The CPPS credential establishes patient safety competency standards and elevates the professional stature of health care professionals who meet knowledge requirements in safety science, human factors engineering, and the practice of safe care. Certification requires a combination of education and experience, as well as successful completion of the evidence-based certification exam.

A certification demonstrates a validated level of professional competence through a formal, rigorous assessment process. Earning a certification—such as the Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) – confirms that an individual possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform in a defined professional role. Certification is a form of credentialing, where a qualified body grants recognition to individuals who meet predetermined, standardized criteria.

IHI certifications (CPPS, CPHFH, CPAFH, CPCHE) are awarded through psychometrically sound examinations developed using rigorous, evidence-based methods. Exam domains and content areas are defined through a Job Analysis (Study of Practice) and are updated approximately every 3-5 years to reflect current practice. Exam development, maintenance, and global delivery are conducted in partnership with PSI, a professional testing organization. Oversight is provided by the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS).

The IHI Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) credential is an NCCA Accredited Program, signifying compliance with nationally recognized standards for certification quality and governance. Accreditation is a time-limited, formal recognition granted after verification that rigorous standards are met.

A certificate program is a non-degree educational program that provides instruction and training to help participants acquire specific knowledge, skills, or competencies aligned with defined learning outcomes. When a certificate program includes an assessment of learning, it is referred to as an assessment-based certificate program. 

A certificate signifies successful completion of a course or program, but it does not independently validate the ability to perform in a professional role or demonstrate professional competence in the same way certification does.

For more information on the difference between a certification and a certificate, visit the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.).

A micro-credential is a formal recognition awarded to an individual who has demonstrated a specific, focused set of knowledge, skills, or abilities, often tied to a narrowly defined competency or skill area. Micro-credentials are typically short, focused learning experiences that are competency-based and delivered as digital badges or other portable formats. They are designed to support targeted skill development and may complement or stack toward broader learning pathways, such as certificates or certifications

The CPPS examination is administered by the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS). CBPPS was formed to oversee a rigorous and comprehensive credentialing process that attests to patient safety competencies and expertise. The board's chief responsibility is the development and administration of an evidence-based examination that provides candidates with a process by which they can demonstrate their competency in patient safety science and application.

A number of resources are available to support candidates preparing for the CPPS examination, including a detailed exam content outline (ECO), resource list, self-assessment exam (SAE) or practice exam, and review course. 

The exam content outline (ECO) provides an overview of the content domains, knowledge areas, and skills that will be evaluated in the examination. It can serve as a study guide outline for your independent study and preparation. The resource list includes books, journals, articles, and other references that can supplement your review of certain topic areas you wish to explore more deeply.

The SAE is offered through our testing partner, PSI, and may be purchased on the PSI website. The practice exam should be regarded as a diagnostic tool to assess strengths and weaknesses, rather than a study guide for the examination. Upon purchase, the practice exam is available for a period of 60 days from the date of purchase, or until all 50 questions have been answered. At the time of completion, candidates receive a numerical score for each content area, as well as a summary including each question in its entirety, along with their response and the correct answer for each.

IHI also offers a CPPS Review Course in various formats throughout the year (in-person, self-paced, and live webinar). This course can help participants prepare for the exam by reviewing domain content areas and test-taking strategies.

CBPPS does not endorse resources designed to prepare candidates to take the certification exam. Completion of the SAE and/or Review Course is optional and not required to take or pass the certification exam. Taking the SAE and/or Review Course does not guarantee a passing score or improved performance on the exam.   

The IHI Open School ​Patient Safety Curriculum is an important foundational course in patient safety science, but it is not meant to be preparatory for the exam.

No. All certification materials, including slides, examination content, and practice exams, are the intellectual property and copyrighted works of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). These materials are provided solely for your individual use and may not be shared, distributed, reproduced, transmitted, or used for any purpose outside of this course without prior written permission from IHI.

Partnering with colleagues to prepare for the certification exam can be a helpful way to prepare. If you are interested in a group enrollment in the Review Course or other program elements, please contact us at certification@ihi.org. 

For inquiries about partnering with IHI or obtaining permission to use or distribute these materials, we welcome you to contact us at certification@ihi.org.

Candidates for the CPPS credential are those whose current or future professional responsibilities include patient safety practices as an integral component. In addition, candidates must possess academic and professional experience at one of the following levels:

• Baccalaureate degree or higher plus three years of experience (includes time spent in clinical rotations and residency programs) in a health care setting or with a provider of services to the health care industry
• Associate degree or equivalent plus five years of experience (includes time spent in clinical rotations) in a health care setting or with a provider of services to the health care industry

CBPPS randomly audits a limited number of applications per year to confirm eligibility requirements are met. If your exam application is selected for audit, please be prepared to provide documentation attesting to your education and experience.

Candidates are tested on four core patient safety domains: 

• Culture
• Systems Thinking, Human Factors Engineering, and Design
• Safety Risks and Responses
• Performance Measurement, Analysis, Improvement and Monitoring. 

The vast majority of questions test application and analysis, while a small percentage test for recall. Download and review the CPPS Exam Content Outline. 

The CPPS exam fee is $549. For international candidates, the CPPS exam fee is US $649.

Many employers are willing to financially support employees looking to grow professionally; certification candidates should reach out to their supervisor and/or human resources department to inquire if such funding is available. The following resources are available to certification candidates looking to request professional development funding from their employer.

• CPPS Certification Justification Letter Template
• Expenses and Benefits Worksheet

CBPPS sponsors a small number of annual scholarships each year. Any professional working in or around health care who is able to demonstrate need and meets the exam eligibility requirements is encouraged to apply. Application dates, requirements, and details can be found on our program homepage.

The CPPS examination is administered by appointment only at a PSI Assessment Center or online via live remote proctor. Please review our Candidate Handbook for complete details regarding certification processes and policies. Instructions to register for and schedule your examination are below:

• Visit the PSI certification website
• Use the link in the top right corner to sign in or create an account
• Click on View Available Tests
• Select Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS)™ Examination
• Click the Apply Now button
• Complete the fields in the application. If you need to save your progress to return later, there is an option to Save Application at the bottom of the page. When finished, click the Submit Application button.

Once your application has been submitted, it will need to be reviewed. This can take up to two weeks. Upon approval, you will receive an e-mail confirming your eligibility and inviting you to schedule your test.

Use the same e-mail and password that you created when applying to access your account. You will be able to view available tests, select the test for which you are eligible, and schedule.

Candidates can select either "Test Center" or "Remote Online Proctored" delivery mode for their examination. Additional information on Online Proctoring:

• ​Live Remote Online Proctoring Rules​
• Live Remote Online Proctoring FAQs

Please be advised: Candidates utilizing remote proctoring services are responsible for ensuring access to a suitable computer. Please closely review the System Compatibility Requirements prior to testing.

Using an employer-issued computer for the remote proctored exam, even one which passes the System Compatibility Check, is highly discouraged due to administrator firewalls and IT security systems which frequently prevent exam launch. 

Failing to adhere to these instructions may result in exam launch failures; in such cases, candidates are responsible for all fees associated with rescheduling their exam.

You can watch these brief videos for the PSI Test Center Experience​ and PSI Online Proctoring Experience.

Please be advised: Candidates utilizing remote proctoring services are responsible for ensuring access to a suitable computer. Please closely review the System Compatibility Requirements prior to testing.

Using an employer-issued computer for the remote proctored exam, even one which passes the System Compatibility Check, is highly discouraged due to administrator firewalls and IT security systems which frequently prevent exam launch. 

Failing to adhere to these instructions may result in exam launch failures; in such cases, candidates are responsible for all fees associated with rescheduling their exam.

If you test at an in-person testing center, you will receive a score report indicating pass/fail status at the conclusion of the test session. International candidates will not receive instant score reports: results will be sent within two business days after completion of the examination to the candidate’s address of record. International candidates may also view score reports through the online PSI portal.

​If you test virtually with a remotely proctored exam, you receive a score report indicating pass/fail status at the conclusion of the test session regardless of your geographic location.  

For those who pass the examination, CBPPS recognizes certified status with a mailed certificate and a certification pin.  

The passing score for the examination is 500. Scores ranges from 200 to 800. The passing score for the examination is determined by using a process known as the Angoff method, in which experts in the field estimate the difficulty of each item on the examination for the minimally qualified candidate. These judgments are averaged to determine the minimum passing score, which represents the amount of knowledge a minimally qualified candidate would likely demonstrate on the examination. The results of these ratings are presented to the exam development committee to determine the final passing score.  

The pass rate for the CPPS exam is around 75%.

Unsuccessful candidates may retake the examination after a 30-day waiting period. The candidate is required to reapply to PSI and remit all applicable fees and documentation. The candidate may retake the exam up to three (3) times in a one-year period. If the candidate fails the exam on the third attempt, they must wait one year to take the exam again. The waiting period is designed to allow the candidate time to review the exam content and prepare for the exam. 

Following successful completion of the CPPS examination, the certificant is required to maintain certification by fulfilling continuing education (CE) requirements or through successful retest.

Recertification cycle: 3 years

CE requirement: 45 hours total

Accepted types of CE:

• All CE that follows the CPPS content outline is accepted.
• CE options include: educational programs, self-study, CPPS item writing, academic course work, and more.
• See a list of pre-approved specific programs for continuing education (CE) credits toward CPPS Recertification, pre-approved by the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS). 

Your expiration date is printed on your certificate. If you cannot locate your certificate, please contact the CBPPS office at certification@ihi.org, and we will provide you with this information.

You can find a list of CPPS certificants on IHI's website. If you are newly certified, please allow 4 to 6 weeks for your name to appear on this list.

Yes, replacement certificates and lapel pins are available. Requests may be submitted by contacting the Certification Office at certification@ihi.org.