Exams
The CIP® exam was developed by the Council for Certification of IRB Professionals (CCIP) with substantial input from leading members of the HRPP/IRB community. The exam is administered by PSI/AMP and is offered twice yearly at testing sites around the world.
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 those overseeing behavioral and biomedical research, to ensure that credential holders are trained to use their skills in a variety of IRB environments. Download the CIP Body of Knowledge/Content Outline, detailing the content covered in the CIP exam, as well as the CIP Exam Resources and References.
The CIP examination consists of a maximum of 250 objective, multiple-choice questions, takes four hours to complete, and covers:
- Foundations and concepts of IRB practice
- Organizational and personnel knowledge
- IRB functions and operations
- Records and reports
Note: Prior to each testing year, the CIP exam is reviewed and updated to ensure it reflects current regulations and guidance. Therefore, all questions on the 2019 exam will be consistent with the pre-2018 Common Rule and any final guidance that has been released at the time of exam review. Due to continued lack of official guidance as of July 9, 2018, the 2019 CIP exam will not include questions resulting from new provisions of, or new concepts introduced in, the revised Common Rule.