Career Journey
The Value of the CRA Credential
February 05, 2025 - Tricia Trammell, CRA, FAHRA
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Radiology Management and is being republished with permission.
Have you ever wondered what value exists in not only obtaining the Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA) credential, but maintaining it over the breadth of one’s career?
My name is Tricia Trammell, and I am the vice chair of the Radiology Administrators Certification Commission (RACC). Each year, members of the RACC work on SMART goals to continue the advancement of this esteemed credential while ensuring its integrity, according to the bylaws that have been established. In 2024, we decided to evaluate the attrition rate of the CRA in conjunction with our goal to increase the number of new CRAs added through testing.
Understanding attrition is important. If we have roughly a similar number of people choosing not to renew as there are that pass the CRA, it will be difficult to move the needle on the total number of CRAs annually. We needed to dig into how current CRAs feel about their credential, its value, if they plan to renew, and capture some data from those who have let their credential lapse.
Through some thoughtfully developed surveys, we gleaned valuable data that will help us to develop future strategic plans on retention and growth. Let me tell you a little more about what we did and the results.
Every year, the RACC has SMART goals that we establish as a team, work on throughout the year, monitor, and measure. Kim Evans, our RACC chair, assigned each of the goals to individuals on the RACC based on their interest in the goal. I volunteered to investigate attrition because, during my time on the RACC, it has been something that has piqued my interest.
Moving the needle on the total number of CRAs requires both an increase in the number of applicants taking the CRA and a reduction in the number of individuals that let their CRA lapse. I knew we needed to gather some data. I enlisted Jose Rodriguez, RACC member and secretary, to help me develop the surveys.
We designed two surveys: one for current CRAs and one for those who had recently let their CRA lapse. The surveys were intended to obtain demographic information, as well as information regarding the value of the credential, that might provide insight into attrition. Let’s get right into it!
At the time of publishing, we had 1,204 Certified Radiology Administrators. The survey for current CRAs was sent in July 2024 and closed in mid-August 2024. We had 154 responses, for a respectable response rate of 12.79%.
What we found from this survey was that, while employers often do not seem to understand, recognize, or monetarily recognize the credential (Figure 1), professionals are seeing benefits in other ways, such as competitive advantage (Figure 2) and skills validation, along with skills utilization (Figure 3). CRAs also recognize the benefits of maintaining the certification (Figure 4) and recommend the credential to other radiology professionals (Figure 5).
Figure 1 • Does your employer recognize or reward the attainment of this certification?
Figure 2 • Do you believe that holding this certification has given you a competitive advantage in your field?
Figure 3 • Have you utilized the knowledge or skills from this certification frequently in your current role?
Figure 4 • Do you consider the cost of maintaining this certification to be a worthwhile investment?
Figure 5 • Would you recommend this certification to colleagues or peers in your profession?
The survey revealed that 81% of respondents do not have the CRA credential listed as preferred or required on their job description. This gives us insight into where we may need to focus some of our team’s future efforts.
During the next renewal period, 84.4% of respondents said they plan to renew their certification. That means 13% are planning to let theirs lapse. That is alarming, but 30.5% of the group surveyed have been CRAs for 15 years or more, so it is reasonable to say that we have a generation of CRAs that may be exiting the workforce over the next decade. Mentoring the next generation of imaging leaders must be part of our strategy to move the needle and increase the number of CRAs.
The second survey sent to individuals who let their CRA lapse within the last five years revealed vital information that may help our team as well. Admittedly, participation in this group is much lower since, once they are no longer a CRA, we often lose contact with the individual, and engagement is limited. However, we found that respondents said they are seeking other ways to stay updated in the field (Figure 6).
Figure 6 • Do you actively seek other ways to stay updated in your field apart from this certification?
This is interesting, because whatever means of staying updated most certainly requires continuing education credits, directive readings, conferences, or other educational means of staying abreast of technology and industry standards, which requires time and money. So, bottom line, they are spending it one way or another.
Of those surveyed, 94% did not pursue any other type of certification. What I found to be the most profound is that 58.5% of respondents still use the skills and knowledge in their current role (Figure 7). The biggest surprise from respondents who had let their CRA lapse was that 82.4% said they would advise someone in their field to renew this certification (Figure 8).
Figure 7 • Do you still use skills or knowledge from your Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA) in your current role?
Figure 8 • Would you advise someone in your field to renew a similar certification?
These two surveys provided insightful information. The first survey of our existing CRA peer group proved that, like many in imaging, CRAs are an underrecognized group of professionals. Nevertheless, CRAs have pride in their certification and place immense value on it. While it may not have been needed for our job and we may not have been given a pay increase for attaining the credential, we understand it sets us apart as imaging leaders. This gives us a competitive advantage and therefore we encourage our peers and those we mentor to become CRAs.
The second survey sent to leaders who let their CRA lapse proved that those leaders were still using their CRA skills and they would recommend a peer to renew a similar certification. Some of the drilled-down comments on that survey revealed oversights and accidental missed renewals along with expressed regrets about missing their renewals, while others retired. It is important that we project for those retirees.
Overall, the surveys were effective and the information was useful. The RACC will use the information for future strategic planning to reduce attrition.
If you are considering taking the CRA exam, do it! You will be so proud of yourself when you accomplish this amazing goal. If you are already a CRA, congratulations on being one of only 1,204 distinguished radiology professionals who have had your leadership skills confirmed through the Radiology Administration Certification Commission.
Apply for the May 2025 CRA Exam by Monday, March 3.