The Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification has enjoyed success and recognition among research administration professionals. However, this recognition is parochial and does not extend much past the walls of research administration. Results of a recent research study showed that Principal Investigators value and expect certain aspects of performance and knowledge from the research administrators at their campuses. These value-added aspects cited by the Principal Investigators are contained in the Body of Knowledge that comprises the framework of the CRA certification. However, these same Principal Investigators did not perceive value in the actual CRA designation held by employees of the research administration office on their campuses. The CRA designation should invoke recognition of equal stature to other professional designations from external constituencies, not just within the parameters of research administration. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)