NCRCA Maintenance of Certification

Maintaining your NCRCA certification is a commitment to professional excellence, public safety, and regulatory compliance. All credential holders must renew their certification annually to remain in good standing and to continue practicing under their NCRCA credential.

This ongoing process ensures that certified professionals remain qualified, current, and compliant with evolving clinical research standards.

🔹 Annual Renewal Requirements

To maintain active certification status, the following requirements must be completed every 12 months:

  1. Verified Clinical Research Employment
    • Provide documentation of at least 500 hours of active employment in a clinical research role within the past year.
    • Employment must be with an NCRCA-accredited partner employer.
  2. Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
    • Complete a minimum of 10 CEUs annually in relevant subject areas including:
      • Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
      • FDA and ICH regulations
      • Human subject protections and ethics
      • Protocol compliance, safety, and job-specific skills
  3. Renewal Application & Documentation Submission
    • Submit the Annual Certification Renewal Form online
    • Upload CEU certificates and employment verification
    • Pay the $398 annual renewal fee

💲 Annual Renewal Fee: $398

This fee supports:

  • National registry maintenance
  • Credential verification services
  • Certification tracking portal access
  • CEU audit review and compliance updates
  • Member communications, alerts, and digital certificate renewal

Renewal fees are non-refundable and must be paid at the time of application submission to complete renewal processing.

🔹 Grace Period & Inactive Status

  • A 30-day grace period is provided after your expiration date.
  • During this time, your certification is inactive and may not be used professionally.
  • Failure to renew within the grace period may result in revocation of your certification, requiring re-examination and re-application to reinstate.

🔹 Certification Verification & Registry Access

All active certifications are listed in the National Registry of NCRCA Certified Professionals, searchable by sponsors, employers, monitors, and regulatory bodies.

Maintaining certification ensures your name remains in good standing on the national registry and verifiable at all times.

🔹 Responsibilities of Accredited Employers

All NCRCA-accredited employers must:

  • Ensure employee certifications remain active and renewed annually
  • Monitor CEU and employment compliance
  • Support staff access to eligible continuing education
  • Report any changes in employment or credential status via the Employer Compliance Portal

✅ Why Maintenance of Certification Matters

Maintaining your NCRCA credential means you are:

  • Qualified to perform regulated clinical research duties
  • Trusted by sponsors, employers, and regulatory bodies
  • Committed to patient safety and ethical excellence
  • Accountable to national standards and verified annually

Questions?
📧 NCRCA renewal department
🌐 www.ncrca.org/renewal

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