Take the Exam:
Exam Dates

Eligibility Requirements

Exam Fees

Cancellation Rules/Fees

Computer-based Exams   

International Exam Administration

Scoring and Results

Retaking the Exam

Appeals

Special Requests

Download:
CRA Application Form
Exam Day Instructions
Reference List

Contact CRA:
Kathryn Keeler at
800-334-2472 ext. 227
or
kkeeler@crainfo.org

TAKE THE EXAM

Application:
Click here to download the CRA Application.

Any applications received past the deadline must include an additional $50.00 late fee and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

2010-2011 Exam Dates:

*You must arrive at least thirty minutes prior to the start of the exam time for which you are scheduled.

Points are earned through a combination of experience, education, and/or credentials as follows:

Experience (maximum of six (6) points): One point is credited for each year of experience as an imaging administrator. Experience is defined as management, supervisory, or administrative experience in radiology or medical imaging with responsibility for activities in the following five (5) domains:

• Asset Resource Management
• Fiscal Management
• Human Resource Management
• Operations Management
• Communication and Information Management

Note: Experience is related to human imaging only.

• Education (maximum of four (4) points): Applicants for the CRA examination must have either: (a) at least one (1) point earned through education, or (b) have a minimum of ten (10) years experience without an education point. Points are credited as follows:

Note: Education points are not cumulative for each level of education, only the point value for the highest education applies. For example, if you have both a Certificate and a BS degree, you may only claim the 3 points earned for holding a BS degree.

• Credentials (maximum of one (1) point—not required): The credential must be imaging related and from a nationally recognized credentialing authority. It must be current as of the time you take the CRA examination. Credentialing is not required for exam eligibility. Examples include:
  • ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists)
  • ARDMS (American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers)
  • NMTCB (Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board)
  • RCC (Radiology Certified Coder)

Anyone who accumulates the seven (7) points may sit for the exam.
AHRA membership is not required to sit for the CRA exam.
ARRT or other credentialing is not required to sit for the CRA exam.

The application fee is not refundable under any circumstances.
Applications received after the examination deadline will be subject to an additional $50 late fee. 

• A candidate may cancel or reschedule his or her testing session in writing up to five (5) business days in advance of a computer-based testing appointment or two (2) weeks in advance of a paper-and-pencil testing appointment. A $75 administrative fee will apply.
  • The candidate must write AHRA to cancel or reschedule the session: kkeeler@crainfo.org
  • For computer-based exams: after you have scheduled your exam through Castle’s NTS system you will be changed $75 to reschedule or cancel the exam
  • For paper and pencil exams: cancellations or rescheduling requests are due to AHRA two weeks before the test date in writing and a $75 administrative fee will be charged for all cancellations and scheduling changes.
  • If a request to cancel or reschedule is made fewer than five (5) business days in advance of a computer-based testing appointment or fewer than two (2) weeks in advance of a paper-and-pencil testing appointment, the candidate will be considered a no-show and will be charged $140 to reschedule the exam.
  • No partial or full refunds will be available after the cancellation date(s).
  • The $50 application fee is not refundable under any circumstances.
• A candidate who does not appear for his or her testing appointment, and has not contacted AHRA or CASTLE to cancel or to reschedule, will be considered a no-show and will be charged $140 to reschedule the exam.

• Candidates may only take the exam once during any month-long exam window.
• Exam results are shown on the testing computer screen following the completion of your exam.
• While the testing window covers the entire exam period (in 2009 these periods are May 1-31 or November 1-30), not all centers are available each day within the exam period. 
• New centers are added on a regular basis, but available centers may also become booked for one or more session. Because of the variables involved, it is impossible for the CRA program to give a definitive list of locations or dates on our website or prior to the scheduling period.
• There are sites in 48 states (including sites in Alaska and Hawaii) although individual availability could vary as noted above. For some applicants, some local travel may be required to take the exam.
• If an applicant is unable to choose a satisfactory exam site and date, a written request for transfer should be made to the CRA program at least 5 business before the beginning of the testing period, and the applicant’s registration will be switched to a later test administration free of charge.

Once you have registered for a computer-based CRA exam, you can expect to receive a Notice To Schedule (NTS) via e-mail from CASTLE Worldwide, Inc. The NTSs will be sent after the exam application deadline and no later than 25 days prior to the examination window. Your NTS will provide you with:

1. The web address for scheduling your examination appointment
2. Your username and password

You will need to submit your scheduling request online no later than 15 days prior to the examination date on which you wish to test. We encourage you to submit your request early so that you have the benefit of choosing from more sites and dates. To submit your request, you will:

• Go to the scheduling website as indicated on your NTS
• Enter your username and password
• Click on the city in which you want to test from the drop down menu. This list contains all the cities and exam times that are currently available during the examination window.
• Once you have submitted your request, you can expect to receive your confirmation e-mail within 48 to 72 hours. If the site and date option you chose is no longer available (i.e., the site became full), you will receive an e-mail letting you know which sites and dates are still available.

Important notes about international CRA administration:

-The CRA exam is written and administered in American English only. Translation tools or materials may not be used during testing.
-The CRA exam tests standard image management knowledge, tasks, skills, roles and practices in the United States. CRA exam questions may address laws, rules, and/or conventions governing healthcare and imaging practice in the United States. The CRA exam is not modified to reflect practice in any other setting regardless of exam administration location.