- The CRA exam has 185 questions (160 scored, 25 unscored) with a 4-hour limit.
- Operations Management is the largest domain at 27-32% of the exam.
- Eligibility requires 7 total points from experience, education, and an optional imaging credential.
- Fall 2026 fees run $265-$350, or $165 for eligible AHRA CRA Pathway members.
CRA Quick Facts at a Glance
The Certified Radiology Administrator credential is governed by the Radiology Administration Certification Commission (RACC), an autonomous body operating within AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management. RACC sets eligibility rules, owns the content outline, and determines the passing standard. Actual test delivery is handled by Meazure Learning, which offers both in-person test-center appointments and remote proctoring through ProctorU.
If you're brand new to the credential, start with What Is CRA? or the deeper CRA Certification overview before using this page as your rapid-fire review. This cheat sheet assumes you already know the basics and just need every hard number in one place before exam day.
Exam Format Cheat Sheet
The CRA exam is a fixed-format, multiple-choice test. Memorize these numbers cold:
- 185 total questions - 160 scored, 25 unscored (pretest items you cannot identify)
- 4-hour time limit for the full session
- Delivery: Meazure Learning test centers or ProctorU remote proctoring
- Content outline version: December 2025, aligned to the 2025 role-delineation update
Because unscored items are mixed in with scored ones and not labeled, treat every question as if it counts. For a full walkthrough of question style and pacing strategy, see How Hard Is the CRA Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
The Five Domains, Weighted
All CRA content maps to five domains with official weight ranges. Operations Management dominates the exam, so it deserves the largest share of your study time.
Domain 4: Operations Management (27-32%)
The largest domain by a clear margin. Covers day-to-day departmental operations, workflow, quality, safety, and regulatory compliance across imaging services.
- Highest-weighted domain - prioritize it first in your study plan
Domain 3: Fiscal Management (21-26%)
Budgeting, financial analysis, reimbursement, and cost-control decisions specific to imaging department leadership.
- Second-heaviest domain; expect scenario-based budget questions
Domain 2: Asset Resource Management (17-22%)
Equipment lifecycle planning, capital acquisition, vendor management, and facility/technology resource decisions.
- Pairs conceptually with fiscal decisions - study them together
Domain 1: Human Resource Management (13-18%)
Staffing, performance management, labor relations, and workforce development for imaging teams.
- Moderate weight but tested with detailed scenario items
Domain 5: Communication and Information Management (10-15%)
Information systems, data reporting, and internal/external communication strategy for radiology administration.
- Smallest domain - don't neglect it, but don't over-invest either
For a full breakdown of subtopics inside each domain, review CRA Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas. Practicing scenario questions against these exact weights on our CRA practice test platform is the fastest way to see where your knowledge gaps actually sit.
Key Takeaway
Allocate study time roughly proportional to domain weight: Operations Management and Fiscal Management together make up nearly half the exam.
Eligibility Points Cheat Sheet
CRA eligibility is point-based, not a simple checklist. You need 7 total points drawn from three sources:
- Education: up to 4 noncumulative points
- Qualifying management experience: 1 point per year
- Current imaging credential: up to 1 point (optional)
One rule trips people up: at least one education point is required unless the candidate has at least ten years of qualifying experience. Run your own numbers against the full rules in CRA Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before you apply.
Fees and Dates Reference Table
Fall 2026 pricing has three tiers depending on membership status and pathway eligibility. Keep this table handy when budgeting.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| AHRA-member examination fee | $165 |
| Non-member examination fee | $250 |
| Application fee | $100 |
| Total (member) | $265 |
| Total (non-member) | $350 |
| Total (CRA Pathway member, application fee waived) | $165 |
| Late application fee (up to 15 days after deadline) | +$50 |
| Recertification fee (every 3 years) | $175 |
Key dates for the Fall 2026 cycle:
- Regular application deadline: September 16, 2026
- Late application window: up to 15 days after the deadline, for an added $50
- Testing window: November 1-30, 2026
- Score release: mid-January 2027
For a line-by-line explanation of what drives these numbers, see CRA Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown and CRA Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Scoring and Pass Standard
The CRA exam uses a criterion-referenced passing standard - you're measured against a fixed competency bar, not against other test-takers. Because a new passing point is being established for the Fall 2026 form, don't rely on assumptions from prior cycles about what "good enough" looks like.
Scores for the Fall 2026 administration are released mid-January 2027, so plan your credentialing timeline accordingly if you have a job requirement or promotion tied to certification. For a deeper look at how the standard is set and what it means for your prep, read CRA Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass and CRA Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Recertification Snapshot
Certification is valid for three years. To renew, CRAs need:
- 36 eligible management CE credits total
- No more than 18 credits from any single domain
- A $175 renewal fee
Passing the initial exam gives you a head start: it automatically credits 12 points toward your first recertification cycle, meaning you only need to earn the remainder before your three-year window closes.
One-Week Final Review Schedule
If you already have a full study plan in place (see CRA Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt for the complete version), use this compressed final-week schedule to sequence review by domain weight rather than alphabetically.
Operations Management
- Review the highest-weighted domain (27-32%) first while your mind is fresh
- Run timed practice sets focused only on operations scenarios
Fiscal Management
- Drill budget and reimbursement scenario questions (21-26% of the exam)
Asset Resource Management
- Review equipment lifecycle and capital planning content (17-22%)
Human Resource Management
- Focus on staffing and performance scenarios (13-18%)
Communication and Information Management
- Cover the smallest domain (10-15%) so nothing is left unreviewed
Full Simulation
- Take a full-length, 185-question timed simulation on our practice test platform to rehearse the 4-hour pacing
Who Actually Uses This Credential
The CRA is built for people already leading imaging departments or aiming to move into that role - directors, administrators, and managers overseeing radiology operations, budgets, staffing, and equipment. It's not an entry-level radiography credential; it's a management-track certification layered on top of clinical or operational experience.
Hiring managers reviewing candidates for department-leadership roles often look for the CRA specifically because it maps directly to the operational, fiscal, and HR duties of the job. If you're weighing whether it's worth pursuing given your career stage, compare notes in Is the CRA Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and CRA Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis. For open roles and how the credential appears in job postings, browse CRA Jobs, and for structured prep courses, see CRA Training.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam has 185 multiple-choice questions - 160 scored and 25 unscored - with a 4-hour time limit.
Operations Management, weighted at 27-32%, is the largest domain and should get the most study time, followed by Fiscal Management at 21-26%.
Total cost is $265 for AHRA members or $350 for non-members, combining the examination fee and $100 application fee. Eligible AHRA CRA Pathway members have the application fee waived, bringing the total to $165.
Scores for the Fall 2026 testing window (November 1-30, 2026) are released in mid-January 2027, since a new passing point is being established for this exam form.
Recertify every three years with 36 eligible management CE credits, no more than 18 from a single domain, and a $175 renewal fee. Passing your initial exam applies 12 credits toward that first cycle automatically.