How Do I Prepare For An Examination?

Preparing for a certification exam can be stressful, and it can be hard figuring out where to start! Below are some helpful tips and ideas on how to get started:

• The Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) offers structured review sessions that cover the Body of Knowledge for each certification.* These sessions are offered both virtually and in-person throughout the year. They are also frequently held in conjunction with meetings of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) meetings and the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI). Be sure to check out our upcoming review sessions.
  
  
• Practice the profession! Study, stay current, learn new things, and talk to colleagues within the profession whose research administration duties are different from yours.
  
  
• Review the Body of Knowledge document for your desired certification.
  
  
• Purchase a practice examination through the Professional Testing Corporation's (PTC's) website for $60. Please click here to view their examination list for purchase. 
  
  
• Attend professional meetings, as they may have very useful and informative programs. Sometimes there are special tracks organized around a research administration responsibility. However, note that individual tracks and programs will not necessarily cover the breadth of the Body of Knowledge.
  
  
• Join the RESADM-L mailing list (listserv). Over 1,500 practicing research administrators ask and answer questions here.

Please note: Trainings offered by outside vendors are neither products of RACC nor are they endorsed by RACC.

*The review sessions do not “teach to the test.” The purpose of these sessions is to review the Body of Knowledge. Often, the review sessions validate much of what attendees know, remind them of details they had forgotten, and identify areas for additional study to become certified.