CPI Practice Test

The Certified Physician Investigator (CPI) exam from the Academy of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) is for doctorate holders, PAs and NPs who work as principal investigators or sub-investigators in clinical trials. This page has free practice sets matched to the official content areas, worked answers, and the current exam facts: 125 questions in 180 minutes, a pass point of 600, and spring testing from February 15 to May 15, 2027.

Free Certified Physician Investigator Study Tools

Interactive Certified Physician Investigator resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• CPI Clinical Research & Study Design 1 — 9 questions with answer explanations
• Certified Physician Investigator flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• Certified Physician Investigator study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• Certified Physician Investigator cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

CPI Exam at a Glance

Facts verified Oct 22, 2026 against Academy of Clinical Research Professionals. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.

What the CPI is and how it works

According to Academy of Clinical Research Professionals, “The CPI exam consists of 125 multiple choice questions that must be answered within 180 minutes.”^[1]

The CPI credential from ACRP is for clinical research professionals who lead or support studies as investigators. To sit for the exam you need a doctorate, or to be a PA or NP. You also need 3,000 hours of verifiable work experience, including at least 2 of the last 5 years as a PI or Sub-I. ACRP decides what counts as verifiable work, so read the eligibility wording on the ACRP PI certification page before you apply.

The exam is computer-based and delivered by PSI. You can test at a PSI testing center or use live remote proctoring from a location you choose, as long as you have a computer with a camera, microphone and internet connection. The exam has 125 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are unscored pretest items, and you have 180 minutes to answer them.

Your raw score is converted to a scaled score from 200 to 800, and 600 is the pass point. You see pass or fail on screen when you finish, and PSI emails your full score report within 48 hours. If you do not pass, you can retest 60 days after your original appointment or in the next testing window. After 2 failed attempts you must reapply. The credential is valid for 2 years, and ACRP requires maintenance of certification to keep it. Fees, dates and policies can change from one window to the next, so check them in the current ACRP certification handbook.

CPI content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CPI content outline published by Academy of Clinical Research Professionals. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CPI questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the primary purpose of the informed consent process in clinical research?

1. To ensure subjects voluntarily agree to participate with full understanding of risks and benefits
2. To protect the sponsor from legal liability
3. To satisfy IRB administrative requirements
4. To document that the subject has read all study materials

Answer: A. To ensure subjects voluntarily agree to participate with full understanding of risks and benefits

Explanation:

A is correct. Informed consent exists so that a person decides freely whether to join a study after understanding its purpose, procedures, risks, benefits and alternatives. It is an ongoing process, not just a signature. B is wrong: a signed form may have legal weight, but consent is there to protect the subject, not the sponsor. C is wrong because IRB rules on consent exist to protect subjects. Meeting paperwork requirements is a side effect, not the goal. D is wrong because reading the materials is not the same as understanding them. The investigator must confirm that the subject understands and is agreeing voluntarily. Rule to remember: when a consent question offers an answer about subject autonomy and understanding, that is the purpose. Answers about paperwork or liability are distractors.

Example 2

Question: What is the purpose of a placebo in clinical trials?

1. To monitor side effects
2. To act as a control group
3. To increase patient adherence
4. To improve the outcome

Answer: B. To act as a control group

Explanation:

B is correct. A placebo is an inactive treatment made to look like the active one. It is given to a control group so researchers can compare outcomes and separate the treatment's real effect from patient expectation and the natural course of the disease. A is wrong: side effects are monitored in every arm. The placebo arm helps researchers interpret them, but monitoring is not its purpose. C is wrong because a placebo does nothing to improve adherence. D is wrong because a placebo is not meant to improve outcomes. Any change in that arm is the baseline the active treatment is measured against. Rule to remember: a placebo is a design tool for comparison, so look for answers about control, comparison and blinding.

Example 3

Question: According to FDA regulations, who at the investigational site bears primary responsibility for investigational product accountability?

1. The study coordinator
2. The sponsor's clinical research associate
3. The principal investigator
4. The IRB pharmacist representative

Answer: C. The principal investigator

Explanation:

C is correct. Under FDA regulations for investigational drugs, the principal investigator must make sure the product is given only to subjects under their supervision and that records of its receipt, use and disposition are kept. The PI can delegate tasks but not the responsibility. A is wrong: a study coordinator often keeps the daily logs, but does so under the PI's delegation. B is wrong because the sponsor's CRA monitors and verifies accountability records but works for the sponsor, not the site. D is wrong because the IRB reviews the protocol and protects subjects. It does not hold product accountability at the site. Rule to remember: responsibility for study conduct, records and investigational product at the site rests with the PI, even when duties are delegated.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Get the ACRP certification handbook and the CPI content outline, then match each content area to the practice set listed for it on this page. Take the sets before you study, as a diagnostic, and note which areas give you the most trouble. Spend most of your study time on those areas.

For each wrong answer, write down the rule behind it in your own words: who holds a responsibility, what a document is for, or what triggers a report. Retake the set later without looking at your notes. Cover the clinical sets too, such as adverse event management and reporting and patient safety and risk management, because many questions combine site operations with subject safety.

Before test day, do a timed run. The real exam gives you 180 minutes for 125 questions, so practice keeping a steady pace and flagging hard items to come back to. If you plan to test by remote proctoring, check your computer, camera, microphone and internet connection well before your appointment. Register in good time: early-bird registration for spring 2027 runs October 20 to December 31, 2026, and regular registration closes April 30, 2027.