Fifteen years ago, PRIM&R established the Certified Professional in IACUC Administration (CPIA) credential with the primary goal of improving the quality of animal care and use programs nationwide. Since then, our community has blossomed with 500 certified individuals, all looking to demonstrate their high level of dedication to IACUC administration as a profession.

As a part of our mission to maintain the high standards of the CPIA program, we must ensure our eligibility guidelines and exam content outline reflect the day-to-day responsibilities of our constituents. The CPIA credential should accurately represent your knowledge and expertise. We understand roles and responsibilities change over time and it is our responsibility to evolve with the field.

To achieve this, PRIM&R periodically develops a job analysis. The biggest component of this process is a survey that identifies the tasks and knowledge reflective of the roles of IACUC management and administrative personnel. PRIM&R and the Council for Certified Professionals in IACUC Administration (CPIA Council) urge everyone involved with the daily management and oversight of IACUCs to lend their expertise to this project by participating in this survey. Whether you’re currently certified, interested in certifying, or would just like your voice to be heard, we encourage you to participate and share this opportunity with your colleagues. The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and will be open through July 12.

The data from the job analysis survey will provide a blueprint for the CPIA Council to realign the exam eligibility guidelines to ensure they are inclusive of those responsible for IACUC administrative functions, and to shape the content outline of the CPIA exam so it is reflective of current practices. For our current CPIAs, participation in this survey will qualify for two continuing education credits towards your recertification. All participants will have the opportunity to enter a raffle to win a new Amazon Kindle!

The survey is managed by PRIM&R’s designated contractor, PSI Services. Your individual responses will be kept confidential and will be combined with those of other respondents. Aggregated data from this survey will be published in a report that summarizes the process used to develop the specifications for the CPIA certification exam. If you have any questions, please contact certification@primr.org. We look forward to gaining your insight.