The credential, CRA, may be more prevalent throughout the radiology community as the American Healthcare Radiology Administrators (AHRA) announced the results from its August Certified Radiology Administrators (CRA) exam. Ninety percent of the 60 radiology administrators who took the exam received a passing score. There are currently 354 certified radiology administrators nationwide.

Funded by a five-year grant from Rochester, N.Y.-based  Eastman Kodak Co., the program developed upon completion of an AHRA market research survey that determined an overwhelming majority of radiology administrators desired a certification program.

As the industry's first certification program for RAs, the CRA is designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance and recognize administrators who demonstrate knowledge in the practice of departmental management.

 First administered on July 27, 2002, 86 percent of the 236 RAs who took the inaugural CRA exam passed.

Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 is the next date of the exam at testing centers located in Las Vegas, Nev.; White Plains, N.Y; Charlotte, N.C.; St. Louis, Mo.; and Dallas, Texas. An application can be downloaded from AHRA's Web site: http://www.ahraonline.org/certification.htm