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Before my father was diagnosed with cancer, I had never even given thought to the methods and procedures of cancer research. Though his doctor talked to us about him participating in research, and my father was all for participating, he was not eligible due to the location of his cancer. Instead, he underwent aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Through this experience; our innumerable visits to the various doctors, his chemotherapy and radiation treatment visits, talking with other patients and family members, dealing with the doctors, nurses, office staff and everyone else involved in the day to day activities of healthcare, I found my calling. I knew I wanted to somehow contribute to the fight against cancer.
I am in no way shape or form a nurse, but I have an immense respect for those who serve on that side of healthcare. My strengths instead lie in the processes and procedures behind research. Starting out at a not-for-profit agency writing oncology research protocols and consents, my career grew into the regulatory side of research and working with IRB’s and the FDA, and now, into me helping to start, develop, and run a research department in ophthalmology. I proved my competence for my current position through the interview by having a meaningful, knowledgeable, coherent discussion about different areas of clinical research. However, I had no formal documentation of my knowledge to give my future employers or to provide potential funding sources for a newly developed clinical research department.
While I am no stranger to graduate level classes, it felt a bit redundant to pursue a masters in clinical research when, at the time of the interview of my current position, I had 8.5 years of experience in clinical research. Instead, pursuing certification through ACRP seemed like a good way to document my proficiency in clinical research without redoing my education in clinical research. Researching how to obtain certification and proceeding through the process of certification made me realize the professionalism that ACRP endorses. From the eloquent simplicity of the study material (specific ICH Guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki), to the composition of the test questions, it is clear that they have high standards, and take the business of credentialing to the next level. I did my due diligence in searching for study guides and suggestions, but through that process and taking the test I realized that they simply stand by their purpose. They test your knowledge in clinical research. What better way to do that then to test on the foundation document of human subject’s ethics (Declaration of Helsinki) and the federal guidelines which all research on human subjects must follow?
What has ACRP and the CCRC credential done for me? It has given me confidence in my knowledge of clinical research. It has helped me nurture my career and given me a way to validate that through the past 10 years of work experience, I have not only gained valuable, documentable knowledge about the clinical research, but I am also considered proficient in it. The CCRC certification has given credibility to my enriching experience in clinical research, it lends credibility to my resume and finally, it lends credibility to me, as a professional in clinical research.
I am in no way shape or form a nurse, but I have an immense respect for those who serve on that side of healthcare. My strengths instead lie in the processes and procedures behind research. Starting out at a not-for-profit agency writing oncology research protocols and consents, my career grew into the regulatory side of research and working with IRB’s and the FDA, and now, into me helping to start, develop, and run a research department in ophthalmology. I proved my competence for my current position through the interview by having a meaningful, knowledgeable, coherent discussion about different areas of clinical research. However, I had no formal documentation of my knowledge to give my future employers or to provide potential funding sources for a newly developed clinical research department.
While I am no stranger to graduate level classes, it felt a bit redundant to pursue a masters in clinical research when, at the time of the interview of my current position, I had 8.5 years of experience in clinical research. Instead, pursuing certification through ACRP seemed like a good way to document my proficiency in clinical research without redoing my education in clinical research. Researching how to obtain certification and proceeding through the process of certification made me realize the professionalism that ACRP endorses. From the eloquent simplicity of the study material (specific ICH Guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki), to the composition of the test questions, it is clear that they have high standards, and take the business of credentialing to the next level. I did my due diligence in searching for study guides and suggestions, but through that process and taking the test I realized that they simply stand by their purpose. They test your knowledge in clinical research. What better way to do that then to test on the foundation document of human subject’s ethics (Declaration of Helsinki) and the federal guidelines which all research on human subjects must follow?
What has ACRP and the CCRC credential done for me? It has given me confidence in my knowledge of clinical research. It has helped me nurture my career and given me a way to validate that through the past 10 years of work experience, I have not only gained valuable, documentable knowledge about the clinical research, but I am also considered proficient in it. The CCRC certification has given credibility to my enriching experience in clinical research, it lends credibility to my resume and finally, it lends credibility to me, as a professional in clinical research.
