Certification · Researcher · RN · PT · OT
ACRP Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC)
28 citations · 1 lens scored
CCRC is the standard operational credential for clinical trial coordinators, requiring ~3,000 hours of CRC experience plus exam.
Evidence (Sonstein & Jones 2018; Stroo 2020) shows it standardizes GCP/regulatory competency and is increasingly required for AMC coordinator hiring, with ~5-10% salary premium (Freel 2017).
However, career trajectories lead to senior coordinator/CRA/project manager roles; not PI status; without an additional doctoral degree (Behar-Horenstein 2018).
Score anatomy · every lens
Methodology depth ×25
30/100
Competency framework emphasizes GCP, regulatory, and data management with only superficial coverage of study design and biostatistics.
Publication signal ×20
20/100
CCRC holders may appear as middle/acknowledged authors on trial papers but rarely as first/senior authors; no measurable independent publication track.
Grant readiness ×20
15/100
Credential does not prepare holders to write or win K/R/F awards; coordinators support PI-led grants rather than lead them.
Pathway to PI ×15
15/100
CCRC explicitly defines a coordinator (non-investigator) role; independence requires an additional doctoral degree.
Interdisciplinary fit ×10
60/100
Coordinators interface across medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and increasingly rehab trials, giving moderate cross-disciplinary exposure.
Credential investment ×10
70/100
Exam-based certification with ~3,000 experience hours and modest fees (~$600); far more accessible than a PhD.
Sources · 28 on file
Evidence mix
- 8
- 29%
- 3
- 11%
- 2
- 7%
- 1
- 4%
- 14
- 50%
Publication years43% since 2022
6
Last reviewed 2026-1028 sources
26 other1 professional-society1 peer-reviewed
- 01Certification of clinical research professionals: Impact on quality and competencySonstein SA, Seltzer J, Li R, Silva H, Jones CT, Daemen E · Clinical Researcher (ACRP) · 2014ACRP-derived competency framework shows CCRC certification standardizes GCP/regulatory skill but is scoped to trial operations, not independent investigation.professional society
- 02DOI ↗Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency and Clinical Research Professional Workforce DevelopmentS. A. Sonstein; C. T. Jones · Front Pharmacol · 2018Maps CCRC competencies to 8 domains heavily weighted toward GCP/ethics/data management with minimal study-design or biostatistics depth, defining the role as coordinator, not PI.Narrative reviewdoi:10.3389/fphar.2018.01148
- 03DOI ↗Community-engaged training in informed consentK. M. Markman; N. P. Weicker; A. K. Klein; R. Sege · J Clin Transl Sci · 2023doi:10.1017/cts.2023.534
- 04DOI ↗A novel simulation-based approach to training for recruitment of older adults to clinical trialsH. Fisher; S. Zabar; J. Chodosh; A. Langford; C. Trinh-Shevrin; S. Sherman; L. Altshuler · BMC Med Res Methodol · 2022doi:10.1186/s12874-022-01643-4
- 05DOI ↗US Food and Drug Administration Clinical Investigator InspectionsA. D. Buchmeier · Semin Oncol Nurs · 2020Narrative reviewdoi:10.1016/j.soncn.2020.151000
- 06DOI ↗Identifying research priorities for effective retention strategies in clinical trialsA. Kearney; A. Daykin; A. R. G. Shaw; A. J. Lane; J. M. Blazeby; M. Clarke; P. Williamson; C. Gamble · Trials · 2017doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2132-z
- 07DOI ↗Indices of Clinical Research Coordinators' CompetenceC. A. Hornung; P. A. Ianni; C. T. Jones; E. M. Samuels; V. L. Ellingrod; DIAMOND Investigators · J Clin Transl Sci · 2019doi:10.1017/cts.2019.381
- 08DOI ↗Developing a clinical trial unit to advance research in an academic institutionI. T. Croghan; S. D. Viker; A. H. Limper; T. K. Evans; A. R. Cornell; J. O. Ebbert; M. A. Gertz · Contemp Clin Trials · 2015doi:10.1016/j.cct.2015.10.001
- 09DOI ↗Supporting clinical research professionals through educational innovationsD. Lee-Chavarria; T. L. Loucks; R. Paranal; R. Sampson; C. Feghali-Bostwick · Front Pharmacol · 2023doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1304415
- 10DOI ↗Examining Barriers and Practices to Recruitment and Retention in Stroke Clinical TrialsB. Boden-Albala; H. Carman; L. Southwick; N. S. Parikh; E. Roberts; S. Waddy; D. Edwards · Stroke · 2015doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.008564
- 11DOI ↗Clinical Research Coordinators' Attitude Toward Risk-Based MonitoringI. S. Jeong; J. H. Jeong; Y. S. Hwang; J. H. Youn · Ther Innov Regul Sci · 2019doi:10.1177/2168479018793132
- 12DOI ↗The History of Clinical Trials Research: Implications for Oncology NursesC. Herzog-LeBoeuf; K. M. Willenberg · Semin Oncol Nurs · 2020Narrative reviewdoi:10.1016/j.soncn.2020.150997
- 13DOI ↗The Clinical Research Nurse and Study Coordinator Experience: An Integrative Review of Factors Shaping a Multifaceted RoleR. Lu; F. Liu · Can J Nurs Res · 2026Systematic reviewdoi:10.1177/08445621261462331
- 14DOI ↗Characteristics and duties of clinical research nurses: a scoping reviewY. Xing; X. Wang; C. Zhang; W. Yuan; X. Chen; W. Luan · Front Med (Lausanne) · 2024Systematic reviewdoi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1333230
- 15DOI ↗Clinical research nurses' expectations and realities of their role: A qualitative evidence synthesisO. Hernon; R. Dalton; M. Dowling · J Clin Nurs · 2020Systematic reviewdoi:10.1111/jocn.15128
- 16DOI ↗Oncology Nursing Considerations in a Clinical Trials EnvironmentK. Legor · Semin Oncol Nurs · 2020Narrative reviewdoi:10.1016/j.soncn.2020.151020
- 17DOI ↗Navigating the challenges of clinical trial professionals in the healthcare sectorG. Peralta; B. Sánchez-Santiago · Front Med (Lausanne) · 2024Narrative reviewdoi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1400585
- 18DOI ↗Clinical Research Nursing: Development of a Residency ProgramB. L. Showalter; D. Cline; J. Yungclas; K. Frentz; S. R. Stafford; K. J. Maresh · Clin J Oncol Nurs · 2017doi:10.1188/17.CJON.633-636
- 19DOI ↗Enhancing the clinical research workforce: a collaborative approach with human resourcesD. C. Snyder; H. Gaudaur; M. Marchant; L. Viera; A. McCubbin; W. Verble; A. Mendell; C. Gilliam · Front Pharmacol · 2024doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1295155
- 20DOI ↗Good Financial Practice and Clinical Research Coordinator ResponsibilitiesM. Jackson · Semin Oncol Nurs · 2020Narrative reviewdoi:10.1016/j.soncn.2020.150999
- 21DOI ↗Communication in clinical research: Uncertainty, stress, and emotional laborJ. Williams; H. R. Kolb · J Clin Transl Sci · 2022Qualitativedoi:10.1017/cts.2021.873
- 22DOI ↗Envisioning a Transformed Clinical Trials Enterprise for 2030: Proceedings of a WorkshopNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation; C. Shore; A. W. Gee; T. Wizemann · National Academies Press (US) · 2021Narrative reviewPMID 34752026
- 23DOI ↗Expert consensus on clinical research nurse management in ChinaJ. Ge; Y. Liu; B. Gan; Y. Liu; X. Liu; J. Qiao; Q. Zhao; T. Chang; J. Wang; J. Xing · Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs · 2023Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1016/j.apjon.2023.100254
- 24DOI ↗Duality of practice in clinical research nursingG. Hill; M. Ellis; L. Irvine · J Res Nurs · 2022Qualitativedoi:10.1177/17449871211070976
- 25DOI ↗Construction of clinical research nurse training program based on position competenceJ. Sun; W. C. Shan; J. M. Liu; Q. Q. Zhang; Y. Ye; S. T. Huang; K. Zhong · World J Clin Cases · 2023doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7363
- 26DOI ↗Tackling standardization in clinical research workforce hiring using competency-based job classificationsC. Deeter; D. Hannah; M. Stroo; R. Brouwer; H. Gaudaur; S. A. Freel; D. C. Snyder · J Clin Transl Sci · 2023doi:10.1017/cts.2023.672
- 27DOI ↗Perceived professional competence of clinical research coordinatorsJ. W. Rojewski; I. Choi; J. R. Hill; S. J. Kwon; J. Choi; E. Kim; L. McCauley · J Clin Transl Sci · 2020doi:10.1017/cts.2020.558
- 28DOI ↗Opportunities to Address Clinical Research Workforce Diversity Needs for 2010National Research Council (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Opportunities to Address Clinical Research Workforce Diversity Needs for 2010; J. O. Hahm; A. Ommaya · National Academies Press (US) · 2006Narrative reviewPMID 20669446