Eligibility

This certification program is for individuals whose primary job responsibilities include substantial participation in overseeing, administering or performing the daily activities of an institutional review board (IRB) as part of a human research protection (HRP) program.

Individuals involved in IRB activities who meet the following eligibility requirements are eligible to take the examination:

1. A Bachelor’s degree plus two (2) years of relevant HRP experience*, completed on or before the first day of your chosen testing period (see front cover), within the past seven years;

OR

Three (3) years of relevant HRP experience*, completed on or before the first day of your chosen testing period (see front cover), within the past seven years;

OR

Currently certified as a CIP.

2. Adherence to the Code of Ethics for Certified IRB Professionals.

3. Completion and filing of an Application for the Certification Examination for IRB Professionals. Applicants who have never taken the exam must include a resume showing “relevant HRP experience.”

4. Payment of required fee.

* “Relevant IRB Experience” requires substantial and ongoing performance of IRB Office or IRB administrative functions, represented by a commitment to the area of human subjects protection, such as:

• Serving as a regulatory/technical resource during IRB meetings;
• Supporting IRB meetings;
• Preparing, reviewing and maintaining IRB correspondence and documentation;
• Providing required ancillary services to the IRB such as COI reporting and tracking consent form changes;
• Managing and/or supervising the office that provides support for the operation of the IRB;
• Developing and implementing IRB policies and procedures;
• Performing IRB directed reviews such as exemption determinations and expedited reviews;
• Performing monitoring activities (audits) for/directed by the IRB;
• Ongoing training of, and serving as a resource to staff, investigators, and IRB members on issues pertinent to the protection of human subjects; and
• Performing oversight activities of IRBs for or on behalf of a Common Rule agency.

Merely interacting with an IRB office on an occasional or even routine basis (as is common with sponsor personnel and study-site personnel working in study coordinator, study administrator, or investigator positions) does not meet the requirements for relevant HRPP experience for the CIP certification program.

Individuals who have questions about their eligibility should contact the CCIP prior to applying to sit for the exam. The CIP designation is not intended to be used as a means of qualification for HRPP related employment for applicants who do not have any prior HRP related work experience.

Questions?
Please contact us via email or telephone at 617.423.4112, ext. 0. Thank you!