The IAOCR provides a comprehensive range of internationally recognized accreditations built specifically for the clinical research industry in collaboration with industry leaders.
For clinical research professionals considering taking one of our CRA online accreditations, we’ve assembled a summary of three core accreditations; ICH-GCP Essentials Accreditation, Foundations in Clinical Research Accreditation and the Internationally Qualified CRA Accreditation.Â
All three offer world-class accreditation and verification of your competencies. But each may appeal for different reasons whether you are participating in our online accreditations for the first time, career switching into clinical research or wanting to win a major career move upwards.
Established in 2011 in response to the demand for accreditation in the clinical research industry, the IAOCR were the first to lead an industry-wide initiative to develop clinical research competencies, pioneering best practices and lobbying for change.
All of our accreditation programs are developed against the core competency frameworks established with industry and mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education Framework developed by UNESCO.
ICH-GCP Essentials Accreditation
The ICH-GCP Accreditation is appropriate for everyone in clinical research, regardless of their role. Achieving this accreditation can enhance your career and employability by demonstrating proficiency in ICH-GCP core competencies expected of a competent clinical research professional.
This program can be purchased on its own or as part of the Foundations Package, which includes the Foundations in Clinical Research Accreditation. Successfully completing both accreditations leads to F-IAOCR Internationally Qualified Clinical Research Professional status.
Important Notes
No Training Provided: IAOCR verifies the competence of individuals who have received training from another provider or gained necessary experience on the job. (See entry requirements for details). However, we are currently trialling a unique ICH-GCP training app which will be available by the autumn of 2024.
Global Competency Focus: Our programs are based on global core competency frameworks but do not assess local/country-specific laws or regulations. Ensure you are competent in any relevant local legislation.
Accreditation Assessment
- Registration and Access: After registering, you will receive an email link to your online assessment portal, typically one working day before the program starts.
- Assessment: The assessment consists of multiple-choice questions testing your ICH-GCP competence, forming your ‘Portfolio of Evidence.’
- Review: Your portfolio is reviewed and independently verified by the IAOCR Assessment team.
- Successful candidates receive:
- Certificate of Accreditation
- Electronic Accreditation Mark with a unique professional registration number
- 2 Accredited Learning Credits and 20 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) points
Assessment Duration
The assessment typically takes 1 to 2 hours. You can complete it at your own pace but must meet the submission deadline.
Entry Requirements
Before enrolling, ensure your career and educational/training background provides the necessary experience for the competence assessment areas below. Self-certify your ability to complete the assessment:
- ICH-GCP and historical reasons for its implementation
- The Declaration of Helsinki
- Protection of clinical trial participants’ rights, safety, and wellbeing
- Ethics committee/Institutional Review Board (IRB) roles in clinical trials
- Regulatory Authorities and their roles in clinical trial inspections
- Data integrity and patient confidentiality in clinical trials
- Study staff qualifications and experience in clinical trials
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) related to Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP)
- Randomization and unblinding in clinical trials
Foundations in Clinical Research Accreditation
Along with ICH-GCP, this is the essential foundation stone for everyone working in the clinical research industry, and/or for individuals who have already completed foundation level training/certification and are looking to formally evidence their competence with an internationally recognized accreditation to help them advance or move into a clinical research career.
This CRA online accreditation program can also be taken alone or as part of the Foundations Package, which includes the ICH-GCP Accreditation. Successfully completing both accreditations leads to F-IAOCR Internationally Qualified Clinical Research Professional status.Â
Important Notes
At the time of writing, no training is offered: IAOCR verifies the competence of individuals who have received training from another provider or gained necessary experience on the job. (See entry requirements for details). However, by the autumn of 2024 ,we will be offering a unique training solution via our industry-leading bite size learning app.
Global competency focus: Our programs are based on global core competency frameworks but do not assess local/country-specific laws or regulations. Ensure you are competent in any relevant local legislation.
Accreditation Assessment
- Registration and Access: After registering, you will receive an email link to your online assessment portal, typically one working day before the program starts.
- Assessment: The assessment consists of multiple-choice questions testing your competence in key foundation areas of clinical research. This forms your ‘Portfolio of Evidence.’
- Review: Your portfolio is reviewed and independently verified by the IAOCR Assessment team.
- Successful candidates receive:
- Certificate of Accreditation
- Professional Accreditation Mark with award date and unique registration number
- 2 Accredited Learning Credits and 20 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) points
Assessment Duration
The assessment typically takes 1 to 2 hours. You can complete it at your own pace but must meet the submission deadline (see program registration section).
Entry Requirements
Before enrolling, ensure your career and/or educational and training background provides the necessary experience and knowledge for the competence assessment areas below. Self-certify your ability to complete the assessment:
- Conducting clinical trials from start-up to close-out
- Clinical trial regulatory and ethical requirements
- Consent, reporting processes, and data integrity maintenance
- Clinical trial documentation
- Quality management processes and practices in clinical trials
- Understanding of the investigational medicinal product and its management
- Stakeholder management within a clinical trial
- Understanding of decentralized trials
Internationally Qualified CRA Accreditation
The Internationally Qualified CRA Accreditation is formal recognition that a clinical research professional has met specific standards and possesses the skills, knowledge and behaviors to perform their role to global industry standards. The Q-IAOCR is suitable for clinical research professionals have either taken the Foundations accreditation or have had sufficient experience.
Important Notes
At the time of writing, no training is offered: IAOCR verifies the competence of individuals who have received training from another provider or gained necessary experience on the job. (See entry requirements for details). However, by the autumn of 2024 ,we will be offering a unique training solution via our industry-leading bite size learning app.
Global competency focus: Our programs are based on global core competency frameworks but do not assess local/country-specific laws or regulations. Ensure you are competent in any relevant local legislation.
Accreditation Assessment
- Registration and Access: After registering, you will receive an email link to your online assessment portal, typically one working day before the program starts.
- Assessment: The assessment consists of multiple-choice questions testing your competence in key foundation areas of clinical research. This forms your ‘Portfolio of Evidence.’
- Review: Your portfolio is reviewed and independently verified by the IAOCR Assessment team.
- Successful candidates receive:
- Certificate of Accreditation
- Professional Accreditation Mark with award date and unique registration number
- 8 Accredited Learning Credits and 80 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) points
Assessment Duration
The assessment typically takes up to 4 hours. You can complete it at your own pace but must meet the submission deadline (see program registration section)
Entry Requirements
Before enrolling, ensure your career and/or educational and training background provides the necessary experience and knowledge for the competence assessment areas below. Self-certify your ability to complete the assessment:
- 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
