Benchmark Research Demonstrates Commitment to Quality Clinical Research Through ACRP Certification Supporting Partner Program

Benchmark Research is the latest participant in the Association of Clinical Research Professionals' (ACRP) Certification Supporting Partner Program.

The ACRP Certification Supporting Partner Program allows organizations to financially support and actively encourage eligible employees to pursue ACRP Certification and Maintenance of Certification through ACRP's Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA®), Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC®), and Certified Physician Investigator (CPI®) programs.

"As long-time advocates for the importance of ACRP Certification, becoming a Certification Supporting Partner was an easy decision for us," says Mark Lacy, President of Benchmark Research. "Our dedication to quality clinical research makes ACRP Certification a natural fit for our team members and we are delighted that Benchmark can now receive recognition through this new program."

ACRP Certification can serve several purposes for employers, regulators, sponsors, and other clinical research stakeholders — from providing evidence to a regulatory agency of a research team's experience and qualifications, to validating competency when selecting a research site, or considering a new employee. Recent data shows clinical trial sites with more certified staff are more profitable than those with fewer certified staff. Sites with greater numbers of certified staff initiate more trials, invoice more grants, and report greater operating profit than those with fewer certified staff.

"ACRP and the Academy of Clinical Research Professionals (the Academy) are thrilled to welcome Benchmark Research as a Certification Supporting Partner. Our organizations share a mission to promote integrity and excellence in the clinical research profession and certification is a cornerstone program to further this effort," says Morgean Hirt, ACRP Director of Certification. "The Certification Supporting Partner Program helps companies apply an organizational approach to getting their teams certified, being recognized for that effort, and gaining the cost advantages of doing so. This program is the first of its kind in our profession, and we hope other organizations who share our vision will choose to participate and share their dedication to continued professional development of their employees."

The ACRP Certification Supporting Partner Program provides employees at partnering organizations with discounted Certification fees and exam preparation resources. Aggregate performance data is provided to partnering organizations to assist in identifying knowledge gaps of clinical research staff.

ACRP holds its Certification programs to the highest standards, as established by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The CCRA®, CCRC®, and CPI® programs, overseen by ACRP's affiliate (the Academy), are accredited by NCCA, meaning they have met the highest standards for development, administration, and governance of certification and testing programs. ACRP's CCRA®, CCRC®, and CPI® programs are the only certification programs for clinical research professionals to be accredited independently by the NCCA.