Eligibility
CCRPS Certifications
Who can enroll, what readiness means, and how we keep expectations clear in regulated work
For quick eligibility determination take our 3 question career quiz or chat below or message advising@ccrps.org with 1) educational background 2) research experience 3) career goals
If you enroll in the incorrect course, we offer free transitions into the appropriate course at no additional cost. Notify our advising team via chat or email below with your 1) account email 2) full name 3) course change request (with specific rationale for change) to be accommodated.
Over half of our students add on AGCPC training to their program or take 2 programs to allow them to be best suited for career success and a broader job application range based on their background (i.e. AGCPC + One of 7 Programs, ACTAC + ACRCC, ACRCC + ACRAC, ACRAC + ACPMC, AMSLC + ACPMC, AMSLC + ARPIC, AMSLC + APRAC, etc depending on educational/work background). Since our programs do not overlap and are designed for each specific career role and affordable, this can be a good option depending on your time availability for studying. For questions regarding if this approach is suitable for you please contact advising as well.
CCRPS certifications are professional training programs built for adult learners who want legitimate career preparation for clinical research and trial operations. Eligibility is intentionally inclusive while professional expectations remain strict. You can take our career quiz above or scroll below to see our learner profiles for each course. We offer 24/7 advising support to assist you in this as well.
Most people do not fail in clinical research because they lacked ambition or intelligence. They fail because they enter regulated work without the habits that keep decisions defensible later: documentation discipline, scope clarity, escalation timing, role boundaries, and the ability to follow a protocol because dry guidelines are not enough in practice. This is why we teach through role and example-based learning (see structure).
CCRPS is designed to build those habits through structured learning and applied evaluation. You do not need a specific degree to start. You do need readiness to engage in responsibility based training where your decisions are expected to hold up under review.
All CCRPS course pages and certification access with instant enrollment are available here:
https://app.ccrps.org
Who CCRPS Certifications Are Designed For
CCRPS is designed for learners who want clinical research training to be taken seriously as regulated professional preparation, not treated like trivia, shortcuts, or surface level terminology.
This includes:
Aspiring CRCs who want structured preparation before working on studies instead of learning through avoidable errors
Aspiring CRAs who want a clearer bridge into monitoring expectations, sponsor oversight, and quality evaluation logic
Entry level clinical research candidates who need role clarity across site operations, consent workflows, documentation standards, and basic GCP discipline
Practicing CRCs, research assistants, and site staff who want to strengthen judgment, reduce repeat findings, and raise documentation quality
International learners aiming to work in global trials who need clear standards language and portable professional framing
Healthcare adjacent professionals transitioning into research roles who want strict boundaries and regulated workflow literacy
Professionals moving into PV, trial operations, or project support roles who need escalation discipline and compliance habits
Career switchers entering clinical research who want legitimacy and structure, not confidence and buzzwords
What unites eligible learners is not background, geography, or seniority. It is a shared expectation that your work in research must reduce risk, protect participants, and remain defensible when reviewed later.
CCRPS Certification Pathways and Learner Profiles
CCRPS includes multiple certification tracks. Each track has its own focus, but the eligibility philosophy stays consistent: inclusive access with clear responsibility expectations.
CCRPS certifications and graduate learner profiles include:
Advanced Research Assistant Certification (ACTAC): For aspiring research assistants, CTAs, premeds, college students, life science graduates, and healthcare entrants lacking trial exposure, this program awards a CPD-accredited certificate and uses an example-driven, interactive syllabus grounded in advanced learning theory to rapidly build retention across trial phases, ICH-GCP, IRBs, informed consent, safety reporting, and data integrity, significantly increasing hireability, resume relevance, interview confidence, faster onboarding, early responsibility, and long-term progression into CRC, CRA, and clinical operations roles.
ACTAC Learner Profiles: Aspiring clinical research professionals, aspiring research assistants, entry-level research assistants, clinical trial assistants (CTAs), junior CTAs, site-level research support staff, academic research assistants transitioning to industry trials, hospital research office staff, college students in biology, college students in public health, college students in health sciences, recent life science graduates, biology degree holders, chemistry degree holders, public health degree holders, epidemiology graduates, biostatistics graduates, premed students, pre-PA students, pre-nursing students, allied health graduates, medical assistants transitioning into research, laboratory technicians transitioning into clinical research, pharmacy technicians, data-focused healthcare graduates, career switchers entering clinical research, underemployed science graduates, internationally trained science graduates, foreign medical graduates (pre-licensure), early-career healthcare professionals seeking regulated-industry entry, academic research staff entering industry-sponsored trials, nonprofit research staff, government research assistants, clinical research sites building RA and CTA pipelines, contract research organizations onboarding entry-level trial support staff, CROs standardizing onboarding for junior research personnel, sponsors building early-career research pipelines, workforce development programs, vocational retraining candidates.
Advanced Clinical Research Coordinator Certification (ACRCC): For aspiring CRCs (including RAs, nurses, allied health professionals, foreign medical graduates, college students, and science graduates) and current CRCs seeking advancement, this program awards a CPD-accredited certificate, a verifiable CRC credential and LinkedIn badge, supports ACE-recommended college credit, and applies an example-focused, retention-optimized syllabus covering protocol execution, source documentation, AE/SAE workflows, TMFs, decentralized trials, and inspection readiness to dramatically increase sponsor trust, hireability, interview performance, reduced compliance risk, and promotion into lead CRC or CRA-track roles.
ACRCC Learner Profiles: Aspiring clinical research coordinators, aspiring CRCs, entry-level CRCs, beginner CRCs, mid-level CRCs seeking advancement, senior CRCs preparing for lead roles, research assistants transitioning to CRC roles, clinical trial assistants moving into coordination, registered nurses entering clinical research, licensed practical nurses in research settings, nurse practitioners on research tracks, physician assistants in research settings, allied health professionals supporting trials, foreign medical graduates entering site research roles, internationally trained physicians supporting trials, college students pursuing clinical research careers (ACE college credit approved training), college graduates seeking regulated careers, public health graduates entering trial coordination, MPH degree holders, academic research coordinators, hospital-based research coordinators, private research site coordinators, oncology research coordinators, cardiology research coordinators, neurology research coordinators, rare disease trial coordinators, decentralized trial coordinators, site regulatory staff, clinical operations associates, CRO site-facing professionals, sponsor-affiliated site staff, professionals pursuing CRA-track readiness, contract research organizations onboarding and upskilling CRC teams, sponsors standardizing coordinator performance across sites, academic medical centers expanding research programs.
Advanced Clinical Research Associate Certification (ACRAC): For experienced CRCs, CTAs, research nurses, and clinical research professionals blocked by the CRA experience gap, this program awards a CPD-accredited certificate and uses an interactive, scenario-based syllabus across multi-trial and multi-specialty monitoring activities including SIVs, routine and remote monitoring, SDV, deviations, CAPAs, and audits to maximize knowledge retention, strengthen CRA-specific resumes and interviews, accelerate onboarding, enable early field autonomy, and fast-track progression into senior and lead CRA roles.
ACRAC Learner Profiles: Aspiring clinical research associates, aspiring CRAs, entry-level CRAs, junior CRAs, mid-level CRAs, senior CRAs preparing for lead roles, experienced CRCs transitioning to monitoring, advanced medical professionals (IMG, MBBS) seeking travelling or monitoring roles, senior CRCs seeking sponsor-side roles, clinical trial assistants with monitoring exposure, research nurses transitioning to CRA roles, site managers, clinical research specialists, quality assurance associates, clinical compliance staff, clinical operations professionals, CRO-employed monitors, sponsor-side monitoring associates, regulatory associates supporting monitoring, data review associates, monitoring assistants, junior clinical trial auditors, international CRAs, globally mobile monitoring professionals, professionals re-entering monitoring after career gaps, professionals returning after layoffs, CRA candidates preparing for CRO onboarding programs, CROs accelerating CRA readiness and reducing onboarding ramp time, sponsors building compliant monitoring teams, SMOs scaling monitoring capacity.
Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager Certification (ACPMC): For CRCs, CRAs, and clinical operations professionals aiming for leadership, this program awards a CPD-accredited certificate and leverages an applied, example-centric syllabus across multi-trial project environments including timelines, budgeting, vendor oversight, CTMS/EDC systems, and risk planning to elevate professionals to the top tier of promotable talent, improve leadership interviews, shorten transition into PM roles, and support long-term advancement across complex clinical portfolios.
ACPMC Learner Profiles: Aspiring clinical project managers, entry-level project coordinators, associate clinical project managers, mid-level clinical project managers, senior clinical project managers, project managers pivoting into research, CRCs transitioning into leadership roles, CRAs moving into management roles, clinical operations professionals, trial managers, global trial coordinators, program coordinators, sponsor-side clinical operations staff, CRO project team members, vendor oversight managers, clinical vendor managers, quality management professionals, regulatory project leads, portfolio managers (junior), delivery managers, biotech operations professionals, pharmaceutical operations staff, medical device trial managers, professionals managing multi-trial portfolios, professionals managing global studies, MBA graduates entering life sciences, healthcare administrators managing trials, CROs onboarding and upskilling project managers, sponsors standardizing trial delivery leadership.
Advanced Pharmacovigilance & Regulatory Affairs Certification (APRAC): For aspiring and current PV and RA professionals, PharmDs, PhDs, MDs, biomedical researchers, and life science graduates intimidated by global complexity, this program awards a CPD-accredited certificate and uses an interactive, case-based syllabus spanning multi-country, multi-skill safety and regulatory workflows including AE processing, MedDRA, signal detection, aggregate reporting, eCTD submissions, labeling, and post-marketing surveillance to increase global hireability, interview authority, faster trust in safety-critical roles, and long-term international career mobility.
APRAC Learner Profiles: Aspiring pharmacovigilance professionals, aspiring drug safety professionals, entry-level drug safety associates, junior pharmacovigilance associates, mid-level PV professionals, senior PV professionals expanding scope, regulatory affairs associates, junior regulatory affairs managers, regulatory operations professionals, PharmD graduates, pharmacy degree holders, internationally trained pharmacists, pharmacy technicians transitioning to industry, biomedical scientists, biotechnology graduates, life science graduates, MSc and PhD holders in life sciences, clinical researchers transitioning to safety roles, safety data reviewers, medical writers supporting safety and regulatory submissions, signal detection analysts, aggregate report authors, global safety associates, regulatory submission specialists, labeling associates, post-marketing surveillance staff, quality assurance professionals, CRO pharmacovigilance staff, sponsor-side safety teams, professionals pursuing PV-RA crossover roles, professionals in multi-role safety and regulatory positions, CROs and sponsors onboarding global safety and regulatory teams, global outsourcing partners.
Advanced Principal Investigator Certification (ARPIC): For physicians, sub-investigators, foreign medical graduates, and newly appointed or aspiring PIs across multiple therapeutic areas, this program awards a CPD-accredited certificate and applies a multi-specialty, example-driven syllabus covering FDA 1572 obligations, delegation, consent oversight, safety governance, audits, and investigator-initiated versus sponsor trials to reduce liability fear, strengthen institutional trust, enhance leadership interviews, and enable sustained advancement across research programs rather than single studies.
ARPIC Learner Profiles: Aspiring principal investigators, newly appointed principal investigators, mid-level PIs expanding trial portfolios, experienced PIs seeking operational standardization, physicians conducting industry-sponsored trials, sub-investigators, co-investigators, foreign medical graduates conducting research, internationally trained physicians, academic clinicians leading sponsored trials, hospital-based physicians in research programs, private practice physicians conducting trials, investigator-initiated trial leaders, sponsor-selected investigators, clinical fellows involved in research, medical residents entering research, physician-scientists, medical directors with research oversight, research site owners, site leadership teams, investigators managing multi-specialty trial portfolios, investigators seeking improved sponsor selection rates, SMO-affiliated investigators, CROs increasing PI training scope, sponsors selecting and onboarding low-risk investigator sites, hospital systems expanding research footprint.
Medical Science Liaison & Medical Monitor Certification (AMSLC): For MDs, PharmDs, PhDs, and senior clinical scientists pursuing MSL or medical monitor roles, this program awards a CPD-accredited certificate and uses a scenario-based syllabus across multi-trial and multi-specialty oversight including scientific exchange, KOL engagement, safety signal review, DSMB interaction, and internal advisory responsibilities to increase sponsor-side hireability, elevate interview credibility, accelerate entry into influence-driven roles, and support long-term advancement in medical affairs and safety governance.
AMSLC Learner Profiles: Aspiring medical science liaisons, entry-level MSLs, junior MSLs, mid-level MSLs, senior MSLs seeking advancement, aspiring medical monitors, junior medical monitors, associate medical monitors, PharmDs entering medical affairs, MDs transitioning to sponsor-side roles, PhDs in clinical or translational science, postdoctoral researchers, clinical scientists, medical affairs associates, sponsor-side professionals, CRO medical staff, safety physicians, clinical development associates, translational medicine professionals, scientific communications professionals, medical writers transitioning to MSL roles, KOL engagement specialists, advisory board managers, professionals transitioning from site or CRO roles to sponsor-side positions, international medical affairs professionals, pharmaceutical and biotech sponsors onboarding MSL and medical monitor talent.
Advanced Good Clinical Practice Certification (AGCPC): For clinical research professionals at all levels who fear inspection failure as trials modernize, this program awards a CPD-accredited certificate and delivers a principle-based, example-focused syllabus covering ICH-GCP, decentralized trials, protocol deviations, audits, and risk-based monitoring to improve ethical reasoning, inspection outcomes, employer confidence, and long-term regulatory career protection.
AGCPC Learner Profiles: Aspiring clinical research professionals, entry-level research staff, beginner research personnel, clinical research coordinators, clinical research associates, clinical project managers, investigators, sub-investigators, research nurses, regulatory coordinators, site compliance staff, quality assurance professionals, compliance officers, CRO employees, sponsor-side professionals, clinical operations teams, audit preparation teams, inspection readiness teams, data integrity specialists, decentralized trial staff, remote trial staff, professionals preparing for FDA inspections, professionals preparing for EMA inspections, international research staff, CROs and sponsors standardizing GCP competency across global teams, SMOs implementing standardized compliance training.
Full access and course pages:
https://app.ccrps.org
Academic and Professional Readiness
Because CCRPS certifications train for regulated work, learners should be comfortable with professional level learning and accountability.
You should be ready to engage with:
written instructional content
applied scenarios and case based decisions
practical documentation expectations and quality standards
scenario based assessments that test reasoning, not memorization
structured evaluation that prioritizes defensibility and role boundaries
Prior clinical research experience is not required for many learners. What matters more is the willingness to learn and apply:
role clarity and responsibility boundaries
documentation discipline and consistency
escalation logic and conservative communication
compliance habits that remain stable under pressure
CCRPS is not built as passive content. It is built as professional training.
Professional Scope and Credential Boundaries
CCRPS certifications are professional credentials. They are not academic degrees, not licenses, and not regulatory authorizations.
Enrollment does not grant authority to:
practice medicine
diagnose, treat, or prescribe
override investigator responsibility
misrepresent your role, title, or scope in a study environment
misrepresent your background research work experience. Any student reported to be claiming our educational program as “work experience” will be emailed and notified as this is strictly against our policies
Clinical research work is governed by sponsor requirements, site SOPs, IRB expectations, and organizational authorization. Training supports readiness. Authorization comes from your employer and the study oversight structure.
Ethical and Compliance Expectations
Clinical research credibility is not a personality trait. It is a pattern of decisions that remain coherent across time.
CCRPS expects learners to approach training with:
respect for participant safety and informed consent integrity
confidentiality and responsible handling of case material
conservative language and accurate representation of competence
strict avoidance of shortcut culture, fabricated narratives, or documentation that cannot be supported
professionalism in how you describe roles, responsibilities, and outcomes
These expectations mirror how you will be evaluated in real work environments.
International Learners
International learners are eligible to enroll.
Clinical research is global, but regulations, hiring expectations, and role titles vary by region. CCRPS training is designed to teach regulated thinking that translates across settings, but learners remain responsible for understanding local employment requirements and how roles are structured in their country.
Instruction and assessments are delivered in English. Learners should be proficient enough to understand professional material and respond accurately to applied scenarios.
Technology and Access Requirements
To participate successfully, learners should have:
a reliable internet connection
a laptop or desktop device recommended for longer lessons and assessments
the ability to stream video and audio content if included in the course format
basic digital literacy for navigating a learning platform
All course access and certification pages are provided through:
https://app.ccrps.org
Enrollment Access
Eligible learners can enroll directly through the CCRPS platform.
Start time is flexible. Progression is self paced, with structure built into the curriculum and assessments. For the most accurate and current details on enrollment, certification access, and course structure, use the certification pages inside the platform:
Common Questions About Eligibility
1) Do I need prior clinical research experience to enroll?
Not always. Many learners start with no formal research background. What matters is readiness to engage in structured training and to build regulated habits such as documentation discipline, role clarity, and escalation logic. If you are brand new, you should choose a certification that aligns to entry level responsibilities and build your foundation before aiming for advanced role expectations.
2) Do I need a college degree to enroll?
CCRPS training is designed for adult learners and does not require a specific academic degree as the only gatekeeper of readiness. Clinical research hiring requirements vary by employer and region, but eligibility to train is based on your ability to engage with professional material and apply it responsibly.
3) Which CCRPS certification should I start with if I want to become a CRC?
Start with the pathway aligned to CRC responsibilities and site based execution. Your goal should be competence in consent workflow integrity, documentation habits, protocol adherence, deviation handling, and escalation timing. Choose the certification track that matches site operations readiness rather than selecting based on what sounds impressive.
4) Which CCRPS certification should I start with if I want to become a CRA?
If your goal is monitoring, you should build a strong foundation first, then move into monitoring aligned training. CRA work is evaluated through oversight, documentation review, risk detection, and consistent follow up. If you are new, start with fundamentals, then progress into a monitoring pathway once your regulated thinking is stable.
5) Does CCRPS certification qualify me to work immediately or guarantee a job?
No. CCRPS does not promise employment, placement, or income. Certification supports readiness and credibility when represented accurately. Hiring decisions depend on employer requirements, your background, interview performance, and how well you can translate training into defensible operational competence.
6) Is CCRPS a license or regulatory authorization?
No. CCRPS provides professional training and certification. It does not grant licensure, clinical authority, or study level authorization. In clinical research, authority comes from the study oversight structure and your employer role authorization.
7) What level of English do I need?
You should be able to read professional material, understand applied scenarios, and respond clearly to assessments. Clinical research work relies on precise language and defensible documentation, so English comprehension is a practical readiness requirement for most learners using the platform.
8) What technology do I need to complete CCRPS training successfully?
You need reliable internet access. A laptop or desktop device is strongly recommended for longer lessons and assessments. Course access and certification pages are available through: https://app.ccrps.org