Healthcare Certifications for Professional Growth
Advance your career and strengthen professional capability with IHI certifications. These globally recognized credentials support professional development, and validate knowledge and competencies in areas that matter across today’s healthcare landscape, including patient safety, human factors in healthcare, age-friendly care, and clinical health equity.
Explore IHI Certifications
The Value of IHI Certifications
IHI offers four psychometrically sound certification exams, supported by review courses that help professionals prepare, deepen their knowledge, and demonstrate proficiency.
Dedicated to patient safety, human factors, age-friendly healthcare, and clinical health equity, these certifications validate specialized competence, strengthen professional credibility, and give organizations confidence in their workforce capabilities.
Certified professionals report:
Individual Professionals
Attaining certification demonstrates proficiency, strengthens credibility in a chosen discipline, and positions professionals to differentiate themselves and advance their careers in a competitive job market.
Organizations
Certified professionals represent validated knowledge, skills, and critical competencies relevant to today’s healthcare challenges and workforce development priorities.
Find the Certification That Best Supports Your Career Goals
IHI offers four professional certifications designed for healthcare professionals at different career stages and across distinct areas of practice: patient safety, human factors, age-friendly care, and clinical health equity.
Use the comparison guide to explore who each certification is designed for, the competence it validates, and how the options differ, so you can identify the credential that best aligns with your goals.
Certification, Certificate, or Micro-credential?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Understanding these distinctions can help individuals and organizations choose the credential that best supports their career goals.
Learn more about credential types →
Certification: Validate Your Competence
Earn an industry-recognized credential that confirms your knowledge and competence through a formal assessment.
Certificate Program: Build Knowledge & Skills
Complete structured education that develops practical knowledge and supports continued professional growth.
Micro-credential: Develop Targeted Skills
Gain recognition for focused learning in a specific topic through a shorter educational experience.
Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS, CPPS, CPHFH, CPAFH
President, Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety
President, Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety
"As healthcare continues to evolve, organizations need more than individual expertise. They need teams with shared competencies and a common language for improvement. IHI certifications help build that foundation while recognizing professionals who are committed to advancing safer, more equitable, and more effective care."
Rollin J. "Terry" Fairbanks, MD, MS, CPPS, CPHFH
Chair, Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety
Chair, Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety
“Improving healthcare requires more than good intentions. It requires professionals who understand how to apply evidence, systems thinking, and improvement methods to complex challenges. IHI certifications recognize that competence and help organizations build the expertise needed to improve outcomes for patients, families, and communities.”
The Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine Experience
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine is integrating the Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS™) credential into medical training, giving students early exposure to safety science, systems thinking, and quality improvement.
Additional Resources
Build a Stronger Safety Culture Through Certification
See how Philips used standardized training and CPPS certification to strengthen safety culture, accountability, and shared competence.
Improve Age-Friendly Care Through Pharmacy
Learn how pharmacists support all 4Ms to improve coordination, health outcomes, and what matters most to older adults.
Design Safer Healthcare Systems for Everyone
Learn how human factors principles improve system design, support the workforce, and reduce preventable harm.
Have Questions About IHI Certifications?
Whether you need help choosing the right certification or have questions about eligibility, exam preparation, or registration, the IHI Certification Team is here to help.
Contact us