CRA Requirements

1. PROGRAM FEE
2. SUBMISSION OF SATISFACTORY PORTFOLIO
3. VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT
4. CURRENT CPR CERTIFICATE (American Red Cross, American Heart Association)
5. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF WRITTEN EXAMINATION
6. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PERFORMANCE EXAMINATION

Program Fees (US$)

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Portfolio

Submission of a satisfactory portfolio consisting of the following :
(Exact submission format is detailed in the CRA Program Guide {PDF})

1. Slides: A 35 mm slide folio containing 19 required photographs. (Digital color images may be output to 35mm slides)
2. Angiography Section:
   Three angiograms are required. Each angiogram must be of a different patient. The angiograms may be produced using 35mm film, digital equipment or any combination of the two. Each angiogram must be submitted according to the following list of requirements.
   
   1. Contacts or Proof Sheets:
      Film – 8” x 10” black and white contact sheet printed on paper or transparency.
      Digital – A proof sheet printed on photo-quality paper or transparency.
   2. Enlargements:
      Film – 8” x 10” black and white enlargement printed on paper of the early, mid and late circulation phases.
      Digital – 8” x 10” black and white enlargement printed on photo-quality paper of the early, mid and late circulation phases.
   3. Color Slides:
      A second slide page containing a color slide of the posterior pole of the Primary eye. A second slide centered on the area of pathology of the involved eye if it is not within the posterior pole. Digital submissions may meet this requirement by including the images on a proof sheet.

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Verification Letter

1. Letter from employing physician or institution verifying candidate's employment history as a Retinal Angiographer for a minimum of 2 years.
   1. Documented formal education or professional certification may be used as a substitute for up to 1 year of work experience. Details available in the CRA Program Guide (PDF).

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CPR Certificate

Current certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that included both written and hands-on examinations (American Heart Association or American Red Cross).

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Successful completion of written examination

The written examination consists of two sections, with a total of 175 questions. It requires two and a half hours to complete. Tests are held at a variety of locations at different times of year - to find out more, go to Test Dates. For detailed information, consult the CRA Program Guide (PDF).

1. The first section consists of 125 multiple choice questions. Each multiple choice question has four answer choices listed, only one of which is correct.
2. The second section of the written examination, totaling 50 multiple choice questions, will be given by projecting slides corresponding to the questions in the test booklet. The projected images contain specific information that is clearly indicated. All images will be depictions of photographic problems, clinical entities, and conditions or situations that the applicant is likely to have encountered during the required two years of work experience.
3. The following subjects are addressed in the written examination:
   • Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye
   • Pathology of the Eye
   • Pharmacology
   • Patient Management
   • General Film Photography
   • General Digital Photography
   • Data and Image Management
   • Patient and Operator Safety
   • Fundus Photography
   • Fluorescein Angiography
   • Indocyanine Green Angiography
   • Optical Coherence Tomography
   • Pharmacology

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Successful completion of the performance examination

The performance portion of the examination for CRA will require approximately two to four hours to complete, depending on the total number of candidates, availability of equipment, and the number of examiners. Performance exams are typically offered concurrently with the Written Examination. For detailed information, consult the CRA Program Guide {PDF}), and refer to this year's test dates for more information.

1. Whenever possible, fundus cameras of more than one manufacturer will be available for the examination, and the candidate may request examination on the equipment he or she is most familiar. When the desired equipment is not available, candidates will be given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the cameras available.
2. The performance portion of the examination for CRA will require approximately two to four hours to complete, depending on the total number of candidates, availability of equipment, and the number of examiners.
3. The performance examination consists of the following test stations:
   • Fundus Photography and Simulated Fluorescein Angiography
   • Film Processing
   • Stereo Slide Orientation

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