Exams

The CIP® exam was developed by CCIP with substantial input from leading members of the IRB/HRPP community. The exam is administered by the Professional Testing Corporation, and is offered at least twice yearly at testing sites across the U.S. and Canada. CIP® certification is valid for three years, and can always be renewed via re-examination or can be renewed with continuing education credits once in a six-year period.

The CIP® examination consists of a maximum of 250 objective, multiple-choice questions and takes four hours to complete. The examination covers:

• Foundations and Concepts of IRB Practice
• Organizational and Personnel Knowledge
• IRB Functions and Operations
• Records and Reports

The CIP® exam is administered during an established two-week testing period on a daily basis, Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays, at computer-based testing facilities managed by PSI. Scheduling is done on a first-come, first-served basis.

To find a testing center near you, visit the PSI website or call 800.211.2754. Hours and days of availability vary across centers. Please note: you will not be able to schedule your examination appointment until you have completed your application (found at the end of the CIP® Handbook) and received an Eligibility Notice from PTC. Once you are ready to schedule your exam, visit the PSI Exams website or call 800.211.2754.

2013 Exam Dates

Fall Testing Period
Registration deadline: August 1
Exam dates: September 7-21

Fees

Application fees for the CIP® exam are:

PRIM&R Member – $335
Nonmember – $435

In order to obtain the special members only registration rate, PRIM&R members must provide proof of their membership. To do so, please follow these instructions.

To learn more about the benefits of PRIM&R membership, please click here.

Preparing for the Exam

If you would like to network with other professionals who are studying to take the exam, join the CIP study group on Facebook or the CIP group on LinkedIn.

The CIP® exam covers information determined by the CCIP to demonstrate a standard level of knowledge about human subjects research review under the rules and regulations of the United States. Candidates are tested on the common body of knowledge relevant to all IRBs, including behavioral and medical research, to ensure that certificate holders are trained to use their skills in a variety of IRB environments.

A handbook is available to help candidates prepare for the examination. The handbook lists the topics covered in the examination and provides suggested reference materials that are commonly found and used in IRB offices.  This handbook also contains the application for the exam.  In addition, the online practice test consists of 75 questions of the type that one might encounter on the actual exam. 

Finally, you can find additional information and strategies for preparing for the exam by reviewing this powerpoint developed and presented by Susan Delano at the 2011 Advancing Ethical Research Conference.

It is important to remember that the examination is based on federal requirements and interpretations of guidelines, not the policies and procedures often developed by individual institutions.

Getting the Results

Candidates are notified of whether they passed or failed the certification examination within six weeks of taking it. Test scores are released only to the individual candidate. The CCIP maintains a list of those individuals who are certified. Contact PTC to obtain your results and to learn more about the exam.

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