Statement of Scope: ACRP Certification Exams
Overall Scope of the Examinations
ACRP Certifications are the formal recognition of clinical research professionals who have met the eligibility requirements and demonstrated job-related knowledge and skills. The exams are relevant for all research studies involving human subjects, including but not limited to drug, device, and biologic studies. The CCRA® and CCRC® exams are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Core Examination Content
All Certification Exams have as their core the requirements of Good Clinical Practice as identified by the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. These guidelines form the basis of the conduct of human clinical research worldwide. The specific core requirement documents:
- ICH Clinical Safety Data Management : Definitions and Standards for Expedited Reporting (E2A)
- ICH General Considerations for Clinical Trials (E8)
- Declaration of Helsinki
Functionally Specific Requirements
The Academy certifies clinical research professionals on the basis of specific job functions. It is felt that offering job specific examinations provides higher value to the certificants than a more general approach.
Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
A CRA assures that the research site personnel, including the investigators, are conducting the study according to GCP guidelines.
- Assuring that all applicable regulatory requirements are being met by the investigator's site.
- Assuring that applicable adverse events are properly reported to the sponsor.
- Reviewing of site record accuracy regarding drug accountability.
- Clinical trial-related activities for the sponsor such as protocol development, site/investigator selection, study initiation activities, study termination activities, CRF processing/management activities (including in-house sponsor review and query resolution), final study report development, and supervision of other CRAs.
The CCRA® Exam is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC)
A CRC, regardless of job title, works at a clinical research site under the immediate direction of a principal investigator, whose research activities are conducted under Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines. CRCs typically perform tasks such as:
- Site preparation
- Patient screening and recruitment
- Patient enrollment
- Conducting study visits
- Maintaining and dispensing drug supplies
- Completing and ensuring the quality of case report forms
- Maintaining source documents
- Ensuring site quality
The CCRC® Exam is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Physician Investigator (PI)
A physician investigator (MD or equivalent degree) with a current medical license to practice where the trials are being conducted and who serves as the primary, sub- or co-investigator or monitors, supervises, or designs clinical trials and accepts responsibility for the safe and ethical conduct of a clinical trial, herein defined as a systematic experiment designed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacoeconomics, safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of a drug, biological, medical device (therapeutic or diagnostic), procedure or other intervention involving human participants.Physician Investigators perform, at a minimum, the following tasks:
- Responsible for the safe and ethical conduct of a clinical trial
- Evaluates the study proposal and decides on participation
- Facilitates or verifies formal approvals according to FDA and ICH GCP and local requirements
- Ensures that all site initiation activities are performed to start and conduct the study
- Participates in the selection of trial subjects according to the recruitment strategy
- Performs and/or supervises the conduct of study-related procedures and monitors the safety of the trial subjects and investigational staff
- Collects accurate and verifiable data and other essential study documents
- Ensures compliance with FDA and ICH GCP, the protocol and the handling of the investigational product
- Communicates with subjects, sponsor's personnel and IEC/IRB
- Ensures adequate close-out of the study
Eligibility Requirements
Experience: Because all exams are based on the application of the clinical research knowledge base, the Academy requires a minimum of two years of experience in the job functions for the examination for which a candidate is applying. Job experience for CRAs and CRCs can be any time in their career as a clinical research professional. PIs must have experience in the previous two years of their application to take the Certification Exam.
Education:
The educational requirements for CRCs are:
| 1. |
Associates/Bachelor's degree or RN |
2 years full-time or 4 years part-time |
| 2. |
Other (e.g., LPN, LVN, Medical Assistant, Lab Technician, H.S. diploma) |
3 years full time or 6 years part-time |
The educational requirements for CRAs are:
| 1. |
Bachelor's degree or RN |
2 years full-time or 4 years part-time |
| 2. |
Associate's degree |
3 years full time or 6 years part-time |
| 3. |
Other (e.g., LPN, LVN, Medical Assistant, H.S. diploma) |
4 years full time or 8 years part-time |
The educational requirements for PIs are:
| 1. |
A medical (MD, DO, or equivalent) |
2 years full-time |
| 2. |
Be in good standing with local, state, and national licensing and regulatory authorities and certifying bodies |
2 years full-time |