Internationally Qualified Clinical Research Associate Accreditation
Internationally Qualified Clinical Research Associate Accreditation
Stand out from the crowd with the only internationally recognised professional accreditation for clinical
research associates.
Showcase your professional credentials to international best practice standards set by the industry, providing reassurance to patients and sponsors.
80 CPE Points / 8 Learning Credits
Select your chosen cohort start date to commence registration.
Important – by registering you are confirming (a) you have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions and (b) you are self-certifying that you meet the entry criteria for this accreditation (as detailed below on this page).
Please note that the registration deadlines for the cohort dates stated above are as follows:
11 February 2026 – Register by 6 February 2026
11 March 2026 – Register by 6 March 2026
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Entry Requirements
Required Experience:
The CRA Accreditation is aimed at experienced clinical research professionals who are seeking professional recognition and independent validation of their competence and credentials. Applicants should therefore already have experience as a working CRA (or relevant experience from a closely related role). No training is included as part of the accreditation program.
All of the IAOCR Professional Accreditation Programs include ICH-GCP Accreditation, recognising its critical importance in clinical research. The ICH-GCP accreditation is compliant with E6 R3 updates. Achieving this additional accreditation formally validates your ICH-GCP expertise and further enhances your professional credentials. As with the CRA Accreditation assessment, no ICH-GCP training is included in the program.*
* ICH-GCP refresher training is available through IAOCR if required prior to enrolment. Learn more here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Self-Certification Before Enrolment:
Before enrolling for the CRA Accreditation, you must self-certify that your career background, experience and prior training align with the competency areas assessed for both CRA and ICH-GCP Accreditation. You can view the competency areas below.
Accreditation Process
- Online Assessment: Includes multiple-choice questions and scenario-based questions requiring free text answers
- Certification: Receive your Certificate of Accreditation and Professional Accreditation Mark within 6 weeks of submission
Registration Dates
NOTE: Please ensure you have read the Terms and Conditions of Sale for IAOCR Accreditation Programs, as this contains important information about program completion, cancellations and deferrals. You will be asked to confirm that you have read these before completing the purchase check out process.
Competency Areas Assessed
The CRA Accreditation program assesses the following competency areas (based on their application and relevance to the CRA role):
For CRA Accreditation:
- Legislation and regulation of clinical trials
- Ethics and ICH-GCP
- Rights and wellbeing of patients in a clinical trial
- Managing site and investigator relationships
- Principles of clinical study management
- Principles clinical trial site management
- Principles of pharmacovigilance
- Principles of data management
- Document control and record keeping (including TMF/eTMF)
- Management of the investigational medicinal product (IMP)
- Principles of contracts and financial management
- Principles of quality assurance and quality control
For ICH-GCP Accreditation:
- International Conference of Harmonization – Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) and the historical reasons for implementation
- The Declaration of Helsinki
- Protection of rights, safety and wellbeing of clinical trial participants
- Ethics committee/Institutional Review Board (IRB) roles in clinical trials
- Regulatory Authorities and their roles in clinical trial inspections
- Importance of data integrity and patient confidentiality in a clinical trial
- Experience and qualifications required by study staff in clinical trials
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in relation to the Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP)
- Randomization and unblinding in a clinical trial
If you’re looking to become IAOCR accredited status and don’t yet meet the full competency requirements for this professional program, consider our Foundation
Level and ICH-GCP Accreditation Program as a starting point for enhancing your career.
IAOCR Credentials and Quality Assurance
- Mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education Framework developed by UNESCO
- Mapped to relevant Core Global Competency Frameworks
- Dual-stage assessment and verification of competence
- Participants awarded IAOCR Internationally Qualified Professional Status
- Combined award of 8 x internationally valid learning credits + 80 CPE (Continuing Professional Education) Points (for CRA and ICH-GCP double accreditation)
Program Highlights
- Global Industry Recognition - Developed and endorsed with global industry experts. This certification will truly set you apart in your profession
- Internationally Accepted Certification - Mapped to UNESCO’s International Standard Classification of Education framework. 80 CPE Points and 8 Internationally Valid Learning Credits
- Independent Verification - IAOCR’s unique 2-step verification ensures the most robust accreditation and respected accreditation in the industry
- Comprehensive Assessment - Validates essential core global competencies for CRAs and ICH-GCP
- Professional Certification - Earn the title of Internationally Qualified Clinical Research Associate (Q-IAOCR)
- Commitment to Professional Development - 8 Learning Credits & 80 CPE Points
Frequently Asked Questions
CRA Competency Areas Assessed for the Accreditation
- Legislation and regulation of clinical trials
- Ethics and ICH-GCP
- Rights and wellbeing of patients in a clinical trial
- Managing site and investigator relationships
- Principles of clinical study management
- Principles clinical trial site management
- Principles of pharmacovigilance
- Principles of data management
- Document control and record keeping (including TMF/eTMF)
- Management of the investigational medicinal product (IMP)
- Principles of contracts and financial management
- Principles of quality assurance and quality control
How was the CRA Accreditation Developed?
The Internationally Qualified Clinical Research Associate (Q-IAOCR) professional standard was developed in conjunction with global clinical research experts from across the industry. This independently accredited program uses assessment criteria mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education developed by UNESCO. The accreditation exam is underpinned by the core competency frameworks ratified by the industry; it enables successful participants to achieve accreditation and international professional recognition as a ‘world-class’ Clinical Research Associate.
Individuals must provide evidence that they can demonstrate all the relevant core competencies expected of a competent Clinical Research Associate. The accreditation process is focused on ensuring someone has the skills, knowledge and behaviors to fulfil their role safely and credibly, measured against a set of robust accredited assessment criteria which have been developed from the core competency framework validated by the industry.
What does the Accreditation assessment involve?
Once you have enrolled, normally one working day before the program start date, you will be sent a link to access your online assessment portal. The assessment is a blend of multiple-choice questions, questions requiring free text answers and scenarios designed to assess your competence as a Clinical Research Associate. Upon completion of your assessment, your answers will be submitted to the IAOCR Assessment team for review and independent verification.
What will I receive if I successfully pass the accreditation?
- A Certificate of Accreditation
- A Professional Accreditation Mark (displaying your award date, unique registration number and the title of your accreditation)
- The Designatory letters Q-IAOCR – Internationally Qualified Clinical Research Associate
- Note: Accreditation documents are normally awarded within 6 weeks of assessment submission
How Long Does it Take to Complete the Assessment?
On average, the CRA Accreditation assessment takes up to 4 hours to complete for an experienced CRA. The ICH-GCP Accreditation assessment (which is completed separately) takes up to 1 hour.
You can complete the assessments in your own time (within the timeframe provided) and you do not have to complete it all at once as you will have access to your portal until the submission deadline. You must ensure that your final submission adheres to the deadline for assessment submission according to your program start date (see table in program registration section).
What are the Entry Requirements?
The CRA accreditation exam is aimed at experienced clinical research professionals (with relevant experience as a CRA or a related role) seeking professional recognition, no training is included. Therefore, before enrolling for the accreditation, you will need to self-certify that your career background and experience aligns with the competency areas that will be assessed in the accreditation assessment process.
I already have CRA Certification with another provider – why do I need this?
The Q-IAOCR Accreditation for Clinical Research Associates compliments and enhances any other CRA Certifications or CRA Credentials you may hold. IAOCR accreditations are the only clinical research certifications in the industry that provide formal international professional recognition due to the way they are developed (with the global industry) and mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education framework developed by UNESCO. The unique 2 step assessment and independent verification process makes IAOCR accreditations the most robust in the industry, which is why certification with IAOCR can elevate you to the highest professional status.
I am a highly experienced CRA, why do I need this accreditation?
IAOCR is committed to working with the industry to support the formal recognition of clinical research as a profession and to help combat CV/resume fraud, which is becoming an increasingly widespread concern for employers.
Clinical research professionals achieving accreditation with IAOCR are able to demonstrate to employers that they are committed to working to global best practice standards.
Accreditation provides the highest level of professional recognition available – evidencing that you have been robustly assessed to standards agreed with leading global employers.
The distinctive quality mark and unique professional identification number provides reassurance that you are a world-class CRA.
Gain the professional recognition you deserve as highly qualified and experienced professional that’s working at the top of your field!