CPIAs must complete 50 documented hours of continuing education (CE) that adhere to the recertification guidelines listed below.
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 most recently recertification cycle must be earned after the renewal date of the preceding certification term.
Credit hours for Categories 1 and 2 are awarded on an hour to hour (1:1) basis, meaning that every hour of classroom learning is equivalent to one continue education credit. Credits are quartered in .25 increments, meaning every 15 minutes is equal to .25 credit hour.
As of June 2020, the CPIA Council has lifted the credit restriction for Category 2: Online Training
and Webinars. This allows recertification candidates to earn all their credit hours by participating in eligible webinars, online courses, and virtual meetings. Candidates must still earn 50 eligible continuing education hours in order to recertify; credit limits for other recertification by continuing education categories remain in place.
No more than 30 credits may be earned in a single category with the exception of category 2 (online training and webinars); there are additional restrictions noted under categories 9 (exam items) and 12 (local or regional IACUC administration-related networking group meetings). The Council for Certified Professionals in IACUC Administration has the discretion to determine the
acceptability of continuing education credits.
Acceptable continuing education credits for the 50 hours may include:
| Category |
Description |
Credit Hours Earned |
| 1 |
Attendance at IACUC administration-related educational programs |
1 per hour attended |
| 2 |
Participation in IACUC administration-related online training, conferences, and webinars |
1 per hour attended |
| 3 |
Participation as an invited speaker in an IACUC administration-related educational program sponsored by a local or national organization |
1 per half hour presented |
| 4 |
Service as a site visitor (e.g. AAALAC or OLAW) |
5 per site visit per day |
| 5 |
Authorship of articles relevant to IACUC administration in peer-reviewed journals (e.g. ILAR, JAALAS, Lab Animal) |
10 per published article |
| 6 |
First authorship or presenter of posters relevant to IACUC administration presented at a meeting |
5 per poster |
| 7 |
Authorship of opinion articles or articles which are not peer-reviewed in journals and are related to IACUC administration (e.g., Contribute an article to ALN or publish a response in Lab Animal magazine's "Protocol Review" column) |
2 per published article |
| 8 |
Authorship of published book chapters relevant to IACUC administration |
15 per chapter |
| 9 |
Item writing for the CPIA exam 2 per 5 questions accepted |
(maximum of 10 credits) |
| 10 |
Attendance at a CPIA exam item review session |
10 per entire session |
| 11 |
Retired |
|
| 12 |
Participation in an IACUC administration-related local or regional networking group* |
1 per 2 hours attended (maximum of 15 credits) |
| 13 |
Participation in a self-study program, such as PRIM&R’s Research Ethics
Digest animal care and use quiz, AALAS Learning Library modules, and CITI modules. |
1 per quiz; .5 hours for each module (maximum of 10 credits |
*Candidates must provide either a certificate of attendance signed by the host/leader of the meeting showing topics and total hours, or a copy of the minutes from the meeting showing attendees, topics, and total hours.