Announcing the CPBCA Credential — Momentum Is Building, Are You Ready?

The Certified Professional Biosafety Compliance Administrator (CPBCA) is the premier credential for professionals who manage program compliance and support institutional biosafety programs. Offered exclusively by the Biosafety Administrators Association (BSAA), this certification validates your expertise, elevates your career, and connects you to a growing network of biosafety leaders committed to the highest standards of compliance and safety.

With more than 40 certified professionals and counting, the CPBCA is rapidly becoming the recognized standard for excellence in biosafety compliance. If you’re a biosafety professional and qualified to take the exam, now is the time to distinguish yourself as a trusted, credible, and highly qualified expert in your field.

Eligibility Requirements

The PBCA certification program is designed for professionals whose primary responsibilities involve the development, management, oversight, or administration of an Institutional Biosafety Program.

To qualify for the CPBCA examination, candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Hold a bachelor’s degree and have at least two years of relevant IBC experience within the past ten years, or
2. Have a minimum of four years of relevant IBC experience within the past ten years.

In addition, applicants must:

3. Submit a CPBCA Exam Application with a current CV or résumé that clearly documents relevant responsibilities and experience.
4. Agree to and abide by the CPBCA Code of Ethics.

Code of Ethics for Certified Professional Biosafety Compliance Administrators (CPBCA)

Each Certified Professional Biosafety Compliance Administrator is expected to uphold the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and professionalism.

As a CPBCA, I commit to:

1. Integrity and Professionalism – Conduct myself with honesty, fairness, and integrity in all professional and personal interactions.
2. Objectivity – Perform my duties impartially, free from personal bias or outside influence.
3. Ethical and Regulatory Compliance – Consistently apply federal, state, local, and institutional standards governing the safe and ethical use of biological and other regulated hazards in research, teaching, and testing.
4. Guidance and Leadership – Provide accurate, consistent, and professional guidance to the IBC, investigators, and the institution to ensure full compliance with applicable regulations and safety standards.
5. Conflict of Interest – Disclose and appropriately manage any potential conflicts of interest, avoiding situations where personal interests could compromise professional judgment.
6. Confidentiality – Protect all confidential information entrusted to me in the course of my work.
7. Professional Competence – Pursue continuing education and professional development to maintain current knowledge and expertise in biosafety compliance and program management.
8. Certification Integrity – Use the CPBCA designation only while my certification remains valid and in good standing.

 

 

Why This Certification Matters

1. Demonstrate Advanced Expertise – Certification proves mastery of NIH Guidelines, IBC regulations, best practices, and biosafety oversight.
2. Enhance Career Opportunities – Many employers prioritize certified administrators for promotions, leadership roles, and higher compensation.
3. Foster a Strong Safety Culture – Certified professionals help set the tone for institutional safety and compliance.
4. Mitigate Risk – Apply your expertise to prevent incidents, protect personnel, and safeguard the environment.
5. Expand Your Professional Network – Join a community dedicated to biosafety excellence, sharing resources and best practices.
6. Stay Current – Recertification every three years ensures your skills remain up-to-date with evolving policies and technologies.

The Critical Role of a Certified Biosafety Compliance Administrator

Biosafety administrators play an essential role in ensuring the safety and compliance of research, clinical, and industrial facilities handling biohazardous materials. Earning the certification validates your expertise, confirms your qualifications, and demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, judgment, and leadership skills to navigate complex regulations, oversee program operations, and strengthen your institution’s credibility within the biosafety community.

Next Certification Opportunity — Fall 2025

1. Application Deadline: November 1, 2025
2. Testing Dates: Friday November 14th @ 11am EST, Monday November 17th @11am EST, Wednesday November 19th @ 1pm EST
3. Format: The Exam will be proctored live virtually via Zoom

Apply early to ensure your spot and gain maximum preparation time.

What the Exam Covers

1. NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (2024)
2. Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) roles and requirements
3. CDC Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL, 6th Ed.)
4. Select Agent and Toxin regulations
5. Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and gain-of-function policies
6. Occupational health and safety in laboratory and animal research settings
7. Export control regulations relevant to biological materials
8. Best practices in biosafety program management and compliance oversight

Recommended Study Resources

(Inclusion does not imply BSAA endorsement and does not guarantee exam success)

The “study resources” list below are intended to aid candidates in their preparation to take the Professional Biosafety Compliance Administrator Certification Exam.  These resources include information of significance to IBC Administrators and others facilitating the daily activities of an institution’s Biosafety Program.

1. National Institutes of Health, Office of Science Policy (OSP)    Link:  https://osp.od.nih.gov/

 

1. 1. NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (April 2024):  NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines)

 

1. 2. NIH Guidelines/Institutional Biosafety Committee FAQs:  osp.od.nih.gov/policies/biosafety-and-biosecurity-policy/faqs-on-externally-administered-ibcs/

 

1. 3. Incident Reporting FAQs:  https://osp.od.nih.gov/policies/incident-reporting-december-2023/

 

1. 4. Biosecurity (NSABB/DURC/GOF):  https://osp.od.nih.gov/policies/biosafety-and-biosecurity-policy/

 

1. 5. Reporting under the DURC and Related Policies: https://osp.od.nih.gov/policies/biosafety-and-biosecurity-policy/ 

 

2. Center for Disease Control:  https://www.cdc.gov/

 

1. 1. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 6th Edition:  BMBL

 

1. 2. Federal Select Agent Program:  https://www.selectagents.gov/ and

Select Agents and Toxins List

 

3. Science Safety Security (S3):  https://aspr.hhs.gov/S3/Pages/S3-Science-Safety-Security.aspx

 

4. Guiding Principles for Biosafety Governance: 

 http://internationalbiosafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/FESAP-guiding-principles.pdf

 

5. Dual Use Research / DURC

 

1. 1. 1. DURC/PEPP Policy Overview (NIH OSP):
         https://osp.od.nih.gov/us-government-releases-policy-for-oversight-of-dual-use-research-of-concern-and-pathogens-with-enhanced-pandemic-potential/

 

1. 1. 2. DURC/PEPP Policy Full Text (PDF):
         https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USG-Policy-for-Oversight-of-DURC-and-PEPP.pdf

 

1. 1. 3. HHS ASPR – DURC/PEPP Oversight Policy Framework:
         https://aspr.hhs.gov/S3/Pages/Dual-Use-Research-of-Concern-Oversight-Policy-Framework.aspx

 

6. Gain-of-Function / P3CO

 

1. 1. HHS ASPR – Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogen Oversight Framework:
      https://aspr.hhs.gov/S3/Pages/Enhanced-Potential-Pandemic-Pathogen-Oversight-Framework.aspx

 

1. 2. NIH OSP – Gain-of-Function Research Oversight:
      https://osp.od.nih.gov/policies/national-science-advisory-board-for-biosecurity-nsabb/gain-of-function-research/

 

7. Biorisk Management

CDC Safe Labs – Biorisk Management:
https://www.cdc.gov/safe-labs/php/biorisk-management/index.html

8. Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals:  https://www.nap.edu/catalog/4988/occupational-health-and-safety-in-the-care-and-use-of-research-animals

 

9. The Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, pg. 17-24:  https://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/guide-for-the-care-and-use-of-laboratory-animals.pdf

 

10. US and State Occupation Safety and Health Administrations (29 CFR for Federal)

 

11. Viral Vector Systems:  Viral Vector Systems for Gene Therapy: A Comprehensive Literature Review of Progress and Biosafety Challenges.  Applied Biosafety, 2020, Vol 25(1) 7-18 and http://www.dartmouth.edu/ehs/biological/biosafety_docs/viral_vector_chart.pdf

 

12. Export Control Regulations, (EAR) (15 CFR § 730-774) -- More specifically, audience should be familiar with the Commerce Control List ECCNs as follows: 1C351, 1C353, 1C354, 1C991, 1E001, 1E351, 2B352, 2E001, 2E002, 2E301 and the remainder of the EAR as applicable to those sections. The Commerce Control List can be found in  Supplement No. 1 to Part 774, Title 15. 

How to Apply

1. Visit the BSAA website to access the application form. LINK: https://ibcadministrators.com/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=17
2. Submit your application by November 1, 2025.
3. Review the recommended study resources and set your preparation plan.
4. Take the exam during the Fall 2025 testing window.

The CPBCA is more than a credential—it’s a professional statement that you are committed to biosafety leadership, regulatory mastery, and the highest standards of safety.
Join the momentum, set the standard, and take your career to the next level.

8. Certified Professional Biosafety Compliance Administrator (CPBCA)
   Offered exclusively by the Biosafety Administrators Association (BSAA)