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CCRC® (Certified Clinical Research Coordinator) Certification Exam

The CCRC® Certification Exam is ACRP's computer-based certification exam for clinical research coordinators: 125 four-option multiple-choice questions (100 scored, 25 unidentified pre-test items) answered in 180 minutes, delivered at PSI test centers in over 150 countries or by live remote proctoring during two annual testing windows, and scored on a scale whose highest possible score is 800 with 600 required to pass.

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Questions125 multiple-choice questions, of which 25 are unscored pre-test items that are not identified to the candidate (100 scored)

Testing time3 hours (180 minutes) for the 125 questions; a single optional 10-minute break at the midpoint pauses the exam timer (exam split into Section One / break / Section Three)

ScoringPassing requires a minimum scaled score of 600; not curved, no predetermined pass quota

Exam feeUSD 435 ACRP member / USD 485 nonmember at Early Bird registration (USD 135 nonrefundable application + USD 300/350 exam); USD 460 member / USD 600 nonmember at Regular registration (member USD 135 + 325; nonmember USD 200 + 400); retest USD 300-325 member / USD 350-400 nonmember; USD 50 transfer; USD 100 missed-appointment reset

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Exam overview

What to know before choosing your prep

Who runs it: ACRP
Category: Clinical Research
Current version: 2024 CCRC® Exam Content Outline (ECO); exam reference framework switches to ICH E6(R3) Guideline for Good Clinical Practice for exams beginning July 15, 2026 (replacing E6(R2))
Where it applies: Global
Exam languages: English
Score scale: Scaled score with 600 required to pass and a highest possible score of 800; one point per correct answer converted from the raw score (ACRP does not publish the scale's lower bound)
Testing provider: PSI (computer-based testing centers worldwide plus PSI Web Delivery live remote proctoring)
Format: Computer-based, four-option single-best-answer multiple-choice exam; delivered at PSI test centers or via live remote proctoring (PSI Web Delivery), chosen at scheduling
Availability: Two testing windows each year — Spring February 15-May 15 and Fall July 15-October 15 — with appointments at 1,500+ PSI computer-based sites in more than 150 countries; remote exams offered 24/7 during the windows; registration windows (Early Bird/Regular) precede each
Results: Pass/fail result displayed on screen at the end of the exam; full score report emailed by PSI within 48 hours; confirmation of certification status emailed approximately three weeks after testing (ACRP account updated, certificate downloadable; registry updated within 30 days after the testing window closes)
Credential validity: No published score-validity window; the CCRC credential earned by passing must be maintained every two years (24 points of continuing education/involvement or passing the current exam, plus the maintenance fee)
Remote testing: Available

Exam structure

One 125-question exam (100 scored + 25 unscored pre-test) across six ECO domains with per-domain weights shown in the outline as: Scientific Concepts and Research Design (8), Ethical and Participant Safety Considerations (19), Product Development and Regulation (13), Clinical Trial Operations (GCPs) (23), Study and Site Management (22), Data Management and Informatics (15) — the six domain figures sum to 100, matching the 100 scored items; all content is referenced only to ICH guidelines (E6(R3), E2A, E8(R1), E9, E9(R1), E11(R1)) and the Declaration of Helsinki

Where rules vary

A single worldwide exam specification: PSI administers the exam 'in over 150 countries, both remotely and in-person', the exam is referenced only to international ICH guidelines ('The exam is referenced only to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Guidelines. No other regulatory framework is tested, including country-specific regulations (i.e, FDA or EMA).'), and the handbook describes ACRP as 'a global association of clinical research professionals'

Eligibility

Pathway 1: 3,000 hours of verifiable clinical research coordinator work experience; Pathway 2: 1,500 hours plus an active ACRP certification or a completed accredited clinical research education program aligned to the ECO; experience must be paid human-subjects-research work verifiable through the employer, no older than ten years (internships, volunteer work, and degree-program work excluded); all documentation must be provided in English

Retake policy

Unsuccessful candidates may retest 60 days after their original appointment or in the next available testing window (exam fee only); after a failed retest, a brand-new application and all current fees are required; applications are valid for one year, so a maximum of two attempts per application year