The Certified Professional Biosafety Compliance Administrator (CPBCA) established by the BSAA formally recognizes Biosafety Compliance Professionals for their broad knowledge and expertise of IBC regulations and program functions. The credential signals that its holders are highly qualified to perform the duties pursuant to United States regulations, ethical expectations, and best practices. Those interested in securing the CPBCA credential must meet the eligibility requirements, apply for, and pass the certification exam. CPBCA credential holders will recertify every three years.

The exam is comprised of 175 multiple choice questions covering the information found in the resource documents listed below. Candidates will have 2.5 hours to complete the exam. To successfully pass, candidates must answer 75% of the exam questions correctly. Individuals are expected to honor the certification code of ethics and take the exam with closed notes. Candidates will be able to take the exam in their office and will be emailed testing information and a link prior to the exam date.     

The initial round of testing will occur in April 18, 19 and 20th, 2023 , which will provide certification candidates sufficient time to prepare for the exam.  If you are considering sitting for the exam this year, please find below a list of the primary resources.

Application /Registration Deadline is March 30, 2023.

STUDY RESOURCES:

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.

Inclusion of references on this list does not constitute an endorsement by the Biosafety Administrators Association of specific professional literature, which, if used, would guarantee candidates’ successful passing of the certification examination.

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

• NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (2019):  osp.od.nih.gov/biotechnology/nih-guidelines/

• NIH Guidelines/Institutional Biosafety Committee FAQs: 

osp.od.nih.gov/policies/biosafety-and-biosecurity-policy/faqs-on-externally-administered-ibcs/

• Incident Reporting FAQs:  https://osp.od.nih.gov/policies/incident-reporting-may-2019/

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

• 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/

• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 6th Edition:  https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html

• Federal Select Agent Program:  https://www.selectagents.gov/
  • Select Agents and Toxins List

3. Science Safety Security (S3):  https://www.phe.gov/s3/Pages/default.aspx

• Guiding Principles for Biosafety Governance:  https://www.phe.gov/s3/Documents/FESAP-guiding-principles.pdf

• Biorisk Management Pages:  https://www.phe.gov/s3/BioriskManagement/Pages/default.aspx

• FESAP/FTAC Pages:  https://www.phe.gov/s3/Documents/fesap.pdf and https://www.phe.gov/s3/Documents/ftac-sar.pdf

• Dual Use Page:  https://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/default.aspx

• DURC Institutional Oversight Policy:  https://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/InstitutionalOversight.aspx

• DURC Companion Guide:  https://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/companion-guide.aspx

• Gain of Function Policy:  https://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/GainOfFunction.aspx  and https://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/p3co.aspx

4. 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

5. 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

6. US and State Occupation Safety and Health Administrations (29 CFR for Federal)
7. 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

8. Export Control Regulations, (EAR) (15 CFR § 730-744) -- 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.