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Training for Sponsored Program Staff

Working in sponsored programs and research administration requires a broad range of specialized knowledge and skills. This page highlights learning resources and development opportunities available to RF employees who support sponsored programs, research administration, and related functions. Additional training, job-specific learning, and professional development opportunities may be available through your department, campus, or local HR office.

SRAI LevelUP Learning

Powered by Society of Research Administrators International, the RF provides access to a variety of self-paced SRAI courses to help staff learn and grow. Courses range from 1 to 5 hours in duration on topics most relevant to the modern research administration professional.

Contracts Series: Review and Interpretation of Contractual Terms and Conditions

In this 4-part series, hosted by the RF Office of General Counsel, new sponsored program staff learn how to review and interpret contractual terms by breaking down contracts term by term. Participants learned the basics of research agreements, clinical trial agreements, data use agreements, purchase order terms and conditions, as well as spotting and resolving risk-related terms and conditions such as indemnifications, publication restrictions, subject injury, warranty clauses, intellectual property, confidentiality/non-disclosure provisions and more.

    • If you are responsible for reviewing and interpreting contracts, this series may be right for you.
    • Materials are confidential and Supervisor and General Counsel pre-approval is required.

Certification Exam Preparation

Interested in earning a professional certification in research administration? Learn more about the Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA), and Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA) credentials directly through the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC). These nationally recognized certifications demonstrate expertise in research administration and a commitment to professional development.

Exam candidates are encouraged to review the RACC Body of Knowledge, develop a study plan, and begin preparing several months before their intended exam window. Successful candidates typically dedicate 40-60 hours of study time.

Planning to sit for an exam? RF L&D is happy to connect you with experienced research administrators who have successfully earned these credentials and can share insights, best practices, and lessons learned from their certification journey.

Known CRA Study Groups

  • University of Colorado (ocgtraining@colorado.edu) [rfsuny.org]
  • University of Texas at Austin (raquel.rust@austin.utexas.edu) [rfsuny.org]
  • Virginia Tech CRA Study Team (CRA@vt.edu) [rfsuny.org]
  • Texas A&M (dhollingsworth@tamu.edu) [rfsuny.org]

Known CFRA Study Groups

  • Baylor College of Medicine: Contact Betty Moseley-Fernandini, bmoseley@bcm.edu