CPI Certification

Clinical research professional with 3,000 hours of verifiable work experience are eligible to sit for the CPI^® Exam. Complete eligibility criteria is defined in the Academy’s policy manual.

Education: Doctorate level degree (DDS, MD or equivalent degree such as DO, MBBS or MBChB, PhD, PharmD, DNP) or; A licensed Physician’s Assistant or Nurse Practitioner or Sub Investigator who has served in a PI role.

Experience: Proof of employment as a PI or Sub-1 is required for at least two (2) of the most recent five (5) years*. Acceptable documents include:

• Regulatory authority document verifying your role as a Principal Investigator on the clinical trial being submitted in support of eligibility

What Qualifies as Work Experience?

• Work related to human subject research

• Paid contractual agreement – employer/employee

• Can be verified by ACRP through employer

What is Excluded from Work Experience?

• Any work that is part of a degree track or education program

• Any experience older than ten years

• Internships paid or unpaid

Clinical research professionals with 1,500 hours of verifiable work experience and a clinical research degree are eligible to sit for the CPI^® Exam. Complete eligibility criteria is defined in the Academy’s policy manual.

Education: Doctorate level degree (DDS, MD or equivalent degree such as DO, MBBS or MBChB, PhD, PharmD, DNP) or; A licensed Physician’s Assistant or Nurse Practitioner or Sub Investigator who has served in a PI role.

Proof of employment as a PI or Sub-1 is required for at least one (1) of the most recent five (5) years*. Acceptable documents include:

• Regulatory authority document verifying your role as a Principal Investigator on the clinical trial being submitted in support of eligibility

What Qualifies as a Clinical Research Degree?

• Any degree awarded in clinical research from a CHEA accredited institution

• Major in clinical research

What Does Not Qualify?

• Any degree not in clinical research (biology, psychology, public health, epidemiology, nursing, doctorate)

• Graduate certificate programs

The CPI^® exam consists of 125 multiple choice questions that must be answered within 180 minutes.

The exam is referenced only to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Guidelines. No other regulatory framework is tested, including country-specific regulations (i.e, FDA or EMA).

The following are the only references for which the CPI^® Certification exam content can be supported:

• CPI^® Exam Detailed Content Outline >

• Guideline for Good Clinical Practice E6 (R2) >

• Definitions and Standards for Expedited Reporting (E2A) >

• General Considerations for Clinical Trials (E8) >

• Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials (E9) >

• Clinical Trials in Pediatric Population (E11) >

• The Declaration of Helsinki (DoH) >

The Global CPI^® Exam Committee uses psychometrically sound practices to develop Certified Principal Investigator (CPI) examinations that meet the current test specifications as determined by the most recent Job Task Analysis (JTA).

Review the Detailed Content Outline and make sure your experience and work hours are appropriate, as outlined in the Eligibility tab.

We also strongly encourage you to review the entire ACRP Certification Handbook, which provides full details about every facet of ACRP Certification.

Create a free ACRP account so you can begin the application process. Follow the on-screen prompts to enter any requested information and documentation.

If you already have an ACRP account, please proceed to step three.

Create Account >

You’re almost there! Please note, applications selected for audit will undergo a formal review by ACRP’s subject matter experts. In most instances, you will receive a status update about your application within 7 business days.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ACRP will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. Please complete this special accommodations form for submission with your application before proceeding.

Apply for Your Exam

ACRP’s testing partner PSI offers in-person testing, as well as on-demand remote testing available 24 hours a day, every day, during the testing windows.

Watch these videos to learn what to expect from each option before scheduling your exam.

Find Test Centers Near You >

Schedule Your In-Person Exam >

Schedule Your Remote Exam >

Check System Requirements >

The best way to prepare for the CPI^® exam is to fully understand the scope of the exam content and its references.

Please be sure to thoroughly review the following:

• CPI^® Exam Detailed Content Outline >

• Guideline for Good Clinical Practice E6 (R2) >

• Definitions and Standards for Expedited Reporting (E2A) >

• General Considerations for Clinical Trials (E8) >

• Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials (E9) >

• Clinical Trials in Pediatric Population (E11) >

• The Declaration of Helsinki (DoH) >

• ACRP Certification Handbook >

REMEMBER: The exam is referenced only to the International Conference on Harmonization Guidelines. No other regulatory framework is tested, including country-specific regulations (i.e, FDA or EMA).

We also recommend leaning on your community! Thousands of ACRP Certified members have been in your shoes. They are active community members and always willing to share tips and advice for ACRP exam prep.

Visit the ACRP Community >

ACRP offers a variety of training and continuing education programs focused on the key ICH guidelines covered in the CPI^® exam.

Learn More >

Exam results are shared immediately at the conclusion of your exam, but PSI will send you an email with your full score report within 24 hours.

Your ACRP account will reflect your results within 3 weeks of your exam date.

Congratulations! You just passed a major milestone on your professional journey and are now a member of the elite club of ACRP Certified clinical research professionals.

Keep an eye on your email because you will soon receive information from our digital badging partner Credly about claiming your digital badge and how you can use it to tout your accomplishment. Also learn how to use your new credential by reviewing the Certification Mark policy.

You have 2 years to keep your certification in good standing by continuing your professional development, and we’ll be right there with you every step of the way. In the meantime, we highly recommend you review all the details about Maintenance of Certification. Don’t leave it to the last minute!

Don’t worry. It happens to the best of us. Give it another try!

Refer to your ACRP Certification Examination Results email or the ACRP Certification Handbook for guidance on the next steps in your certification journey.