by Amy Davis, senior director for programs and publications

The Council for Certification of IRB Professionals (CCIP) held its annual meeting two months ago in Portland, Oregon. CCIP is a group of PRIM&R volunteers who establish Certified IRB Professional (CIP) policy and develop new exam questions. Every year, the group meets to review exam results, new exam questions, and program policies.

At this year’s meeting, the CCIP determined that the 2012 CIP exam results were consistent with the average historical pass/fail rates from past years. This information is important evidence of the exam’s reliability and validity. The Council also reviewed new exam questions for 2013, and set the dates for the 2013 test periods as follows:

• Spring Testing Period
  Registration deadline: January 15
  Exam dates: March 2-16

• Fall Testing Period
  Registration deadline: August 1
  Exam dates: September 7-21 

The Council is pleased to report that there will be no increase to exam fees in 2013.

The Council made slight revisions to the CIP eligibility criteria. For specific wording changes, interested applicants are advised to consult the 2013 CIP handbook on PRIM&R’s website. The eligibility change is intended to recognize the evolving roles of staff within human subjects protections programs. Under the new criteria, individuals who have relevant experience in areas of the human subjects protection program, beyond the institutional review board (IRB), may be eligible to pursue CIP certification.

Another change to program policies relates to recertification. The Council decided that effective for those who recertify in 2013, Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP) conference sessions will be treated similarly to those educational programs sponsored by the Office for Human Research Protections, in that continuing education credits earned from AAHRPP educational sessions will be deemed issued by a “recognized accrediting body” so long as the content falls within the CIP Body of Knowledge and exceeds the basic level of education for IRB professionals.

Finally, the Council considered strategies for leading the CIP program through the transition to new federal regulations should revisions to the Common Rule be finalized in 2013. Such plans will be shared as needed. In sum, the Council is confident that the program is strong, and will continue to thrive in the year ahead.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the CCIP or these program updates.