Policies
The Appeals Policy applies to any researcher who has applied for but been denied PRC or denied the PRC designation of his/her choosing.
Note: Candidates may reapply at any time, with no set limit as to how many times they can apply. However, candidates may appeal the decision on any given application only once.
Appeals Process For PRC:
A request for appeal must be received in writing at MRA Headquarters within 30 calendar days of the date of the written denial. Requests received after that date will not be honored. You must include the following in your written appeal:
- Copy of the written denial
- Copy of your original application
- Letter stating specific reasons for appeal and why your application for PRC should be reconsidered. This letter cannot be more than three 8.5" x 11" pages, single-spaced, 10 font or higher with margins no less than 1.0" on all four sides.
- Contents of the letter must be relevant to the PRC designation in the original application and must address the reasons for denial outlined in the letter of denial received by the applicant from the PRC Review Committee. Extraneous information will be disregarded.
Receipt of your appeal at MRA Headquarters will be acknowledged within 48 hours. Acknowledgement will be via email or fax; please state your preference in your cover letter.
The PRC Review Committee will hear your appeal within 60 days of the date of receipt at MRA Headquarters. You will be notified of the hearing date at least 5 business days prior to the hearing. You may be asked to be available for questions via telephone on that date.
If you are asked to be available but cannot accommodate this request, you may choose to have the appeal continue as scheduled OR you may request one other hearing date opportunity. If you cannot be available during the second scheduled date, the first hearing date will continue as scheduled.
The PRC Review Committee will consider all material presented and render a decision within 10 business days of the hearing date.
You will be notified via US Mail of the decision of the PRC Review Committee.
The decision of the PRC Review Committee is final.
If warranted, the Review Committee will supply the applicant with suggestions on steps required to meet the application criteria.
You may withdraw your appeal at any time in the process. This must be done in writing via email with receipt, via fax or via US Mail.
PRC Grievance Fee:
A grievance fee of $25 will be required in order to process the appeal. This fee will be refunded if the appellant wins the decision.
Appeal Based On Ethics Violation:
The Committee may address an appeal for an ethics violation under certain circumstances. An example would be if the reason for the violation occurred many years ago and was corrected.
This application policy applies to any researcher who interested in the Professional Researcher Certification.
Applying during Open Enrollment (July 1, 2008-December 31, 2008)
Individuals must submit the Certification application by December 31, 2008 and provide the required documentation for each of the criteria listed. After December 31, 2008, individuals will be required to accrue the appropriate Contact Hours and pass an exam based on a series of questions designed to ensure the individual's knowledge level and understanding of required topic areas.
Acquiring Certification after December 31, 2008
Individuals who apply for Certification once Open Enrollment has closed (December 31, 2008) are required to meet stringent criteria. Candidates must follow these steps:
Submit Application » Earn Contact Hours » Pass Exam » Receive Certification
Submit a completed application indicating your intention to apply for Certification.
MRA's Certification Department will send you an Exam Handbook, and how to prepare for the PRC Certification exam
As you earn the required Contact Hours, notify MRA's Certification Department with the appropriate documentation. We will maintain your record of earnings.
Contact Hours must be earned within a two (2) year period; this ensures your coursework meets current standards in the profession.
Once the correct number of Contact Hours has been earned, notify MRA's Certification Department.
The MRA Certification Department will evaluate your application and supporting documents.
If the candidate meets all criteria, an exam date and location will be determined. Candidates need to submit the appropriate exam fee prior to taking the exam. [see Examination link] Candidates must pass the exam in order to qualify for Certification.
If the candidate does not meet all criteria, a letter of explanation will be sent within 6 weeks.
Contact Hours for Organizations
Host organizations may apply online for Educational PRC approval . The Certification Department will review completed forms and make a determination based on program content, speaker credibility and PRC category value. Organizations will be notified via email with the credit hour and category identified. Once approved, Organizations may use the ‘Approved for PRC Credit' phrase along with the PRC logo in all marketing pieces. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for the approval process.
- See Example of an approved Education Provider Approval Form
Contact Hours for Certified Individuals
In order to receive Contact Hours for educational offerings, Certified individuals must complete the online 'Add Hours' form located on their PRC online record and attach the following documents; Printed program and/or outline of program, Speaker information (bio/vitae), and Attendance verification (login confirmation or signature verification). Approval will be granted based on program content, speaker credibility and category as it related to individual's requirements. Notification will be made via email. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for the approval process. Contact MRA department to confirm acceptable proof of attendance.
**For any educational offering that has been taken online or through distance learning and for which the educator does not require and/or provide any exam, test or written material to verify attendance, a PRC must check the official affidavit section of the Add Hours form in order to receive credit.
Presentations or Published Materials:
PRC Contact hour credit may be granted for:
- The preparation and presentation of material at a conference or other industry venue
- The preparation and publication of an article, either in print, web, or radio/TV media.
In order to receive Contact Hours for presentations or published materials, the materials must meet the following criteria:
- Its content relates to marketing or opinion research, from analytical, academic, or professional aspect.
- Its content demonstrates a learning/research experience on the part of the author, as through citation of industry literature indicative of new exploration of information and input.
- It is subject to peer and/or professional review.
- Its content can be applied to contact hour requirements specific to the author
- It is delivered as a speech or presentation and/or written, submitted, or published within the relevant hour application requirement period.
Certified individuals must complete the 'Add Hours' form with the presentation or published materials attached. Approval will be granted based on program content and educational category as it related to individual's requirements. Notification will be made via email. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for the approval process. Contact MRA department to confirm acceptable proof of attendance
This policy applies to any PRC who has been Certified in a job category that they are considering changing. Changes will be considered only for the same level (Associate, Practitioner or Expert).
Any individual who wishes to change their job category must request to do so within the first 6 months of their approval date. The individual must submit in writing their reasoning behind the change request and the job category to which they wish to change to. Once submitted the request will be reviewed and a decision will be made within 2 weeks. This process will only be considered once within an individuals' PRC Certification. If an approval for a category change has been granted, the anniversary date for your Certification date will remain the same; your window for maintenance of your PRC will close exactly two years from when you were originally granted Certification.
The Contact Hour policy applies to any PRC who is submitting an educational offering to be applied toward his or her required Professional Research Certification education maintenance.
Once you have acquired the Professional Researcher Certification for your current position, you will be expected to demonstrate ongoing professional commitment to the field by earning Contact Hours in your discipline. A Contact Hour is one clock hour of interaction in a structured educational and/or training environment for personal or professional development in which participants are assumed to have previously attained a basic level of education, training, or experience. It is also used to describe education and/or training beyond the basic education, training, or experience required for a license, certification, degree, or beyond the entry-level position of a job. Contact hours involve your attendance at such a program and proof thereof.
- Must annually maintain a 40/60 % split between the two disciplines.
- Must satisfy the educational and practical requirements established by the Certification Board for each Certification.
- An application for each Certification must be submitted.
- An application and renewal fee will apply for each Certification.
| First Certification | Second Certification | |
| Expert: | $250 | $175 |
| Practitioner: | $200 | $100 |
Candidates who do not pass an exam may request in writing to MRA, that their exam be reviewed and re-scored within 30 calendar days from the date of notice of exam results. Requests must be post marked prior to the 30 day deadline. Requests received after that date will not be honored. You must include the following in your written appeal:
- Copy of your exam results.
- Letter stating specific reasons for appeal and why your exam should be reconsidered. This letter cannot be more than three 8½ x 11" pages, single-spaced, 10 font or higher with margins no less than 1.0" on all four sides.
Receipt of your appeal at MRA will be acknowledged within 48 hours. Acknowledgement will be via email or fax; please state your preference in your cover letter.
The PRC Review Committee will consider your appeal within 60 days of the date of receipt at MRA
The PRC Review Committee will consider all material presented and render a decision. You will be notified via US Mail of the decision of the PRC Review Committee. The decision of the PRC Review Committee is final.
If warranted, the Review Committee will identify specific domains where further study may be required in order to pass the examination in the future. You may withdraw your appeal at any time in the process. This must be done in writing via email with receipt, via fax or via US Mail.
This policy applies to any individual who has submitted an incomplete application for the Professional Researcher Certification.
Applicant will receive a pending notice, no later than 14 days after the application has been submitted, requesting all necessary documents and information.
Applicants will be given no more than 30 days, from the date of the pending notice, to provide all information requested. If the applicant does not complete the application process, the application is denied at the end of the period provided in the notice. All application fees are non-refundable. A denial notice will be sent to the applicant explaining the reason for the denial.
Applicants are eligible to reapply at anytime for the Professional Researcher Certification. A new application fee will be required and all requirements must be met at the time of re-application.
All PRC's are required to renew their Certification every two years. Any individual who fails to submit a renewal application and fee and/or does not complete their education requirements in that 2 year period will be required to reapply, accrue the required contact hours in their discipline area and pass an exam.
Requirements for Renewal
- Must complete ALL education requirements in their area of certification, prior to their expiration date.
- Complete the renewal application and submit along with their renewal fee (located on renewal application) to MRA Headquarters on or before their expiration date. If an individual has completed all requirements prior to their expiration date they may choose to renew at that time, or wait until their expiration date of their first term.
Once you have submitted all education requirements you will be eligible to renew your Certification. The renew option will be located on your PRC online personal record. (If you do not have a renew now option, you are not eligible to renew at this time.)
Round Table Discussions:
In order to receive Contact Hours for a round table discussion, the session must meet the following criteria:
Each round table discussion must have a moderator to facilitate, who is knowledgeable in the subject being discussed.
The moderator and/or host organization must provide 3 or 4 learning objectives for each round table that will be discussed during the session.
*Round table discussions without a knowledgeable moderator to facilitate the round table can not receive contact hour credit.
Host organizations may submit a completed Event Application Form for approval of Contact Hours. The Certification Department will review completed forms and make a determination based on the learning objectives, moderator credibility and PRC job category value. Organizations will be notified via email with the credit hour and job category topic identified. Once approved, Organizations may use the 'Approved for PRC Credit' phrase along with the PRC logo in all marketing pieces. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for the approval process.