UCapS CRA Study Group

UCapS

About UCapS CRA Study Group

The UCapS (UChicago Aspire, Prepare, and Soar!) CRA Study Group is an independent and guided study program designed for all University of Chicago research administrators who are interested in and qualify to take the Certified Research Administrator (CRA) exam.

The CRA exam is managed by the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC), an independent certifying body. To learn more about the CRA and other certifications offered by RACC, please visit their website (https://www.cra-cert.org).

If already certified and would like to attend as a mentor to support your colleagues, please contact bruxanne@uchicago.edu. Your experience and expertise are valued, and participation is eligible toward your own recertification.

Benefits and Details of the CRA

A 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 of sponsored research.

  • Professional recognition
  • On-going professional development
  • Personal satisfaction
  • Demonstration of expertise and knowledge
  • Increased credibility with faculty, other administrators
  • Advancement opportunities
  • Service as a professional role model and mentor

Eligibility to Sit for the CRA Exam

Candidates applying to sit for the CRA examination must meet one 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 option requires completion of a Petition Application.

Exam Format

Exam Composition and Length

Exams are comprised of 200 multiple-choice test questions, 175 of which will count toward a candidate’s score, and 25 pretest (pilot) questions which will not count toward a candidate’s score. The 25 pretest (pilot) questions are randomly distributed through the examination and will not be identifiable as a pretest (pilot) question. Candidates will be given three-and-one-half (3.5) hours to complete the exam.

Questions are within the below categories and allocations:

  • I. Collection and Dissemination of Information 44%
  • II. Legal Requirements and Sponsor Interface 20%
  • III. Financial Management 21%
  • IV. General Management 15%

Exam Scoring

RACC will report exam scores using scaled scoring. To ensure fairness and consistency across exam forms, once RACC establishes a passing standard, this standard is upheld for all future forms of the exam. A statistical process called equating is used to account for any slight variations in difficulty level across forms. Candidate scores are then reported using scaled scoring, which converts the candidate’s raw score (i.e., total number of correct questions) onto a consistent and standardized scale. Scaled scores allow candidate scores to be comparable from one exam form to the next.

The scale range for all RACC exams will be 200 to 800 with a passing point of 500.


Uniform Guidance Updates

The Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) is actively updating all its materials in accordance with changes to the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) announced in April 2024 and effective beginning October 1, 2024.

As of July 1, 2025, references to the Uniform Guidance in all RACC exams (CRA, CFRA, and CPRA) and practice exams will reflect the revised guidance.  Please note that the following exams will follow the Uniform Guidance prior to the 2024 revisions:
CPRA - February 15 - March 1, 2025
CFRA - March 1-15, 2025
CRA - May 10-24, 2025

UCapS Study Group

If eligible to sit for the CRA Exam, you are eligible to participate in the UCapS Study Group.

Prerequisites

Research administrators must have:

  • Bachelor's Degree and three (3) years of professional experience in research or sponsored programs.
  • Associate's Degree and five (5) years of professional experience in research or sponsored programs.
  • No degree and six (6) years of professional experience in research or sponsored programs.
  • Registration is required.
  • All sessions will be held via Zoom meeting.

Supervisor Requirements for Participants

  • Ensure the applicant will be permitted time to attend a guided study group one day every week for 10 weeks during the program prior to the CRA exam with times to be announced.
  • Approve the applicant's participation via email with the following statement: “As supervisor for (participant name), I encourage and recommend their participation in the UCapS study group and agree to provide time for attendance of the cohort sessions." This email will be attached to the application form by the applicant.

Please use this link to register for the Spring Session 


UCapS Study Group Format

Weekly one and a half hour study group sessions will meet via Zoom invitation. Prior to committing to attend, discuss the program benefits and requirements with your supervisor and seek approval for participation if necessary.

  • Group Study Resources provided include:
    • Handouts
    • Presentation materials
    • Regular topic and update emails during the session
    • Weekly peer and subject matter expert discussion/review 
  • Sessions are designed for participants to review weekly materials/presentations and prepare questions for discussion at each session. The course topics are taken from the RACC Body of Knowledge.
  • The study group is a group effort and it is the expectation that participants will prepare to discuss the weekly study material. 
  • The volume of material that could be on the exam is too great to cover exhaustively. By participating in the study group, you will study subject areas with which you are less familiar and may require additional focus on your own time.

Participant Expectations

  • Attend the moderated weekly study sessions with your cohort.
  • View weekly webinars offered by Virginia Tech. Subject matters are 2 hours long, are recorded, and may be watched at your availability. 
  • It is highly recommended to study several hours a week outside of the webinars and study sessions.

The CRA exam is rigorous. These study sessions do not guarantee that participants will pass the exam, as the volume of material is too significant to cover in them. It is highly recommended that participants prepare for the exam by studying outside of the study sessions.

UCapS Study Group Schedule 

February 5 - April 9, 2025
Wednesdays, 3 p.m. via Zoom invitation

Participants are expected to view the recording and review the assigned materials prior to each session. 

  • Session 1: Overview of UCapS Study Group
  • Session 2: NSF/NIH Foundations
  • Session 3: Federal Agencies: DoD, DoE, NASA, USDA; Financial Administration
  • Session 4: Federal Contracting
  • Session 5: Uniform Guidance
  • Session 6: Biosafety and Human Subjects
  • Session 7: Conflict of Interest and Export Controls
  • Session 8: Intellectual Property and Animal Subjects
  • Session 9: Clinical Research
  • Session 10: Final Review

UCapS Study Group Materials

For detailed session information, links to materials, and more, please see the UCapS CRA Study Group Materials in Box.

Exam Registration, Testing Process, and Resources

Exams are held each May and November and require registration. To begin the registration process, submit an CRA Exam Application, via the RACC, and pay the exam fee of $395.00 (paid either by the participant or participant’s department).

Upon completion of the application and payment, participants will receive mailed correspondence indicating their application’s acceptance and instructions for scheduling the exam.


CRA Exam Preparation Resources

RACC Handbook

2024 Candidate Handbook

Testing Periods

May 10-24, 2025

November 1-5, 2025

Application Deadlines

April 9, 2025 (May window)

October 1, 2025 (November window)

Exam Fee**

$395

Online Practice Exam & Fee

75 Questions/ $60

FAQs for Online Practice Exam

Exam Administration

Professional Testing Corporation

Approved exam site

**Interested participants should discuss with their supervisors whether this cost can be covered by their department


Recertification Term & Requirements for Recertification

Recertification requirements for the CRA will vary based on exam date.

For those taking their CRA exam in 2023 or later:

  • Certification is valid for a 3-year term (term expiration available via Certificant Profile)
  • Recertification will require 42 contact hours

For those who took their CRA prior to 2023:

  • The expiration date of current certificate remains valid, with a 5-year term (term expiration available via Certificant Profile)
  • Requirements for that 5-year terms apply (80 contact hours)
  • After 5-year term expires, recertification will be based on a 3-year, 42-hour contact term
  • To recertify, one must either apply for recertification or retake the certification exam.

Recertification Application

An application for recertification will include:

  • Information regarding continued participation or employment in the field
  • A detailed transcript of contact hours and necessary documentation. It is the responsibility of the participant to track contact hours which can include participation in workshops/conferences, delivering presentations, writing articles, etc. The RACC provides information on how to earn contact hours on their website.
  • $195 application fee; late application fee is $295