SoCRA The Society of Clinical Research Associates

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SoCRAThe Society of Clinical Research Associates

• Kimberly B. Bradley, CCRP

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Overview

• Background and Growth
• Mission
• Certification
• Getting Involved

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Background

• Founded and Incorporated in 1991
• First annual conference in 1992
• CCRP certifications began in 1995
• Quality Education, Peer Recognition,
  Professional Certification

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Current Membership

• 11,350 members (as of December 31, 2008)
• gt6,687 are CCRP certified
• 41 countries represented
• Six continents
• 53 Chapters

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Mission Statement

• The express aim of SoCRA is to provide training
  and continuing education for clinical research
  professionals and to establish and maintain an
  international certification program for clinical
  research professionals.

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Mission-Specific Actions

• Establishing educational programming and provide
  continuing education
• Establishing an internationally recognized
  certification program, and
• Fostering the professional development and peer
  recognition of Clinical Research Professionals

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Clinical Research Professional

• Clinical investigator, sub-investigator, clinical
  researcher, research nurse, administrator,
  coordinator, consultant, or educator in clinical
  trial managementinvolved in one or more aspects
  of clinical trials research

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Clinical Research Professional

• data collection, analysis, or monitoring
• case management of protocol participants
• recruitment and enrollment of human subjects
• protection of subjects and subjects rights
  through IRB relations
• development of informed consents
• preparation of adverse event experience reports

• construction or monitoring of case report forms
• maintenance of drug accountability records
• grant and budget development
• report preparation
• education of other health-care professionals,
  patients or families regarding clinical trials
• protocol development
• program administration
• research program audit

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SoCRA Membership

• Open to any clinical research professional
• Do not have to be certified (or obtain
  certification) to be a member
• Local chapter membership included automatically

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Virginia Membership

• 159 members, 76 certified CCRPs
• 7 VCU members certified CCRPs

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CertificationCCRP

• SoCRA Membership (prior to or at time of exam
  application)
• Eligibility requirements
• Successfully pass CCRP Exam
• Re-certify every three years
• recertification exam
• 45 hours continuing education

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Minimum Experience

• Two years of full time employment in clinical
  research during last five years, OR
• Degree in Clinical Research, with 1 year of full
  time experience during the last two years, OR
• 12 or more semester hours in a clinical research
  curriculum with a degree in a related field and
  one year of experience during the past two years.
  
• See exam application for details on degrees and
  information on qualification with part-time hours.

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Common Questions
Will work pay for it?!?!?!
Will I get a raise?!?!?!
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Exam Expense

• SoCRA Membership is 75 per year
• Certification exam is 195 (member rate)
• Recertification is 100 (every three years)
• SCT (Society for Clinical Trials)
• 110 annual membership no certification
  available
• ACRP (Association of Clinical Research
  Professionals)
• 150 annual membership
• 20-25 charge to join local chapter
• 410 for certification exam (includes 100
  application fee, member rate)

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Benefits of Certification

• Raises are department specific and usually
  multi-factorial
• Internationally recognized
• Commitment to the field of research
• Proof of knowledge and familiarity with
  regulations

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Salary Survey

• CCRP not directly correlated with higher salary
• only applies to newly certified
• CCRPs with three years or more of certification
  make above average salaries
• Higher incomes associated more with education and
  years experience

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Salary Survey Findings

• More involvement in professional organizations,
  including attending the SoCRA annual conference
  and education workshops, is associated with
  higher compensation.

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Get Involved

• Step One JOIN!
• The secret of getting ahead is getting
  started. Sally Berger

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Get Involved!

• Attend an Annual Conference
• September 2009 Nashville, TN Gaylord Opryland
  Hotel
• Future Dates
• September 2010 Dallas, TX
• September 2011 San Francisco, CA
• September 2012 Las Vegas (not finalized)

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Get Involved

• Attend Educational Courses
• FDA Clinical Trial Requirements
• Clinical Site Management
• Device Research Workshop
• Clinical Science Course
• SOP Development and Implementation
• Monitoring Workshop

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Get Involved

• Attend local chapter meetings
• Meet in conjunction with department meetings
• Sponsor SoCRA programming and certification tests
• Hold mini conferences for locals

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Get Involved

• Take the CCRP Exam
• Speak at local and/or national meetings
• Volunteer for committees or Board membership

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Always Changing

• Research is a field of constant change
• Regulations
• Clinical Care
• Technology
• Education and involvement are essential for
  career movement and field advancement

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Finishing Quote

• If you want to accomplish anything in life, you
  can't just sit back and hope it will happen.
  You've got to make it happen. Chuck Norris