Want to find out more about CRPs?
Recently started a job in research and want to know more about CRPs? Maybe you're not quite ready to join the register but perhaps joining the CRP Directory may be the next step for you.
Who are Clinical Research Practitioners (CRPs)?
The term Clinical Research Practitioner (CRP) serves as an umbrella title for a family of roles in research delivery that have a patient-facing element and where the post holder isn’t currently registered to a healthcare profession. CRP therefore includes job titles like, for example, Clinical Studies Officer, Research Practitioner, Clinical Trials Practitioner, Clinical Trials Officer and many others. Those in CRP roles are often degree graduates, though not always.
The number of CRPs has increased in response to the expansion of clinical research activity over the last few years and are a vital part of the research workforce. Developing the professional identity of this group, recognising their expertise and enabling effective professional development is a strategic priority for growth of the research workforce.
While CRPs are not required to be part of a statutory professional register in order to perform their role, professionally registered status is now available to them through voluntary accredited registration, aligned with requirements of the UK Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
What is the CRP Directory?
The CRP Directory is a voluntary listing of CRPs who are working in a research delivery role in the UK that involves direct contact with patients or other study participants, or leadership or management of such roles and who are normally not registered to a healthcare profession.
It is a point of entry for CRPs and a way to stay directly informed about the CRP Programme. In order to apply to the Accredited Register, CRPs must first be on the CRP Directory.
Once registrants have been accepted onto the Accredited Register they are not required to remain on the Directory.
What’s the difference between the CRP Directory and the Accredited Register for CRPs?
The CRP Directory supports a community of practice for Clinical Research Practitioners and provides the foundation for ongoing development of the CRP Profession. To be listed on the CRP Directory, CRPs must be working in a research delivery role in the UK that involves direct contact with patients or other study participants, or leadership or management of such roles and who are normally not registered to a healthcare profession.
The CRP Accredited Register is part of the Professional Standards Authority’s accredited register programme that supports over 90,000 practitioners across different health and care occupational groups. CRPs wishing to join the CRP register will need to meet defined standards of proficiency and provide evidence of this that has been confirmed locally before submission to the AHCS.
Benefits of joining the CRP Directory
Here is a little more information about why you might consider joining the CRP Directory:
It's free!
Access to support for those eligible CRPs who are planning to apply to join the CRP Accredited Register.
Opportunity to be part of the Academy for Healthcare Science and build connections to the wider Healthcare Science workforce.
Ability to influence and contribute to further developments of the CRP profession.
Receiving the latest information about the developments of the professional role and news regarding both AHCS and NIHR.
Public visibility of your listing on the CRP Directory.
