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About CIP® Recertification

CIPs must recertify every three years. Recertification must be accomplished prior to the certification expiration date to avoid a lapse. If the lapse in certification is greater than six months, a CIP must take and pass the examination in order to recertify. You must maintain a current certification if you wish to continue using the CIP® credential after your name. Recertification may be achieved either by:
CIPs may recertify by continuing education twice in a nine-year period before being required to recertify by examination. Once an individual maintains their certification for over ten consecutive years, they may recertify solely through continuing education and do not need to sit for the examination. For guidance on submitting a recertification application:
Deadlines & Fees
Those who became certified (or recertified) in 2021 are due to recertify in 2024.
Recertification by Continuing Education
Certification Date
Recertification Application Due Date
Certification Expiration Date
Spring 2021
June 1, 2024
June 30, 2024
Fall 2021
December 1, 2024
December 31, 2024
Recertification by Examination
Candidates may submit their exam applications on a rolling basis. After candidates’ exam applications are approved, they will be sent an email eligibility notice that contains their 90 day authorization window in which they may test.
Certification Date
Date of Testing must be no later than
Certification Expiration Date
Spring 2021
June 30, 2024
June 30, 2024
Fall 2021
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2024
Review the CIP® Exam Handbook and our CIP® Exams webpage for more information on exam content and exam delivery options. If you are ready to recertify by exam, submit your application here.
Member Fee*
Nonmember Fee
$350
$475
*PRIM&R Membership includes a variety of benefits, including discounts on PRIM&R programs and certification fees. Learn more on our membership benefits page.
Recertification by Continuing Education
Those wishing to recertify by CE should download and complete the CIP recertification by CE application and the CE Tracker (recertification candidates should complete the CEU tracker tab on this spreadsheet; credit hours will automatically populate in the credit hours tab).
CIP® Recertification by Continuing Education Documentation
Download the Recertification ApplicationDownload the CE Tracker

Acceptable Continuing Education Activities

CIPs must complete 30 documented hours of CE in topics within the CIP® Body of Knowledge/Content Outline that are beyond the initial, basic, or fundamental level of knowledge. The Council encourages CIPs to complete CE activities representing a diversity of topics.
All CE credits must be earned after the date the examination was passed, but before the date the certification expires.  For those recertifying by CE for a consecutive time, CE credits for the second recertification cycle must be earned after the expiration date of the first certification.
Credit hours are awarded on an hour to hour (1:1) basis, meaning that every hour of classroom learning is equivalent to one continuing education credit. Credits are quartered in .25 increments, meaning every 15 minutes is equal to .25 credit hour.
At least 15 of the 30 hours must either:
Carry credits issued by a recognized accrediting body
Have received advance recognition from the CIP Council
  • Examples:
  • ACCME
  • ACPE
  • Nursing associations, professional organizations, or universities
  • Examples:
  • PRIM&R annual conference and workshops
  • PRIM&R webinars
  • AAHRPP annual conference (no pre-conference programs)
  • OHRP community forums
Acceptable continuing education credits for the 30 hours may include:
Programs sponsored by Common Rule signatories, including:
Programs sponsored by associations, including:
  • Examples:
  • DOE
  • FDA
  • NIH
  • OHRP
  • ORI
  • VA
  • Examples:
  • PRIM&R
  • AAHRPP
  • ACRP
  • CITI (select courses)
  • DIA
  • NCURA
  • SoCRA
  • SRA
  • Short courses or intensive courses on topics within the CIP® Body of Knowledge sponsored by bioethics centers, institutes, or universities.
  • Local and regional seminars, conferences, or presentations on topics within the CIP® Body of Knowledge.
  • Webinars/webcasts
  • Formal college courses such as research bioethics, responsible conduct of research, research design, grant design, research methodology, quantitative and qualitative research methods, field research techniques, and statistics; courses must be successfully completed. Each three-credit or semester course is equivalent to 10 CE credits. Please see documentation section for additional information.
  • Web-based courses that are designed for continuing education or have assigned CE hours, other than programs used for initial training.
  • Self-study programs including (but not limited to) books or journals with documented quizzes, tests, and/or exercises. Note: Functioning as a pre-publication reviewer of journal articles of any type, regardless of whether CE credits are issued for the activity, is not considered self study in this context and, therefore, does not qualify for CIP CE credits.

Unacceptable Continuing Education Activities



  • Topics outside the CIP® Body of Knowledge/Content Outline
  • Programs an individual develops and/or instructs
  • Disease/condition management topics
  • CPR training
  • Accreditation preparation activities
  • Hours spent attending IRB meetings
  • Education that is at an initial, basic, or fundamental level

Submitting Your Recertification by CE Application

Recertification candidates should email their recertification application, documentation, and CE tracker to certification@primr.org for fastest processing. Please note that candidates’ credentials are valid during the review process.
If you are recertifying by check, please make out the payment to PRIM&R and send it to the PO Box listed below. Please email your application, documentation, and CE tracker to certification@primr.org and note that payment is forthcoming.
Payment Address: P.O. Box 849502 Boston, MA 02284-9502Email: certification@primr.org 

Denial of Recertification

Those who are denied recertification by CE because of improper/incomplete documentation may appeal that decision by writing to the Council for Certification of IRB Professionals, in care of PRIM&R. The letter must clearly describe the reasons why the candidate believes that recertification was improperly denied and include all documentation to support such a claim. This appeal must be postmarked no later than 30 days after the postmark date of the original denial letter. The appeal will be considered by the CIP® Council and written notice of the final decision will be sent to the candidate. There are no refunds if an audit reveals a problem with the application.