Certified IRB Professional

2022 CIP Program Updates

The CIP Handbook and the 2022 exam application will be available in January 2022.  We have some exciting changes to the CIP program to share with you!

Continuous Testing!

The CIP exam will be offered on a continuous basis beginning on June 15, 2022.

This means that candidates will have a 90-day window—starting two weeks after their exam application is approved—in which they can schedule their exam appointment and take the exam.

Candidates who are unsuccessful in passing the exam will be eligible to re-take their test 90 days after their first exam attempt.

Modified Exam Form!

The CIP exam will still be 130 questions. Of these 130 questions, 115 will be scored and 15 questions will be unscored pre-test items. Candidates won’t know which questions will be scored, and which will be unscored.

Instant Scoring!

Candidates will receive their exam scores by email and through PSI’s website within an hour of testing.

Upgraded Platforms!

Candidates will be taking their exams on the Bridge 2 platform, which will improve their user experience. Bridge 2:

• Uses less bandwidth than its predecessor platform, which means there’s greater connection stability for candidates who rely on Wi-Fi.
• Streamlines and speeds up the candidate check-in process.
• Integrates tech support onto the exam form itself, via a chat tool, just like the chat tool exam candidates and proctors use to communicate with one another.

Candidates will also be using PSI’s upgraded exam scheduling application, which makes it easier and more user friendly for candidates to schedule and reschedule their exam appointments.

Recertification Notes

Candidates due to recertify by exam by June 30, 2022 will receive information from PRIM&R about an extension for taking their exams in December 2021.

Candidates who initially certify between June 1-June 30 will have a certification end date of June 30.

Candidates who initially certify between July 1-December 31 will have a certification end date of December 31.

The exam eligibility guidelines and the Body of Knowledge/Content Outline will remain unchanged from 2021. 

Why Become Certified?

The CIP credential:

• Promotes the ethical conduct of research by strengthening the administration of human research protection programs (HRPPs).
• Validates an individual’s professional experience and mastery of the body of knowledge determined by national experts to be essential to competent HRPP and IRB administrative practices
• Encourages personal growth and professional development
• Provides an expanded array of career advancement opportunities
• Strengthens the quality of HRPPs by certifying a cadre of committed and educated individuals

Where to Start

• Review the eligibility guidelines to see if you're eligible to sit for the exam.
• Download the CIP Handbook to learn more and start the certification process.
• Download the CIP^® Body of Knowledge/Content Outline, which details the content covered in the CIP exam, as well as the CIP Exam Resources and References.