Overview

The Certified Research Professional (CRP) designation is a recognized certification in research, providing individuals with specialized knowledge and skills in research management and methodology. The programmes is designed for professionals in academic, government, and private sectors, the CRP test evaluates knowledge of best practices in research design, data management, and ethics. This guide will break down everything you need to know about the CRP, from certification to training, and provide key guidelines to help you succeed.

Certified Research Professional (CRP) Certification

The Certified Research Professional (CRP) Certification is a valuable credential for advancing a career in research. CRP designation opens up new professional opportunities in various sectors and the training involves gaining expertise in research methodologies, management, and ethics.

In order to proof of our commitment to integrity and continuous learning and also to strengthening research and capacity building for sustainable development, the Academy of Innovative Research, Science & Technological Development (AcIRSTD) has developed an International Certification Programme (ICP), which is accepted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in Nigeria. As a result of ICP, the internationally-accepted standard of knowledge, education, research and experience, our members are recognized Certified Research Professionals (CRP) in the research community.

CRP designation offered by AcIRSTD is considered to be the world’s most respected certification by the Research Community. This certification is globally recognized and also serves as a benchmark to ascertain the quality of candidates for many of the recruiting companies.

The CRP is a distinctive indicator of dedication to the research practice, which promotes recognition and continuing excellence in the ethical conduct of research that encourages continuous learning and a commitment. CRP highlights awareness of the highest ethics and standards, a commitment to remaining abreast of new techniques and technologies, and is an objective measure of your knowledge and proficiency.

Achieving CRP certification provides various professional benefits, including career advancement, recognition within the research community, and opportunities for professional development. CRP certification is often viewed favorably by employers and can lead to leadership roles in research-intensive fields.

Requirements

• To be certified as a Professional Researcher, you must meet all of the following requirements:
• 
  Have an accredited Ph.D. degree in any discipline and a minimum of five (5) years of research and master’s degree of minimum of ten (10) years in teaching/lecturing and administration in the core area of discipline.
• Take and attain a passing score on the Certified Research Professional (CRP) exam as administered by the Academy.
• A Minimum of 30 hours of related program approved training (Optional For those with a PhD degree of minimum of five years).
• After initial certification, have met the renewal requirements for the CRP.
• Have paid the application/examination fee and the three-year certification fee.

Fee Structure

Application and examination fee (non-refundable)   N20, 000
Examination Fee N30, 000Initial 3 year certification fee (can be refunded to unsuccessful candidates) N400, 000
Renewal fee (good for 3 years) N100, 000
Unsuccessful exam retake fee N120, 000
Rescheduling fee N100, 000
Exam rescoring fee (if you do not obtain a passing score, you may pay to have your exam rescored)
N50, 000
International additional fee (for exams outside of Nigeria) $200.00

Additional Fee Structure

Duplicate Certificate  N50,000
Late Fees (after 90 day-grace period ends and inactive letter is mailed)
1-2 months N25,000
3-6 months N40,000
After 6 and up to 24 months N75,000
Hardship Application No Charge

CRP Certification Preparation

The CRP certification process typically involves passing a comprehensive test that assesses an individual’s knowledge in research methodologies, project management, data analysis, and ethical guidelines. To qualify for the CRP test, applicants usually need to meet certain educational or experiential requirements, which vary based on the certifying organization.

CRP training is essential for candidates preparing to take the certification exam. Training programs cover crucial topics in research, including data collection methods, statistical analysis, and compliance standards. AcIRSTD offers CRP training courses designed to provide a well-rounded foundation in research skills.

CRP Recertification

Once you have passed the CRP exam and received your certificate, you will need to stay up to date on developments in business management practices. To prove you have maintained and updated your business transformation knowledge and skills, AcIRSTD requires that you recertify every 4 years.

CRP Examination

If you are studying in order to prepare for the CRP exam; AcIRSTD provides candidates with training sessions for many of the exam questions. AcIRSTD also provide thorough training for the exam modules using its learning system through authorized training providers and prometric centers worldwide.

CRP exams include a variety of item types with various difficulty levels. Candidates must respond to all parts of an item correctly to receive credit for the item. No partial credit is awarded. To ensure items and exam forms are fair, all items are pretested (but not scored) in a live testing environment to make sure they meet CRP's quality standards. The passing score a candidate must achieve takes into consideration the various difficulty levels on the exam form.

Courses

Intermediate Courses

⦁ Scientific Concepts
⦁ Research Design
⦁ Ethics in Research
⦁ Research Integrity 
⦁ Research Funding
⦁ Data Collection and Analysis
⦁ Research Management
⦁ Teamworking
⦁ Skills in negotiating and networking
⦁ Academic Writing
⦁ Report Writing and Communication
⦁ Writing and publishing a manuscript 

Professional Courses

⦁ Ethical and Participant Safety Considerations
⦁ Data Management and Informatics
⦁ Product Development and Regulation
⦁ Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
⦁ Information Governance and Security
⦁ Research Information Technology
⦁ Critical Thinking for Innovative Research 
⦁ Creating high-quality manuscripts
⦁ Statistical Analysis and Data Management
⦁ Regulatory & Compliance
⦁ Effective Research Communication Skills 
⦁ Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
⦁ Research Project Management 
⦁ Multi-Method Research
⦁ Survey Design & Execution
⦁ Action Research
⦁ Comparative Case Studies