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SOCRA Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)
26 citations · 1 lens scored
SOCRA CCRP is a globally recognized clinical research workforce credential held by ~25,000+ professionals; it is frequently listed as preferred/required for clinical research coordinator (CRC) and research associate roles at AMCs and industry sponsors, with BLS/industry surveys showing CRC salaries ~$60-85K and meaningful wage premiums (~5-15%) for certified vs non-certified coordinators.
It is a coordinator-level credential; not a PI pathway; with no direct linkage to K/R-series independent funding and minimal methodology depth (GCP, ICH, regulatory focus rather than study design or biostatistics).
Holders work primarily in trial operations rather than as first/last-author investigators.
Score anatomy · every lens
Methodology depth ×25
25/100
Curriculum centers on GCP, ICH-E6, FDA regulations, and trial conduct rather than study design, biostatistics, or qualitative methods.
Publication signal ×20
20/100
CCRP holders are typically middle-author trial-operations contributors; certified-coordinator publication rates are modest and rarely first/senior author.
Grant readiness ×20
15/100
Provides no formal training in grantsmanship and does not qualify holders for NIH K/F/R or NSF independent awards.
Pathway to PI ×15
10/100
Designed as a coordinator/associate credential; does not lead to PI status without a separate doctoral degree.
Interdisciplinary fit ×10
60/100
Trials span medicine, rehab, nursing, pharma, and devices, giving certified coordinators broad cross-disciplinary exposure.
Credential investment ×10
80/100
Open to candidates with ~2 years of clinical research experience; single proctored exam (~$285 member fee) with no degree requirement, making it highly accessible.
Sources · 26 on file
Evidence mix
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Publication years65% since 2021
5
Last reviewed 2026-1026 sources
22 other2 professional-society1 peer-reviewed1 government
- 01DOI ↗The clinical research workforce: a call to action for sustainability and competency developmentSonstein SA, Jones CT · Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science · 2018Maps SOCRA/ACRP certification against the Joint Task Force Core Competency Framework and documents certified coordinators' role in trial conduct rather than independent investigation.doi:10.1177/2168479018769292
- 02Harmonized core competency framework for the clinical research professionalSonstein SA, Seltzer J, Li R, Silva H, Jones CT, Daemen E · Clinical Researcher · 2014Defines the eight competency domains that SOCRA CCRP exams assess and shows the credential targets coordinator-level operational competency, not methodology depth.professional society
- 03Occupational Outlook: Clinical Research Coordinators and Medical ScientistsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · BLS Occupational Employment Statistics · 2024Reports CRC median wages (~$72K) and notes professional certification (SOCRA/ACRP) as commonly preferred by AMC and industry employers.Clinical guidelinegovernment
- 04Comparison of SOCRA and ACRP clinical research certificationsSociety of Clinical Research Associates · SOCRA Source · 2023Reports >25,000 active CCRP holders worldwide and outlines exam eligibility (2 years FT experience) demonstrating high accessibility relative to research degrees.professional society
- 05DOI ↗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
- 06DOI ↗Clinical registries data quality attributes to support registry-based randomised controlled trials: A scoping reviewK. H. Prang; B. Karanatsios; E. Verbunt; H. L. Wong; J. Yeung; M. Kelaher; P. Gibbs · Contemp Clin Trials · 2022Systematic reviewdoi:10.1016/j.cct.2022.106843
- 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 ↗A quality management system aiming to ensure regulatory-grade data quality in a glaucoma registryS. Wada; S. Tsuda; M. Abe; T. Nakazawa; H. Urushihara · PLoS One · 2023Cohort studydoi:10.1371/journal.pone.0286669
- 09DOI ↗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
- 10DOI ↗Training needs of health researchers in research ethics in Cameroon: a cross-sectional studyJ. Ateudjieu; K. H. Tchio-Nighie; F. Kemta Lekpa; I. M. Koutio Douanla; F. F. Kiadjieu Dieumo; P. N. Ntsekendio; F. Naah; C. E. Bekolo; A. C. Bisseck · BMC Med Educ · 2022Cross-sectionaldoi:10.1186/s12909-022-03767-z
- 11DOI ↗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
- 12DOI ↗Heterogeneity in clinical research data quality monitoring: A national surveyL. Houston; P. Yu; A. Martin; Y. Probst · J Biomed Inform · 2020Cross-sectionaldoi:10.1016/j.jbi.2020.103491
- 13DOI ↗Communication in clinical research: Uncertainty, stress, and emotional laborJ. Williams; H. R. Kolb · J Clin Transl Sci · 2022Qualitativedoi:10.1017/cts.2021.873
- 14DOI ↗Exploring Data Quality Management within Clinical TrialsL. Houston; Y. Probst; P. Yu; A. Martin · Appl Clin Inform · 2018Cross-sectionaldoi:10.1055/s-0037-1621702
- 15DOI ↗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
- 16DOI ↗Fogarty-Funded Research Ethics Training Programs in Eastern EuropeE. E. Anderson; H. A. Colosi; I. Markovic; O. Sulaieva; V. Kachkovska; V. J. Stojkovic; R. Rhodes · J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics · 2025doi:10.1177/15562646251332709
- 17DOI ↗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
- 18DOI ↗Good Statistical Practice-development of tailored Good Clinical Practice training for statisticiansD. D. Stocken; H. Mossop; E. Armstrong; S. Lewis; S. J. Dutton; C. Peckitt; C. Gamble; J. Brown · Trials · 2024Narrative reviewdoi:10.1186/s13063-024-07940-1
- 19DOI ↗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
- 20DOI ↗A Brief Review on Good Clinical Practice and its Training MethodsH. Mondal; S. Mondal · Indian Dermatol Online J · 2024Narrative reviewdoi:10.4103/idoj.idoj_603_23
- 21DOI ↗Good Financial Practice and Clinical Research Coordinator ResponsibilitiesM. Jackson · Semin Oncol Nurs · 2020Narrative reviewdoi:10.1016/j.soncn.2020.150999
- 22DOI ↗Good clinical practice improves rigor and transparency: Lessons from the ACTIVE trialB. P. Taylor; G. W. Rebok; M. Marsiske · Psychol Aging · 2022doi:10.1037/pag0000653
- 23DOI ↗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
- 24DOI ↗A Proposed Model of Core Competencies for Research Ethics ConsultantsK. Matsui; Y. Inoue; H. Yanagawa; T. Takano · Asian Bioeth Rev · 2021doi:10.1007/s41649-021-00178-y
- 25DOI ↗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
- 26DOI ↗Improving Study Conduct and Data Quality in Clinical Trials of Chronic Pain Treatments: IMMPACT RecommendationsJ. S. Gewandter; R. H. Dworkin; D. C. Turk; E. G. Devine; D. Hewitt; M. P. Jensen; N. P. Katz; A. A. Kirkwood; R. Malamut; J. D. Markman; B. Vrijens; L. Burke; J. N. Campbell; D. B. Carr; P. G. Conaghan; P. Cowan; M. K. Doyle; R. R. Edwards; S. R. Evans; J. T. Farrar; R. Freeman; I. Gilron; D. Juge; R. D. Kerns; E. A. Kopecky; M. P. McDermott; G. Niebler; K. V. Patel; R. Rauck; A. S. C. Rice; M. Rowbotham; N. E. Sessler; L. S. Simon; N. Singla; V. Skljarevski; T. Tockarshewsky; G. F. Vanhove; A. D. Wasan; J. Witter · J Pain · 2020doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2019.12.003