CCRA Certification

Clinical research professional with 3,000 hours of verifiable work experience are eligible to sit for the CCRA^® Exam. Complete eligibility criteria is defined in the Academy’s policy manual.

What Qualifies as Work Experience?

• Work related to human subject research

• Paid contractual agreement – employer/employee

• Can be verified by ACRP through employer

What is Excluded from Work Experience?

• Any work that is part of a degree track or education program

• Any experience older than ten years

• Internships paid or unpaid

APPLY FOR YOUR EXAM

ACRP may grant one experience waiver amounting to 1,500 hours of work experience to applicants who meet one of the following criteria:

1. Hold an active ACRP certification

2. Have successfully completed a clinical research education program*

What Qualifies as a Clinical Research Education Program*?

• Must be aligned with the topics found in the corresponding Exam Content Outline (ECO)

• Must have a valid third-party accreditation

• Must provide applicants with knowledge that is equivalent to 1,500 hours of knowledge earned through employment

*Program approval is at the discretion of ACRP and will not be reviewed or pre-approved outside of a paid application.

The CCRA^® exam consists of 125 multiple choice questions that must be answered within 180 minutes.

The exam is referenced only to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Guidelines. No other regulatory framework is tested, including country-specific regulations (i.e, FDA or EMA).

The Global CCRA^® Exam Committee uses psychometrically sound practices to develop Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA) examinations that meet the current test specifications as determined by the most recent Job Task Analysis (JTA).

Learn about the impact of the ICH E6(R3) guideline changes on ACRP Certification programs and examinations.

The following are the only references for which the CCRA^® Certification exam content can be supported:

• CCRA^® Exam Content Outline >

• Guideline for Good Clinical Practice E6 (R2) >

• Definitions and Standards for Expedited Reporting (E2A) >

• General Considerations for Clinical Trials E8 (R1) >

• Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials E9

• Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials E9 (R1) >

• Clinical Trials in Pediatric Population E11 (R1) >

• The Declaration of Helsinki (DoH) >

Review the Exam Content Outline and make sure your experience and work hours are appropriate, as outlined in the Eligibility tab.

We also strongly encourage you to review the entire ACRP Certification Handbook, which provides full details about every facet of ACRP Certification.

Create a free ACRP account so you can begin the application process. Follow the on-screen prompts to enter any requested information and documentation.

If you already have an ACRP account, please proceed to step three.

Create Account >

You’re almost there! Please note, applications selected for audit will undergo a formal review by ACRP’s subject matter experts. In most instances, you will receive a status update about your application within 10 business days.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ACRP will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. Please complete this special accommodations form for submission with your application before proceeding.

Apply for Your Exam

The best way to prepare for the CCRA^® exam is to fully understand the scope of the exam content and its references.

ACRP offers a variety of training and continuing education programs focused on the key ICH guidelines covered in the CCRA^® exam.

Learn More >

Find Test Centers Near You >

Schedule Your In-Person Exam >

Schedule Your Remote Exam >

Check System Requirements >

Exam results are shared immediately at the conclusion of your exam, but PSI will send you an email with your full score report within 48 hours.

Your ACRP account will reflect your results within 48 hours.

Congratulations! You just passed a major milestone on your professional journey and are now a member of the elite club of ACRP Certified clinical research professionals.

Keep an eye on your email because you will soon receive information from our digital badging partner Credly about claiming your digital badge and how you can use it to tout your accomplishment. Also learn how to use your new credential by reviewing the Certification Mark policy.

You have 2 years to keep your certification in good standing by continuing your professional development, and we’ll be right there with you every step of the way. In the meantime, we highly recommend you review all the details about Maintenance of Certification. Don’t leave it to the last minute!

Don’t worry. It happens to the best of us. Give it another try!

Refer to your ACRP Certification Examination Results email or the ACRP Certification Handbook for guidance on the next steps in your certification journey.