ACRP Practice Test

This page is for clinical research coordinators, associates, investigators and other study staff preparing for an ACRP certification exam: the CCRC, CCRA, CPI or ACRP-CP, or the ACRP-PM and ACRP-MDP specialty exams. It has free practice sets grouped by topic, the exam format and fees from the ACRP handbook, sample questions with full explanations, and a study plan built around the official content areas.

ACRP Exam at a Glance

What changed for ACRP in 2026

• Oct 24, 2026: Eligibility (CCRC, CCRA, ACRP-CP, CPI) changed to 3,000 hours of verifiable clinical research work experience (previously 3,000 hours of verifiable clinical research work experience (one 1,500-hour waiver possible)).^[2]
• Oct 24, 2026: Retake policy changed to Retest after 60 days or in the next window; new application after two failed attempts (previously Retest after 60 days or in the next window; reapply after 2 failed attempts).^[3]
• Oct 24, 2026: Retake fee (CCRC, CCRA, ACRP-CP, CPI) changed to $300–$325 members, $350–$400 nonmembers (previously Retest: $300–$325 members, $350–$400 nonmembers).^[3]
• Oct 24, 2026: Retake fee (ACRP-PM, ACRP-MDP) changed to $250 members / $300 nonmembers (previously Retest: $250 members / $300 nonmembers).^[3]
• Oct 24, 2026: Other (update 2026-07-15) changed to From July 15, 2026, all ACRP certification exams use the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice guideline, replacing E6(R2). (previously Starting July 15, 2026, all ACRP certification exams moved to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice guideline, replacing E6(R2).).^[2]
• Jul 15, 2026: From July 15, 2026, all ACRP certification exams use the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice guideline, replacing E6(R2).^[2]

What the ACRP is and how it works

According to Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) / ACRP Academy, “The ACRP-PM® exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions that must be answered within 90 minutes.”^[1]

The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) certifies people who work in clinical research. It offers core exams (CCRC, CCRA, CPI and ACRP-CP) and specialty exams (ACRP-PM and ACRP-MDP).

Format and scoring. Each core exam has 125 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 180 minutes. The specialty exams have 60 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 90 minutes. Results are reported as a scaled score. You pass with a scaled score of 600, and the highest possible score is 800. A scaled score is not the same as the percentage of questions you got right.

Eligibility. To sit a core exam you need 3,000 hours of clinical research work experience that can be verified. The specialty exams are only open to people who already hold a CCRC, CCRA, CPI or ACRP-CP certification. Specialty exams cost $250 for members and $300 for nonmembers, with no application fee.

Retakes. If you fail, you can retest 60 days after your original appointment or during the next available testing window. After two failed attempts you have to submit a new application. A specialty retest costs $250 for members and $300 for nonmembers. Core exam retests cost $300–$325 for members and $350–$400 for nonmembers, depending on the exam.

Renewal. You renew every 2 years by recording 24 points and paying a maintenance fee of $225–$325.

Fees and policies change, so check the current ACRP Certification Handbook at acrpnet.org before you apply.

ACRP content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official ACRP content outline published by Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) / ACRP Academy. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through ACRP questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: In Association of Clinical Research Professionals, what does "evidence-based practice" mean?

1. Integrating best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences
2. Following only the most recent research studies
3. Relying solely on personal clinical experience
4. Applying the same treatment to all patients regardless of condition

Answer: A. Integrating best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences

Explanation:

A is correct. Evidence-based practice means combining the best available research evidence with the clinician's own expertise and the patient's values and preferences. No single input is enough by itself.

• B is wrong because newer does not mean better. A recent small study can be weaker evidence than an older, well-designed trial. What counts is the quality of the evidence, not its date.
• C is wrong because relying only on personal experience leaves out research evidence entirely, which is the gap evidence-based practice was meant to close.
• D is wrong because giving every patient the same treatment ignores their condition and preferences.

Rule to remember: evidence-based practice has research evidence, clinical judgment and the patient's wishes all working together. An option that drops any of them is wrong.

Example 2

Question: The key distinction between source documents and case report forms (CRFs) in clinical research is:

1. CRFs are retained at the site while source documents are sent directly to the sponsor
2. Source documents contain original data; CRFs capture data transcribed or entered from those source documents
3. CRFs require IRB approval for each entry while source documents do not
4. Source documents are exclusively electronic while CRFs can be paper or electronic

Answer: B. Source documents contain original data; CRFs capture data transcribed or entered from those source documents

Explanation:

B is correct. A source document is where a piece of data is first recorded, such as a clinic note, lab printout or participant diary. A case report form (CRF) holds data copied or entered from those sources so it can be reported to the sponsor.

• A is wrong because it reverses the roles. Source documents stay at the site and are made available for monitoring. CRF data goes to the sponsor.
• C is wrong because the IRB reviews the protocol, consent materials and participant safety. It does not approve individual CRF entries.
• D is wrong because source documents can be on paper or electronic.

Rule to remember: source data comes first, and the CRF is the copy. When a monitor does source data verification, they check the CRF against the source, never the other way round.

Example 3

Question: What is the primary objective of informed consent in Association of Clinical Research Professionals?

1. To ensure competence and proficiency in core informed consent concepts
2. To replace practical experience entirely
3. To limit access to the profession
4. To generate revenue for testing organizations

Answer: A. To ensure competence and proficiency in core informed consent concepts

Explanation:

A is correct. The question asks why candidates study informed consent as a topic. The answer is to build real competence in its core concepts so they can run the process properly and safely at a site.

• B is wrong because studying a topic adds to hands-on experience. It does not replace it.
• C is wrong because the aim is to protect participants, not to keep people out of the profession.
• D is wrong because informed consent has nothing to do with making money for testing organizations.

Rule to remember: informed consent itself exists so that a person agrees to take part voluntarily, after being told the study's purpose, risks, possible benefits, alternatives and their right to withdraw at any time. Consent is an ongoing process, not just a signature. It is documented on an approved, signed and dated form, and repeated when new information could change someone's decision.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official outline. Download the ACRP Certification Handbook and the content outline for your exam. Read the official content areas and mark the ones you rarely deal with at work. Those are where you should spend the most time.

Take a first pass through the sets. Do the practice set for each area in the table above without notes. Write down every question you missed or guessed, and which content area it belongs to. Coordinators often score well on site management and lower on biostatistics or regulatory requirements. Your own results will show your gaps.

Fix the gaps from primary sources. For each missed question, find the rule in ICH Good Clinical Practice or the regulations it comes from, and write it in your own words. Then redo that set, along with related sets such as safety reporting, ethics committee and source documentation and data integrity.

Practise under time pressure. Before test day, sit a mixed session in one go at exam pace. That means 125 questions in 180 minutes for core exams, or 60 questions in 90 minutes for specialty exams. Review every wrong answer afterwards, then check the handbook again for scheduling and ID rules.

Sources & last verified

1. Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) / ACRP Academy — number of questions, time limit, eligibility (official source). “The ACRP-PM® exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions that must be answered within 90 minutes.” Verified Oct 24, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
2. Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) / ACRP Academy — number of questions, time limit, other, eligibility (official source). “The CCRC® exam consists of 125 multiple choice questions that must be answered within 180 minutes.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.
3. Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) / ACRP Academy — passing score, exam fee, retake fee, retake policy (official source). “The passing scaled score for the exam is 600.” Verified Oct 24, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
4. Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) / ACRP Academy — renewal (official source). “Record all 24 points in the online application.” Verified Oct 24, 2026.
5. Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) / ACRP Academy — other (official source). “clinical trial operations gcps” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.