Certified Pre-Award Research
Administrator Certification Exam Updated
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
What is the role of a Research Administrator as a facilitator? - CORRECT
ANSWER Helps PIs apply for funding and interpret sponsor requirements.
What is the gatekeeper role of a Research Administrator? - CORRECT
ANSWER Controls access to institutional approvals and compliance processes.
What is the resource locator role? - CORRECT ANSWER Identifies funding
opportunities and connects researchers with resources.
What is the team builder role? - CORRECT ANSWER Links researchers,
administrators, sponsors, and collaborators across institutions.
What is the motivator role? - CORRECT ANSWER Encourages researchers to pursue
funding and supports proposal development.
Who conducts scientific research? - CORRECT ANSWER The Principal Investigator
(PI).
Who is responsible for fiscal accountability of a project? - CORRECT ANSWER The
PI, possibly shared with Co-PIs.
What is a subrecipient? - CORRECT ANSWER An entity carrying out programmatic
project work with compliance responsibility.
,What is an independent contractor? - CORRECT ANSWER An external party hired for
specific services based on IRS classification factors.
What are IRS factors for contractor classification? - CORRECT ANSWER Behavioral
control, financial control, and relationship of the parties.
What is a teaming agreement? - CORRECT ANSWER An agreement where
organizations collaborate to compete for an RFP.
Do universities typically sign exclusive teaming agreements? - CORRECT
ANSWER No, most avoid exclusivity so PIs can collaborate on other proposals.
What happens if a proposal under a TA is funded? - CORRECT ANSWER The lead
organization must issue a subcontract unless prohibited by sponsor.
Do TA participants get paid for proposal prep? - CORRECT ANSWER No, TAs do not
include prep compensation unless award is issued.
Why do universities conduct research? - CORRECT ANSWER To advance knowledge,
foster innovation, enhance reputation, and train scholars.
Why do sponsors fund research? - CORRECT ANSWER To advance their missions,
innovate, grow the economy, and build workforce.
What are characteristics of collaborating PIs? - CORRECT ANSWER Share scientific,
fiscal, and administrative responsibilities.
What is required in subrecipient documentation? - CORRECT ANSWER SOW,
budget, justification, fringe and indirect rates, institutional approvals.
What is the purpose of professional development? - CORRECT ANSWER Improves
customer service, project management, and regulatory expertise.
, What organizations offer RA training? - CORRECT ANSWER NCURA and SRAI
offer major training resources.
What internal training do institutions provide? - CORRECT ANSWER Training for
new administrators on compliance and internal processes.
What is an Individual Development Plan? - CORRECT ANSWER A tool that supports
research administrator career growth.
What are career ladder titles? - CORRECT ANSWER Proposal Administrator I, II,
Senior Administrator.
What is a solicited proposal? - CORRECT ANSWER A proposal submitted in response
to an RFP.
What is an unsolicited proposal? - CORRECT ANSWER A PI-initiated proposal not
prompted by solicitation.
What is a limited submission? - CORRECT ANSWER An FOA allowing restricted
institutional submissions.
Name federal funding announcement sources. - CORRECT ANSWER Grants.gov,
Federal Register, FedConnect, CFDA.
What are traits of funding announcements? - CORRECT ANSWER Define goals,
eligibility, deadlines, guidelines.
What are FA communication tools? - CORRECT ANSWER Newsletters, listservs,
electronic alerts.
Administrator Certification Exam Updated
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
What is the role of a Research Administrator as a facilitator? - CORRECT
ANSWER Helps PIs apply for funding and interpret sponsor requirements.
What is the gatekeeper role of a Research Administrator? - CORRECT
ANSWER Controls access to institutional approvals and compliance processes.
What is the resource locator role? - CORRECT ANSWER Identifies funding
opportunities and connects researchers with resources.
What is the team builder role? - CORRECT ANSWER Links researchers,
administrators, sponsors, and collaborators across institutions.
What is the motivator role? - CORRECT ANSWER Encourages researchers to pursue
funding and supports proposal development.
Who conducts scientific research? - CORRECT ANSWER The Principal Investigator
(PI).
Who is responsible for fiscal accountability of a project? - CORRECT ANSWER The
PI, possibly shared with Co-PIs.
What is a subrecipient? - CORRECT ANSWER An entity carrying out programmatic
project work with compliance responsibility.
,What is an independent contractor? - CORRECT ANSWER An external party hired for
specific services based on IRS classification factors.
What are IRS factors for contractor classification? - CORRECT ANSWER Behavioral
control, financial control, and relationship of the parties.
What is a teaming agreement? - CORRECT ANSWER An agreement where
organizations collaborate to compete for an RFP.
Do universities typically sign exclusive teaming agreements? - CORRECT
ANSWER No, most avoid exclusivity so PIs can collaborate on other proposals.
What happens if a proposal under a TA is funded? - CORRECT ANSWER The lead
organization must issue a subcontract unless prohibited by sponsor.
Do TA participants get paid for proposal prep? - CORRECT ANSWER No, TAs do not
include prep compensation unless award is issued.
Why do universities conduct research? - CORRECT ANSWER To advance knowledge,
foster innovation, enhance reputation, and train scholars.
Why do sponsors fund research? - CORRECT ANSWER To advance their missions,
innovate, grow the economy, and build workforce.
What are characteristics of collaborating PIs? - CORRECT ANSWER Share scientific,
fiscal, and administrative responsibilities.
What is required in subrecipient documentation? - CORRECT ANSWER SOW,
budget, justification, fringe and indirect rates, institutional approvals.
What is the purpose of professional development? - CORRECT ANSWER Improves
customer service, project management, and regulatory expertise.
, What organizations offer RA training? - CORRECT ANSWER NCURA and SRAI
offer major training resources.
What internal training do institutions provide? - CORRECT ANSWER Training for
new administrators on compliance and internal processes.
What is an Individual Development Plan? - CORRECT ANSWER A tool that supports
research administrator career growth.
What are career ladder titles? - CORRECT ANSWER Proposal Administrator I, II,
Senior Administrator.
What is a solicited proposal? - CORRECT ANSWER A proposal submitted in response
to an RFP.
What is an unsolicited proposal? - CORRECT ANSWER A PI-initiated proposal not
prompted by solicitation.
What is a limited submission? - CORRECT ANSWER An FOA allowing restricted
institutional submissions.
Name federal funding announcement sources. - CORRECT ANSWER Grants.gov,
Federal Register, FedConnect, CFDA.
What are traits of funding announcements? - CORRECT ANSWER Define goals,
eligibility, deadlines, guidelines.
What are FA communication tools? - CORRECT ANSWER Newsletters, listservs,
electronic alerts.
