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Certified Research Administrator (CRA) Study Team

The Certified Research Administrator study team is an online guided self-study program designed for all research administrators regardless of institution who are interested in and qualify to take the certified research administrator exam.

The Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC), an independent certifying body, manages the exam. A Certified Research Administrator (CRA) designation demonstrates a broad knowledge of all aspects of research administration including, but not limited to, project development and administration, legal requirements and sponsor interface, financial management, and general management.

Information on this page provides an overview of the CRA exam and RACC requirements. Individuals interested in taking the CRA exam should thoroughly review the RACC CRA website.

More information about this certification and other certifications offered by the council

Benefits of the program may include the following:

  • Prepare for the CRA examination.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to professional development and life-long learning.
  • Gain credibility and expertise in research administration.
  • Connect with a national network of research administrators.

Candidates applying to set for the Certified Research Administrator’s examination must have these requirements:

  1. Bachelor’s degree and three (3) years of professional experience in research or sponsored programs administration either in a sponsoring or recipient organization or the equivalent in a self-funded organization;
    OR
  2. An Associate’s degree and five (5) years of professional experience in research or sponsored programs administration either in a sponsoring or recipient organization or the equivalent in a self-funded organization;
    OR
  3. No degree and six (6) years of professional experience in research or sponsored programs administration either in a sponsoring or recipient organization or the equivalent in a self-funded organization (this requires completion of a Petition Application.

There are two testing periods: one in May and another in November. In order to take the exam one must submit an application on the CRA website. The exam fee is $395 which must be paid by the participant or the participant's department. The applications are normally due in March for the May testing period and in September for the November testing period.

Individuals are required to take the exam through the Professional Testing Corporation at an approved exam site, with the closest exam site located in Roanoke, Virginia. The 3.5-hour exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions with the below categories and allocations:

  • Collection and Dissemination of Information 44%
  • Legal Requirements and Sponsor Interface 20%
  • Financial Management 21%
  • General Management 15%

To maintain CRA designation, individuals who passed the exam in 2023 or after are required to recertify every three years. CRAs may either retake the exam or complete a recertification application which describes activities and professional development in research administration over the last three years. CRAs are required to earn 42 contact hours which can include participation in workshops/conferences, presentations given, articles written, etc. The recertification fee is $235.

Note: Individuals who passed the exam prior to 2023 may recertify for one five-year term (80 contact hours) before their three-year recertification cycle begins.

Individuals who plan to sit for the exam are eligible to participate in the study team. The study team accepts members at any time; contact cra@vt.edu for access to the course materials and study sessions. There is no cost to participate. 

Attending study team sessions alone will not guarantee a passing score on the exam. Individuals are expected to spend additional time studying for the exam. The volume of material that could be on the exam is too great to possibly cover in 10 sessions. By participating in the study team, individuals will likely determine subject areas they are less familiar with and that will require additional study time. 

During the 10-week cohort, live study sessions occur every Wednesday via Zoom, 2:00-4:00 PM EST. Not all sessions will last the full two-hour time frame. Sessions are recorded and posted to a secure site for study team members.

Session topics include the following:

  • Overview of CRA Study Team
  • Fundamentals of Research
  • NSF/NIH Foundations
  • Other federal agencies: DOD, DOE, NASA, USDA
  • Financial Administration
  • Federal Contracting
  • Uniform Guidance
  • Biosafety
  • Human Subjects
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Export Controls
  • Intellectual Property
  • Animal Subjects
  • Clinical trials
  • Final Review

During the 10-week cohort, study team members will also receive CRA-a-Day emails with extra review material.