Re: CRA - Fact or Urban Legend Andrew M. Parkerson-Gray 05 Dec 2005 15:41 EST

Jennifer,

How do you go about having the degree requirement waived? I've always
wondered. Anyway, I have my CRA designation, as does my right hand
co-worker, and we both did in fact take the exam.

Andrew
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Andrew Parkerson-Gray, CRA
Director, UAF Office of Sponsored Programs
909 Koyukuk Drive / P.O. Box 757270
West Ridge Research Building, Suite 212F
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7270

Phone:  (907) 474-1851
Fax:    (907) 474-5444
E-mail: xxxxxx@uaf.edu
Web:    http://www.uaf.edu/osp/
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Jennifer Shambrook wrote:

>I would be interested in hearing answers to Dr. Miller's other questions and comments concerning the credential.
>
>I've recommended to people that don't have bachelor's degrees, and no plans to obtain them, to get the CRA as a sign that they can set and achieve a professional development goal in lieu of a degree.
>
>In my own hiring practices, I would count a CRA and 5 years experience as almost equivalent to a Bachelors Degree when comparing candidates.  I work in an academic environment, though, and a certification that does not require a degree will always be looked askance upon by the academic investigators we serve.
>
>Personally, I am generally supportive of CRAs as long as the person took the exam to get it.  It's my understanding that in the beginning, one could obtain a CRA based upon longevity in the profession, and renew from attending sessions at SRA or NCURA without taking an exam.  Can anyone tell me if this fact or urban legend?
>
>If it is fact:  Has everyone that holds the CRA designation today taken the exam?
>
>I have an inquiring mind and would like to know.
>
>-Jennifer
>
>
>
>Jennifer Morgan Shambrook, MHA
>
>Associate Chair for Research Administration
>Co-Director Division of Public Psychiatry
>Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science
>Medical University of South Carolina
>67 President Street, Suite 504
>Charleston, South Carolina  29425
>
>voice:  843-792-0191
>fax:  843-792-0048
>email:  xxxxxx@musc.edu
>
>
>
>
>>>>xxxxxx@UAF.EDU 12/05/05 02:17PM >>>
>>>>
>>>>
>Hi Pam, the same goes for our announcement I recently posted. The
>reasons we put it as a requirement are for the same reasons Bill listed,
>and I think they are very good ones.
>
>Thanks,
>Andrew
>
>Bill Schulze wrote:
>
>
>
>>Hi, Pam:
>>
>>I have a feeling you are referring to our announcement, although I
>>believe others do that as well...
>>
>>You make some good philosophical points, however our motive is more
>>practical than philosophical. Including a certification requirement in
>>the job description for Senior Research Administrator has allowed us
>>to obtain HR approval of a professional position at a competitive
>>salary level.
>>
>>We do not use the CRA as a screening instrument, or we would require
>>it up front. I feel many will agree that the CRA is an important
>>credential for various reasons, but by no means do I feel it should be
>>considered the quintessential measure of knowledge or competency
>>within the profession.
>>
>>We expect our Senior Research Administrators to be experienced and
>>highly skilled research administrators. Our evaluations of candidates
>>during the interview process are based on their knowledge of the field
>>and demonstrated skills, and since the 4 professionals currently in
>>our office have over 60 years of combined experience in Research
>>Administration, we have little trouble with these assessments.
>>
>>Bill
>>
>>PS: If anyone is interested in a good job with great people, please
>>apply... We're looking for really good research administrators, and if
>>you don't already have the CRA, don't worry about it - we'll give you
>>3 years and also pay for it...
>>
>>****************************************
>>William E. Schulze, EdD
>>Director of Sponsored Programs
>>University of Nevada, Las Vegas
>>Phone (702) 895-1357
>>Fax (702) 895-0986
>>xxxxxx@ccmail.nevada.edu
>>****************************************
>>
>>Inactive hide details for Pamela Miller <xxxxxx@USFCA.EDU>Pamela
>>Miller <xxxxxx@USFCA.EDU>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>                        *Pamela Miller <xxxxxx@USFCA.EDU>*
>>                        Sent by: Research Administration List
>>                        <xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG>
>>
>>                        12/05/2005 09:35 AM
>>                        Please respond to Research Administration
>>                        Discussion List
>>
>>
>>
>>To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
>>cc:
>>Subject: [RESADM-L] CRA as a screening instrument
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>This is something that has been bothering me, and I have decided to
>>share my concerns via this forum: I recently noticed a research
>>administration position announcement that required that persons
>>applying for the job have CRA status or be willing to obtain this
>>designation within a few years of employment. In my opinion, requiring
>>research administrators obtain a Certified Research Administrator
>>(CRA) designation to obtain and maintain employment is very premature.
>>
>>The exam for the CRA tests an examinee's knowledge of particular body
>>of knowledge and indicates that a high enough score on the test along
>>with a certain number of years on the job and a bachelor's degree is
>>sufficient for the individual to be "certified" as a research or
>>grants administrator. The unasked questions in this transaction are:
>>Who decides what the fundamental body of knowledge is in research
>>administration? The exam may indeed have captured the incredible
>>diversity of this ever changing field, but how do we know? Is there an
>>objective credentialing body behind the CRA exam, such as the
>>Committee on Accreditation (CoA) which oversees the accreditation of
>>programs and exams in professional psychology for the American
>>Psychological Association (APA)? Is there anything more rigorous than
>>anecdotal evidence to support the validity of the exam?
>>
>>Assuming the CRA exam does capture all the fundamentals of research
>>administration, are the questions good questions, i.e., do the
>>questions really tap the individual's true understanding of this body
>>of knowledge? No test is perfect, and there are numerous factors that
>>affect the reliability of a test, e.g., the length of the test, the
>>way the items are constructed, and even the directions for taking the
>>test. Reliability is an essential characteristic of a good test,
>>because if a test doesn't measure consistently (reliably), then one
>>can not know if the scores resulting from a particular administration
>>are due to the examinee's achievement or random error. The CRA web
>>site does not report test validity or reliability information, and
>>these are important things to know before making someone's job
>>dependent upon having or getting a CRA!
>>
>>Research administrators work hard, often without anyone noticing or
>>appreciating the work being done. It therefore is very tempting to try
>>and place research administration at the same table with other valued
>>professions. However, if one looks at what other professions have done
>>and are doing to achieve this respected status, it is clear that we in
>>research administration have a long way to go. The CRA may be an
>>important first step, but in my opinion it is unwise to think that we
>>have reached the end of the journey.
>>
>>Pamela F. Miller, Ph.D.
>>Director, Office of Sponsored Projects
>>The University of San Francisco
>>2130 Fulton Street
>>San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
>>TEL 415-422-5368
>>FAX 415-422-6222
>>EMAIL xxxxxx@usfca.edu_ <mailto:xxxxxx@usfca.edu>
>>
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