February is a very important month. Yes it is the shortest month of the year! Yes it is the month when the Super Bowl is played! But that isn’t what I am referring to.
February is a very important month to the research industry. Especially this February.
We are 21 days away from the first deadline for Professional Researcher Certification—or as it is referred to— PRC.
The Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) program, established by the Marketing Research Association (MRA), will be staggering the closing of the grandfathering period, originally set to end on February 28, 2007. The move came as a result of the large number of PRC applications in the last quarter of 2006.
Grandfathering will now close in five phases in order to allow for processing, extending selected segments as listed below:
Phase I: Closing February 28, 2007
Segments:
Data Collection: Ethnography, Mall
Research Company: Marketing/Products, Sales
Phase II: Closing March 31, 2007
Segments:
Data Collection: Focus Facility, Telephone
Research Company: Field
Phase III: Closing April 30, 2007
Segments:
Data Collection: Qualitative
Research Company: Operations, Projects
Phase IV: Closing May 31, 2007
Segments:
Data Collection: Owner/CEO
Research Company: Owner/CEO
End User: All Job Categories
Phase V: Closing July 31, 2007
Related Services: All Groups
Research Adjunct
MRII, IMRO, CMOR, AMA, RIVA and the Burke Institute have all endorsed the program. Hundreds of researchers have filled out the paperwork and have been approved as PRC.
Have you? If not, you might want to consider filling out the application prior to the first deadline—especially if you are in the first segment.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Stephenie Gordon says:
I actually have my PRC, and it will expire in July 2007 if i do not obtain all of my contact hours.
I am still in desparate need of 6 contact hours, and trying to work with the MRA to fill them. The MRA has not offered all of the courses i need through their conferences and seminars, and I know I need to look elsewhere; however finding the time to receive approval on outside classes has been difficult. I know I will pull it off in the end because I believe in the program and want to keep my certification.
Is anyone else in the same boat? Any suggestions or courses to fill Costing contact hours and incidence and implication hours?
Linda Schoenborn, MRA says:
Stephanie:
There are many ways to find the education you need to meet your Certification contact hour requirements. MRA has developed ‘Education Central’ [http://www.mra-net.org/edevents/edCentral.cfm] as a resource for those looking for specific topics required under the PRC program. This resource lists courses (in-person, online, etc.) that meet the requirements of the Certification department and includes listings from organizations both within the research community as well as outside of it. The Education Workgroup is keenly aware of the ongoing need to develop topics in response to the PRC needs, and is addressing these areas by “rolling out” new educational offerings on a regular basis.
Another way to earn credits is through MRA’s Web Seminar program. Each seminar offers 1 contact hour in a variety of topics that are of interest to research practitioners, as well as those who are seeking a convenient way to earn credits. This Committee is responding to PRC needs by creating a ‘series’ to address specific topic areas. Soon, an HR series will be announced. Archived education will soon be available on our Website allowing you to select the best program for your job category needs.
Stephanie, I hope this has helped you. I urge all PRC’s who have any questions on educational offerings to contact me via email [Linda.schoenborn@mra-net.org] with any question they may have about locating the education they need.