This session explores how professional credentials are perceived and valued within the clinical research workforce, drawing directly from a mixed-methods research study examining both employer and clinical research professional perspectives. Attendees will review how micro-credentials, professional certifications, academic degrees, and combinations of credentials influence hiring decisions, career advancement, and professional development. The session will highlight areas of alignment and disconnect between employer expectations and employee experiences. Attendees will gain insight into how credentialing decisions shape workforce development, equity, and career mobility in clinical research, as well as how data from surveys and focus groups can inform institutional and individual credentialing strategies. The session is designed for research staff, hiring managers, educators, and workforce development leaders seeking evidence-informed approaches to credentialing decisions.'

CEU: 1.0 ACRP

Speaker:

• Jessica Fritter, DHSc, MACPR, ACRP-CP, FACRP, Associate Clinical Professor & Director, Master of Clinical Research and Certificate Programs, The Ohio State University