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CPIA® Recertification by Continuing Education Resources

Are you ready to think about recertifying via continuing education?

  • As soon as you become CPIA® certified, you can start to gather continuing education (CE) credits. Review our CPIA® Recertification webpage to find out more information regarding the recertification process and whether you qualify to recertify by continuing education.
  • Continue reading below to find tools and resources for making your recertification journey as simple and educational as possible. Here you will find the recertification process explained, short videos, articles and newsletters, helpful tips for a smoother recertification experience, links, upcoming recertification information sessions, and frequently asked questions. Check back often as new tools and resources are added as they become available.

Where to begin?

Review our acceptable continuing education activities

At least 40 of the 50 hours must be on topics within the CPIA® Body of Knowledge as it relates to IACUC administration. Visit CPIA® Recertification and read the "Guidelines At-A-Glance" and "Acceptable Continuing Education Credits" sections to learn more.

Attend learning opportunities that are eligible for PRIM&R CPIA® CE credits

You can begin earning continuing education credits after you pass the CPIA® examination. If you are recertifying by continuing education for a consecutive time, CE credits must be earned after the expiration date of the previous certification.

Maintain an ongoing record of the CPIA® CE credits you have earned

Continuing education credits can be earned throughout your five-year certification period. As soon as possible after completing eligible learning opportunities, log them on the Excel Tracker and locate the proper documentation.

Obtain documentation for each activity attended

Individuals are responsible for obtaining source documentation for recertification credit and for including copies of such documentation with their applications. Review our CPIA® Documentation webpage for guidelines on obtaining documentation.

Keep track of your recertification materials

Keep your recertification materials together in one place where you will have continuous access to it throughout those five years. It is a good idea to save the materials in a few different places in case one source is no longer available.

Watch a Recertification Information Session

Short Videos about Recertification

  • Where to find information about CPIA® recertification on our website
How to complete the CPIA® continuing education Excel Tracker
How to submit CPIA® recertification by CE materials

Light Reading

  • Your recertification journey starts here—let our CPIA® Short Articles walk with you every step of the way.
  • Subscribe to "PRIM&R This Week," a weekly update covering all things PRIM&R—including certification! Stay in the loop on certification info sessions, quick tips, and more. Check out a June 2025 issue for a preview!

Links to Recertification Information and Materials

CPIA® Recertification by Continuing Education Information Session

If you're due for CPIA® recertification by continuing education and have questions about the process, where to find CE) information, what to submit, how to complete your CE Tracker, or are looking for tips for a smoother application experience, watch this brand new recorded information session! Check back here for upcoming live info session dates and times.

We Want to Hear from You!

We want to make sure our info sessions are helpful! Have a question or topic you would like answered or covered in a future recertification by continuing education info session? Fill out our feedback form! The input you provide will be reviewed and may be included in future information sessions and/or in electronic publications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to do to recertify by continuing education?

In order to recertify by continuing education, you will need to submit:
Once you’ve gathered all components, submit your materials for review by uploading them via this link (log into your PRIM&R profile when prompted). Sending everything at once helps us review your materials efficiently and makes the process smoother. If the file is too large, you can compress your files into a .zip folder. Once your materials are reviewed and approved you will receive an email with a direct link where you can either pay the fee online through your PRIM&R profile or generate an invoice to be downloaded for payment. If you prefer to pay via check, please make out the payment to PRIM&R and send it to the PO Box listed below: P.O. Box 849502 Boston, MA 02284-9502

Am I required to provide documentation for all of my continuing education activities?

You are responsible for obtaining source documentation for each continuing education activity listed on your Excel CE tracker and for including copies of such documentation when you submit your materials. Common examples of acceptable documentation include certificates of attendance or post-program emails confirming your participation. Visit our CPIA® Documentation webpage for additional guidelines.

I attended CPIA® eligible sessions at previous PRIM&R conferences. How do I access my certificates of attendance?

You can access past conference certificates here by clicking on the My Activity tab, and then selecting the Content tab.
For PRIMR23/SBER23, PRIMR24, PRIMR25 in order to access your certificates of attendance, both the individual sessions and overall conference evaluations must have been completed by the deadline. If you did not complete the evaluations and do not see your certificates of attendance for these conferences, visit our CPIA® Documentation webpage for instructions on how to download and fill out the Conference Session Transcript.
Submit the conference certificate of attendance as documentation with the Excel CE tracker. For guidance on submitting your recertification by CE materials, watch this video.
When filling out the Excel CE tracker, enter the conference year as one line with the total amount of eligible credit hours earned. Refer to the “CEU Tracker Examples” tab for a visual of how to enter a conference on the Excel CE tracker. There is no need to re-enter each individual session into the Excel CE Tracker. For guidance on completing your Excel CE tracker, watch this video

What is suitable documentation for online learning opportunities that do not provide a certificate of attendance?

Suitable documentation for online learning opportunities that don’t issue certificates of attendance include: copies of sign-in attendance sheets; logs detailing the program title, date of participation, and length of the program that are signed by a supervisor; emails confirming attendance after the conclusion of the program.

I have been attending programs that qualify for CE credit. How do I determine how many credit hours each program provides?

Credit hours are awarded on an hour-to-hour (1:1) basis, so every hour of an eligible program is equivalent to one continuing education credit. Credits are quartered in .25 increments, meaning every 15 minutes is equal to .25 credit hours.

I attended a program that did not specify if it was eligible for CPIA® CE credits. Can I still include it on my Excel CE tracker?

You can include the program on your Excel CE tracker, but its eligibility will need to be confirmed before it can count toward your recertification. We recommend submitting additional CE hours to ensure you still meet the requirement in case not all programs listed on your Excel tracker are eligible for credit.
If CPIA® CE eligibility is not specified, you may:
  • Contact the sponsor to find out if the program was reviewed by the CPIA® Council for CE credit.
  • Submit a summary of the program or the slides (if available) with your complete recertification application so the Council can determine eligibility as they are reviewing your application.
If a program already states it is eligible for CPIA® CE credit, there is no need to submit extra documentation beyond your proof of attendance.

When should I submit my recertification materials? If I submit early, would this change my next expiration date?

  • If your certification expiration date is June 30, the deadline to submit your materials is June 1.
  • If your expiration date is December 31, the deadline to submit your materials is December 1.
  • It is not recommended to wait until the last day to submit; give yourself a buffer in case any issues arise. The review can take up to three weeks and incomplete applications can take longer.
  • Candidates are able to submit their recertification materials starting 1 year prior to their certification expiration date. Submitting early does not change the next certification period end date.
Visit our About CPIA® Recertification webpage to find a recertification timeline table in the Deadlines and Fees section.

How often do I need to recertify?

CPIA® credential holders must recertify every five years. Recertification must be accomplished prior to the the certification expiration date to avoid a lapse. If the lapse is greater than six months, you will have to take and pass the examination in order to reinstate your credential.

Do I need to recertify by exam if I have already taken and passed the exam?

  • Recertification may be achieved either by:
  • Retaking and passing the CPIA® examination, or
  • Completing 50 hours of eligible continuing education (CE) hours as described in the CPIA® recertification guidelines and submitting a completed Excel CE Tracker and all supporting documentation. Recertification materials can be uploaded using this link (log into your PRIM&R profile when prompted).

How much is the recertification fee? Do I have to be a PRIM&R member to recertify?

The recertification fee is $425 for all candidates, whether you recertify via exam or continuing education. You do not have to be a PRIM&R member to hold a CPIA® certification or to recertify your credential; however, there are plenty of benefits to becoming a PRIM&R member which can be reviewed on our membership page!