certification in Biomedical Research (NICBR), which is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes excellence in biomedical research.
The CBI certification requires applicants to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through a combination of education, experience, and successful completion of an examination. Applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree in a biological science or related field, as well as two years of verifiable professional experience in biomedical research.
The CBI exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as laboratory safety, data analysis, ethics, study design, and more. The exam takes approximately four hours to complete and can be taken online or at one of several testing centers located throughout the United States.
The cost for taking the CBI exam is $400 for U.S.-based applicants and $450 for international applicants. This fee covers registration costs as well as any additional materials needed to prepare for the exam. Once you pass the exam, you will receive your official CBI certificate from NICBR within six weeks.
8. Certified Medical Research Technician (CMRT)
A Certified Medical Research Technician (CMRT) is a professional who has completed specialized training and certification in medical research. CMRTs are responsible for conducting clinical trials, analyzing data, and managing the day-to-day operations of a research laboratory. They may also be involved in developing protocols, designing experiments, and writing reports.
It typically takes between one to two years to become a CMRT. To get certified, individuals must have at least an associate’s degree in a related field such as biology or chemistry. They must also have experience working in an accredited medical research lab and complete approved courses in topics such as ethics, safety regulations, and laboratory techniques. After completing these requirements, individuals can take the CMRT exam administered by the National Board for Certification of Medical Research Technicians (NBCMRT).
The cost of becoming a CMRT varies depending on the individual’s educational background and experience level. The NBCMRT exam fee is $200 for members of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) or $300 for non-members. In addition to this fee, individuals may need to pay for any additional courses they need to take or books they need to purchase.
9. Registered Clinical Research Professional (RCRP)
Registered Clinical Research Professional (RCRP) is a certification program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct clinical research. This certification is offered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP).
The RCRP certification requires applicants to complete an online application and pass a three-hour, multiple-choice exam. The exam covers topics such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP), regulatory requirements, study design, data management and analysis, ethics, communication, and project management.
It usually takes about two weeks for applicants to receive their results after taking the exam. If an applicant passes the exam, they will receive their RCRP certificate in the mail within four to six weeks.
The cost of obtaining the RCRP certification varies depending on whether or not you are an ACRP member. For non-members, it costs $495 USD for the application fee and $395 USD for the exam fee. For members, it costs $295 USD for the application fee and $195 USD for the exam fee.
10. Certified Clinical Data Manager (CCDM).
Certified Clinical Data Manager (CCDM) is a professional certification offered by the Association of Clinical Data Management (ACDM). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated their knowledge and skills in the area of clinical data management.
The CCDM credential is awarded to those who have successfully completed the ACDM's CCDM examination, which tests an individual's knowledge and understanding of clinical data management principles, processes, and procedures. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as data collection, database design and implementation, data analysis and reporting, regulatory requirements, quality assurance and control, project management, and more.
It typically takes about two months to prepare for the CCDM exam. To get ready for the exam, candidates must review study materials provided by ACDM or purchase a study guide from an accredited provider. Additionally, candidates should take practice exams to gauge their level of preparedness before taking the actual exam.
The cost of taking the CCDM exam is $395 USD for members of ACDM or $495 USD for non-members. After passing the exam, individuals receive a certificate indicating they are certified in clinical data management and can use the designation “CCDM” after their name.
Do You Really Need a Research Associate Certificate?
The answer to this question depends on your individual situation and goals. If you are looking to advance in a research career, the Research Associate Certificate (RAC) can be an invaluable asset. The RAC is designed to give you the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a research career, as well as provide recognition for your accomplishments.
For those already working in a research field, the RAC can be used to demonstrate that you are up-to-date on current trends and techniques, and have the ability to think critically about data and findings. It may also be beneficial if you are interested in changing careers or advancing within your current organization. Having a certificate from an accredited program will show potential employers that you are committed to furthering your education, which could lead to more job opportunities. Additionally, having the RAC can potentially increase your salary or give you access to higher positions.
On the other hand, if you do not have any experience in research or do not plan on pursuing a career related to it, then getting the Research Associate Certificate may not be necessary for you. Depending on your situation, there may be other certificates or degrees that are better suited for what you want out of life.
Ultimately, it is important to consider all of your options and decide whether or not obtaining the Research Associate Certificate is right for you. If it aligns with your goals and interests, then it could certainly be beneficial for both personal and professional development.
Related: Research Associate Resume Examples
FAQs About Research Associate Certifications
1. What is a Research Associate Certification?
Answer: A Research Associate Certification is a credential that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated their knowledge and skills related to research methods and processes, as well as their ability to effectively communicate research findings.
2. How do I become certified as a Research Associate?
Answer: To obtain certification as a Research Associate, you must complete an accredited program in research methods and complete an examination administered by the certifying body.
3. How long does it take to become certified as a Research Associate?
Answer: The amount of time it takes to become certified depends on the type of program you choose, but typically it takes around two years to complete all the necessary requirements for certification.
4. What types of jobs can I get with a Research Associate Certification?
Answer: Jobs that may be available with a Research Associate Certification include data analyst, market researcher, survey manager, or analyst in public health or social services organizations.
5. Are there any continuing education requirements for maintaining my certification?
Answer: Yes, most certifying bodies require that you maintain your certification by completing continuing education credits each year in order to stay current on best practices and new developments in the field of research methods and processes.