About MRCA

The Market Research Chartered Association (MRCA) is an independent professional association dedicated to the recognition, structuring, and advancement of market research practice.

MRCA provides a shared professional framework for independent and hybrid research practitioners, defining reference standards, ethical principles, and criteria of professional conduct. Its mission is to contribute to clarity, credibility, and consistency within a fragmented global research landscape.

The Association does not represent agencies, consultancies, or research organisations. Its scope is intentionally focused on individual practitioners, whose professional recognition is assessed independently of their commercial affiliations.

MRCA operates as a non-profit professional body. It does not act as a marketplace, recruiter, or commercial intermediary. Any form of recognition or certification applies exclusively to individuals and does not constitute an endorsement of organisations or clients.

The Association’s activities include:

  • defining shared professional reference standards
  • supporting peer-based recognition mechanisms
  • contributing to professional dialogue and best practice
  • facilitating international alignment across research communities

MRCA adopts a global perspective while remaining jurisdiction-agnostic. Its framework is designed to be applicable across markets, research methodologies, and cultural contexts.

Governance and independence

MRCA is governed according to principles of independence, neutrality, and transparency.

Its structure is designed to prevent conflicts of interest and to preserve a clear separation between professional recognition and commercial activity.

Scope and positioning

MRCA complements, but does not replace, existing national or international research bodies.

It does not seek to duplicate regulatory, lobbying, or representative functions already performed by established organisations.

Its role is limited to defining and maintaining a professional reference framework for individual practitioners operating independently or in hybrid professional contexts.