The Society of Research Administrators International maintains 10 Certificate programs encompassing every aspect of Research Administration – Hospitals, Universities, Nonprofits, and Commercial Institutions. SRA International’s Certificate programs offer comprehensive training specific to today’s educational needs of research administrators.
The five (5) Certificates that will be offered in full at the 2024 SRAI Annual Meeting are:
The CTRA curriculum examines issues relevant to both National Institutes of Health-sponsored and industry-sponsored clinical trials. Much of the material is explored through experiential learning activities from seasoned research administrators including case studies. Elements of the curriculum include protocol review, recruitment, negotiation of agreements, development and negotiation of budgets, compliance, billing, international studies, and risk management and analysis. These elements, along with other relevant issues, will be presented in a combination of one full-day workshop and seven sessions for completion of the program.
Download the Clinical Trials Research Administration Certificate Tracking Sheet
The Financial Management certificate provides administrative research staff with an understanding of best financial management practices surrounding the following areas:
The certificate provides an understanding of the regulatory framework for the direct and indirect costing of sponsored program activity, financial management decision-making and fiscal compliance of sponsored programs. Whether new to the profession or a seasoned administrator who has had significant exposure to the financial management of sponsored research, the certificate offers benefits to all administrative research professionals who are responsible for extending financial support to any pre or post-award activities.
Download the Financial Management Certificate Tracking Sheet
The National Institutes of Health Grants Fundamentals (NIH) certificate was produced by SRA International for the benefit of its members who manage NIH grants. It was produced solely by SRA International, and is not an official program of the NIH.
The NIH Grants Management certificate provides a foundation in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As the NIH is the single largest federal grant-awarding agency, the program is perfect both for someone new to research administration and for research administrators expanding their knowledge of federal funding agencies. The curriculum - anchored by the full-day workshop, "NIH Fundamentals" - provides an overview to the procedures and policies essential to preparing successful applications to and managing grant awards from the National Institutes of Health.
Download the National Institutes of Health Grants Fundamentals Certificate Tracking Sheet
The Practice of Research Administration and Management (PRAM) certificate focuses on the supervision and organization of research activities from an organization management perspective. The core content for the certificate emphasizes:
The certificate includes content that is relevant for research managers who are generally at a Director or higher-level within an organization and covers the broad range of activities comprising research operations.
Download the Practice of Research Administration and Management Certificate Tracking Sheet
The law related to the administration and management of research is incredibly broad, diverse and dynamic. While research administrators frequently work with in-house counsel and sometimes with outside counsel, the Research Law Certificate is designed to give research administrators an overview of the magnitude of the multiple legal issues associated with research. Research administrators taking this Certificate will be provided with sufficient information and substance to effectively identify legal issues and communicate effectively regarding potential solutions to such issues. Lawyers working with research institutions work on cases and policy relating to a broad range of topics that include access to artificial intelligence, confidential information, insurance coverage, conflicts of interest and other ethical issues, drugs safety and international relations. In part because of the breadth of the field, the law related to research activities also cuts across and involves doctrine and practice from an even wider area ranging from tax law, criminal law and even issues that involve freedom of speech implications.
Law related to research administration is practiced in multiple settings: federal, state and local government; mediation; universities, health care, business, and legal services organizations; advocacy nonprofits; and private law firms, to name a few. Some research administrators may hold a juris doctor (JD) although they may not serve as lawyers for their organization. They may serve in roles such as compliance, contract negotiation, policy drafting or advocacy work. This diversity makes the law related to research a field where almost anyone can find an area of interest, and where those working within the field can find new challenges in an ever-changing landscape.
Because of the foregoing, the Research Law Certificate is broadly structured to cover an array of topics with concentrations in those areas of most common concern. The Certificate is based on an intensive workshop survey of the various aspects of the law that will touch almost every research administrator and lawyer working with research institutions.
Download the Research Law Certificate Tracking Sheet
New to Research Law? Our Certificate Chairs have created a recommended pathway of sessions you can take in order to earn the Research Law Certificate! Recommended sessions are identified with "Fall 2024" written next to them.
You are responsible for tracking your attendance at each session through the i-Attend Self Check-In App. You can download the app by searching "i-Attend Self Check-In" in your app store. Track your sessions by logging in using your email address and password SRAIEVENTS.
Each session will have a Certificate Tracking sign in the room. Either scan the QR code or enter the Event Pin in the app with Organization ID: SRAI and your email address. If you have problems using the app, check-in on the website.
To view your scanned sessions click here. Use Organization ID: SRAI, your email address, and password SRAIEVENTS.
Prefer to go low tech? Not a problem! Click here to download the full Certificate Tracking Booklet. Track your session by writing "Fall 2024" on the line corresponding to the session or workshops you've completed and return to SRAI Registration. To track your progress and the sessions you attended, you will want to download the iAttend App.