Top 10 Research Interviewer Certifications

Certifications for research interviewers are important for a number of reasons. First, they demonstrate a level of expertise and knowledge in the field that employers are looking for. Certifications also provide an assurance to employers that the interviewer has certain skills, such as data collection and analysis, interviewing techniques, and ethical standards. Additionally, certifications can be used to highlight an interviewer’s experience and qualifications in job applications and resumes. Finally, certifications can open up new opportunities for research interviewers by providing access to exclusive networks or job listings.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the top certifications for Research Interviewers and discuss how these certifications can help enhance a research interviewer's career.

What are Research Interviewer Certifications?

Research interviewer certification is a process by which research interviewers are trained and evaluated to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct effective interviews. This certification is intended to provide assurance that the research interviewer is qualified to carry out their duties in a professional manner, while adhering to ethical standards.

The training for research interviewer certification typically includes topics such as interviewing techniques, research methods, data collection and analysis, ethics, and communication skills. The evaluation process often involves written exams or practical tests in order to assess the individual's knowledge of the subject matter as well as their ability to apply it in practice.

Research interviewer certification can help ensure that the interviewers are well-equipped to conduct effective interviews and collect accurate data from respondents. It also helps maintain high ethical standards by providing assurance that the interviewers understand their responsibilities and are familiar with best practices when conducting interviews. In addition, it provides an additional layer of quality control over the interview process, as certified interviewers are more likely to adhere strictly to guidelines and protocols set forth by researchers or organizations. Finally, research interviewer certification can also help increase public confidence in survey results by demonstrating that those responsible for collecting the data have been properly trained and evaluated for their competence in this area.

Pro Tip: Before hiring a research interviewer, ensure that they are certified by a reputable and accredited institution. This will ensure that the interviewer is knowledgeable about research techniques and has the necessary skills to conduct effective interviews. Furthermore, certification can help to establish trust between the interviewer and the research subjects.

Related: What does a Research Interviewer do?

Top 10 Research Interviewer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Research Interviewers today.

1. Certified Research Interviewer (CRI)

Certified Research Interviewer (CRI) is a certification program for individuals who conduct surveys and interviews. It is designed to provide interviewers with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully complete survey research projects. The CRI program is administered by the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO).

The CRI program consists of two parts: an online training course and an in-person assessment. The online training course covers topics such as survey design, interviewing techniques, data collection methods, and ethical considerations. The in-person assessment consists of a written exam and an interview simulation.

It typically takes about two months to complete the CRI program, depending on how quickly you are able to complete the online training and the in-person assessment. To get started, you must first register with CASRO and pay a fee of $250 USD. Once registered, you will be given access to the online training course materials. You will then need to schedule your in-person assessment at one of CASRO’s approved testing centers.

Once you have completed both parts of the CRI program, you will receive your official CRI certification from CASRO, which is valid for three years.

2. Qualified Research Interviewer (QRI)

Qualified Research Interviewer (QRI) is a certification program developed by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). It is designed to recognize and reward individuals who demonstrate proficiency in conducting survey research interviews. The QRI certification requires applicants to pass an online exam that covers topics such as sampling, questionnaire design, interviewing techniques, data analysis, and report writing.

To become certified as a QRI, applicants must have at least two years of experience in survey research interviewing and must complete the AAPOR-sponsored QRI training program. The training program consists of four modules which cover topics such as survey design and implementation, interviewing techniques, data collection methods, and ethical considerations. Once the training is completed, applicants must pass an online exam with a score of 70% or higher in order to be certified as a QRI.

The cost of becoming a QRI varies depending on the type of training you choose. The standard self-study course costs $495 USD and includes access to all four modules plus the online exam. There are also more expensive options available for those who want additional support or prefer an instructor-led course.

In total, it typically takes about six weeks to complete the entire process from start to finish. This includes completing the training program and passing the online exam.

3. Professional Research Interviewer (PRI)

Professional Research Interviewer (PRI) is a certification from the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated advanced knowledge and skills in conducting research interviews. The PRI certification requires applicants to demonstrate their expertise in areas such as survey design, sampling, questionnaire development, data collection techniques, and interviewing techniques.

The PRI certification process takes approximately four months to complete. Applicants must first submit an application form and fee of $100 USD to AAPOR. After their application is accepted, applicants must then pass a written examination that covers topics related to research interviewing. Once the written exam is passed, applicants must then complete a practical interview exercise that tests their ability to conduct a research interview according to AAPOR standards. Finally, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from professional colleagues who can attest to their experience and knowledge in the field of research interviewing.

Once all requirements are met, applicants will receive their PRI certification which is valid for three years. After three years, they will need to renew their certification by submitting an updated application form and fee of $50 USD.

In total, it costs $150 USD ($100 for the initial application fee and $50 for renewal) to become a Professional Research Interviewer (PRI).

4. Certified Survey Interviewer (CSI)

Certified Survey Interviewer (CSI) is a professional certification program designed to recognize the knowledge and skills of survey interviewers. It is administered by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). The certification program is intended to ensure that survey interviewers are knowledgeable about ethical and methodological principles, as well as best practices in survey interviewing.

To become certified, applicants must pass an online exam that covers topics such as sampling, questionnaire design, interviewing techniques, data quality management, and ethics. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.

The cost of the Certified Survey Interviewer (CSI) program is $200 USD. This fee covers the exam registration fee, study materials, and access to the online course.

In order to be eligible for the CSI certification program, applicants must have at least one year of experience conducting surveys or other research activities. Applicants must also have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in a field related to survey research or social science research methods.

5. Qualified Survey Interviewer (QSI)

Qualified Survey Interviewer (QSI) is a certification program offered by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). It is designed to recognize survey interviewers who have achieved a high level of proficiency in conducting survey interviews. The program consists of three levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.

To become a QSI, applicants must first complete an online application and pay the associated fee. After submitting the application, applicants will receive an email with instructions on how to take the QSI exam. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately one hour to complete. Applicants must score at least 70% on the exam in order to pass and become certified as a QSI.

The cost of becoming a QSI varies depending on whether you are an AAPOR member or non-member. For members, the cost is $75 for Basic level certification, $125 for Intermediate level certification, and $175 for Advanced level certification. For non-members, the cost is $150 for Basic level certification, $225 for Intermediate level certification, and $300 for Advanced level certification.

6. Certified Market Research Professional (CMRS)

Certified Market Research Professional (CMRS) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and reward individuals who have achieved a high level of expertise in the field of market research. This certification is offered by the American Marketing Association (AMA).

To become a CMRS, you must meet certain criteria and pass an exam. The exam consists of two parts: the Core Exam and the Specialty Exam. To be eligible to take the Core Exam, you must have at least five years of experience in market research or related fields, as well as a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university. To be eligible for the Specialty Exam, you must have at least three years of experience in market research or related fields.

The Core Exam covers topics such as data collection methods, sampling techniques, survey design and analysis, data interpretation, report writing, and ethical considerations. The Specialty Exam focuses on topics specific to your area of specialization. It covers topics such as consumer behavior analysis, marketing strategy development, product development and positioning strategies, competitive analysis, pricing strategies, segmentation strategies, advertising research methods and media planning.

It typically takes between six months to one year to complete the program depending on how much time you can dedicate to studying for the exams. You will need to purchase study materials for both exams which can cost anywhere from $200-$500 depending on where you purchase them from.

Once you have passed both exams with a score of 70% or higher you will receive your CMRS certification which is valid for four years before needing to be renewed by taking additional courses or retaking the exams.

7. Professional Telephone Interviewer (PTI)

Professional Telephone Interviewer (PTI) is a professional who conducts surveys and interviews over the phone. PTIs are usually employed by research companies, market research firms, or polling organizations to collect data from respondents. PTIs typically use a variety of methods to contact potential survey participants and ask them questions about their opinions or experiences.

The length of time it takes to become a Professional Telephone Interviewer depends on the organization you are applying to. Some organizations may require applicants to have prior experience in customer service, while others may require applicants to complete specific training courses. Additionally, some organizations may require applicants to pass an exam before they can be hired as a PTI.

To get hired as a Professional Telephone Interviewer, you must first apply for the job with the company you are interested in working with. You will need to submit your resume and any relevant qualifications or certifications that you possess. Once your application has been reviewed and accepted, you will need to complete any required training courses or exams before being officially hired as a PTI.

The cost of becoming a Professional Telephone Interviewer varies depending on the organization you are applying for and what type of training they require you to take. Generally speaking, most organizations do not charge for their training courses or exams; however, some companies may charge a fee for these services depending on their policies.

8. Qualified Telephone Interviewer (QTI)

Qualified Telephone Interviewer (QTI) is a certification program designed to provide telephone interviewers with the skills and knowledge needed to conduct professional, accurate, and reliable telephone surveys. It is offered by the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR).

The QTI program consists of two parts: an online course and a test. The online course covers topics such as survey design, interviewer techniques, data collection methods, and legal issues related to telephone interviewing. The test requires applicants to demonstrate their understanding of the material covered in the course.

The QTI program takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete. Applicants must have access to a computer with internet access in order to take the online course and test.

The cost for the QTI program is $125 USD for AAPOR members or $175 USD for non-members.

9. Certified Online Survey Professional (COSP)

Certified Online Survey Professional (COSP) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate mastery in the field of online survey research. This certification is issued by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR).

The COSP certification program consists of two parts: an online exam and a practical application assessment. The online exam covers topics such as survey design, questionnaire development, data collection techniques, data analysis and reporting. The practical application assessment requires applicants to submit a portfolio of their work that demonstrates their ability to apply the knowledge they have acquired through the coursework.

The COSP certification process typically takes about 3-4 months to complete. To get started, applicants must first register for the exam and pay a fee of $350 USD. Once registered, candidates will be given access to an online study guide and practice tests which will help them prepare for the exam. After passing the online exam, applicants must then submit their portfolio for review by AAPOR’s Certification Board. If approved, applicants will receive their COSP certification within 4-6 weeks after submitting their portfolio.

The cost of obtaining COSP certification is $350 USD for the initial registration fee plus any additional fees associated with submitting your portfolio for review.

10. Qualified Online Survey Professional (QOSP).

Qualified Online Survey Professional (QOSP) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated expertise in the field of online survey research. The QOSP certification is offered by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR).

The QOSP certification requires applicants to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of online survey research through a combination of education, experience, and professional development activities. Applicants must also pass an exam that covers topics such as questionnaire design, data collection methods, sampling techniques, data analysis techniques, and ethical considerations.

The QOSP certification process typically takes between six and twelve months to complete. During this time, applicants must complete required coursework or training programs, submit documentation of their professional experience, and pass the QOSP exam.

The cost of obtaining the QOSP certification varies depending on the requirements of each individual applicant. Generally speaking, applicants can expect to pay fees for coursework or training programs, exam fees, and other associated costs.

Do You Really Need a Research Interviewer Certificate?

The short answer is no, you do not need a research interviewer certificate to become a research interviewer. While having a certificate may make you more attractive to potential employers, it is not an absolute necessity in order to get hired.

Despite this, there are some benefits to obtaining a research interviewer certificate. A certificate can demonstrate your commitment to the profession and dedication to learning best practices for conducting interviews. It can also give you an edge over other applicants and show that you have taken the time and effort to develop specific skills related to interviewing. Finally, having a certification can open up opportunities for networking with other professionals in the field, which can lead to greater job prospects.

At the end of the day, whether or not you choose to pursue a research interviewer certificate is up to you and your individual career goals. If you think that having one will benefit your future job prospects or help further your career as an interviewer, then it is worth considering obtaining one. However, if you are confident in your interview skills and believe that experience will be enough for employers to take notice of your application, then perhaps pursuing a certification is unnecessary for now.

Related: Research Interviewer Resume Examples

FAQs About Research Interviewer Certifications

Q1: What is a research interviewer certification?

A1: A research interviewer certification is a credential awarded to individuals who have demonstrated proficiency in conducting research interviews. The certification ensures that those certified are knowledgeable in the latest industry standards and best practices for conducting research interviews.

Q2: How do I become certified as a research interviewer?

A2: To become certified as a research interviewer, you must complete a series of courses or workshops related to the field of survey interviewing and pass an exam. Depending on the certifying organization, additional requirements such as experience or continuing education may be necessary.

Q3: What are the benefits of becoming a certified research interviewer?

A3: Becoming a certified research interviewer demonstrates your expertise and commitment to the field of survey interviewing. It can also help you stand out in the job market and provide greater job security and higher salaries than those without certification.

Q4: How long does it take to become certified?

A4: The length of time it takes to become certified varies depending on the certifying organization and the number of courses or workshops you’ve completed. Generally, it takes anywhere from six months to two years to complete all requirements for certification.

Q5: Where can I find more information about research interviewer certifications?

A5: You can find more information about research interviewer certifications by visiting websites such as Survey Interviewer Certification Institute (SICI), International Association for Survey Research Professionals (IASRP), American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS), or Qualtrics University.