In the world of healthcare, the IBHRE (International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners)Test is a key step for those focused on the heart’s rhythms. It checks if healthcare providers know enough about cardiac electrophysiology. This test helps them handle heart rhythm disorders, put in cardiac devices, and use advanced treatments for arrhythmias. Practice with the free IBHRE - International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
Passing the IBHRE Test means you get a special credential. This shows you’re a top expert in cardiac care. It’s a sign you’re up-to-date with the latest in the field and care deeply about your patients.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (CCDS) | 200 questions across 4 sections[1] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Number of questions (CDRMS) | 150 questions across 2 sections[2] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Number of questions (CEPS-A/CEPS-P (Physician)) | 175 questions across 4 sections[11] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Number of questions (CEPS (Allied Professional)) | 200 questions across 4 sections[12] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Time limit (CCDS) | 240 minutes (4 sections, 3 six-minute breaks)[1] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Time limit (CDRMS) | 210 minutes (2 sections, 1 five-minute break)[2] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Time limit (CEPS-A/CEPS-P (Physician)) | 240 minutes (4 sections, 3 five-minute breaks)[11] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Time limit (CEPS (Allied Professional)) | 240 minutes (4 sections, 3 six-minute breaks)[12] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Passing score | Criterion-referenced passing standard determined by subject matter experts[3] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Exam fee (CCDS) | $1,090 USD[4] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Exam fee (CDRMS) | $899 USD[5] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Exam fee (CEPS-A/CEPS-P (Physician)) | $1,490 USD[13] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Exam fee (CEPS (Allied Professional)) | $1,090 USD[14] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Retake fee (CCDS) | $1,090 USD[4] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Retake fee (CDRMS) | $899 USD[5] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Retake fee (CEPS-A/CEPS-P (Physician)) | $1,490 USD[13] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Retake fee (CEPS (Allied Professional)) | $1,090 USD[14] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Submit a new application and exam fee by the application deadline[3] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Validity | 4 years[1] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Renewal | IBHRE-C3 program requiring passing 12 online assessments within a 2-year cycle[3] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Delivery | Computer-based testing at PSI test centers in over 65 countries[15] | test-takers.psiexams.com · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Eligibility (CDRMS) | Associate degree + 1 yr CIED monitoring, 2 yrs CIED monitoring, or RCES/RCIS + 1 yr; plus 1 recommendation letter[3] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Eligibility (CEPS-A/CEPS-P (Physician)) | Licensed physician; residency + cardiology fellowship + 2 yrs EP training; not available to ABIM-eligible candidates[3] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Score release | Approximately 12 weeks after the testing period ends[3] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Next exam date (CCDS) | August 4, 2027[8] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Next exam date (CDRMS) | November 11, 2026[6] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Next exam date (CEPS (Allied Professional)) | June 2, 2027[7] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (CCDS) | March 18, 2027[8] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (CDRMS) | August 12, 2027[9] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (CEPS (Allied Professional)) | February 11, 2027[7] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Registration opens (CDRMS) | March 25, 2027[9] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Registration opens (CEPS (Allied Professional)) | November 19, 2026[7] | International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners · Oct 31, 2026 |
Interactive IBHRE - International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
According to International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners, “Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (CCDS)240 minutes4 exam sections; 3 breaks (6 minutes between sections)200”[1]
Prepare for the IBHRE - International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
Question: The vasodepressor type of vasovagal syncope is primarily characterized by:
Answer: B. Hypotension with little or no bradycardia
Explanation:
The correct answer is hypotension with little or no bradycardia. In the vasodepressor form of vasovagal syncope, the main problem is peripheral vasodilation, so blood pressure falls while heart rate stays relatively preserved.
Significant bradycardia without meaningful hypotension describes the opposite pattern and does not explain loss of consciousness well. Asystole lasting more than 3 seconds belongs to the cardioinhibitory type, where the heart itself pauses. Tachycardia as the dominant feature points toward other causes, such as an arrhythmia or postural tachycardia, not a vasodepressor response.
Rule to remember: name the vasovagal type by what drives the drop in perfusion. Vasodilation means vasodepressor, a slow or paused heart means cardioinhibitory, and a combination is called mixed.
Question: A remote transmission from an asymptomatic 65-year-old patient with an ICD for primary prevention (ischemic cardiomyopathy, EF 30%) is flagged for a 12-beat run of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) at 155 bpm. The device functioned appropriately and did not deliver therapy. What is the most appropriate next step for the reviewing clinician?
Answer: C. Contact the patient to assess for symptoms and schedule a routine in-person follow-up.
Explanation:
The correct answer is to contact the patient to assess for symptoms and schedule routine in-person follow-up. A 12-beat run of non-sustained VT at 155 bpm in an asymptomatic patient, with no therapy delivered, is a common interrogation finding and does not call for emergency action.
Reprogramming remotely to change detection intervals is wrong because nothing here shows the settings failed, and changes should follow clinical review, not a single brief event. Calling 911 is wrong because the patient is stable and the episode ended on its own. Admitting for an electrophysiology study and ablation is wrong because one brief asymptomatic episode does not justify an invasive procedure.
Rule to remember: match the response to symptoms, duration and therapy delivered. Brief, asymptomatic and self-terminating events get symptom review and routine follow-up.
Question: What is the primary purpose of the Mode Switch feature in a dual-chamber implantable device?
Answer: A. To prevent rapid ventricular pacing in response to a detected atrial tachyarrhythmia
Explanation:
The correct answer is to prevent rapid ventricular pacing in response to a detected atrial tachyarrhythmia. In a tracking mode such as DDD, each sensed atrial beat triggers a ventricular paced beat, so atrial fibrillation could drive the ventricle fast. Mode Switch detects the high atrial rate and changes to a non-tracking mode, which decouples the ventricle from the atrial rhythm.
Increasing the rate during exercise is the job of the rate-response sensor, not Mode Switch. Switching to VVI at night to save battery describes a sleep or rest rate feature, not this one. Preventing pacemaker-mediated tachycardia by extending PVARP is a separate algorithm for a different problem, endless-loop tachycardia.
Rule to remember: Mode Switch answers atrial arrhythmias, while PVARP extension answers retrograde conduction loops.
Start with the official material. Read the Candidate Handbook and the exam page for your credential so you know your format, eligibility and deadlines. Then use our practice sets to find weak spots before you plan study time.
Take a short set in each topic area once, without notes: arrhythmias, cardiac devices, cardiac electrophysiology, ablation, pharmacology, and patient safety and radiation. Write down every question you missed or guessed. Group the misses by topic, and the largest group tells you where to begin.
For each weak topic, read the explanation, then go back to your own textbooks or the references your employer or program recommends and read the underlying material. Retake that set a few days later and see whether the same questions still trip you up. If they do, the gap is understanding, not memory, so work through the reasoning step by step.
If you are on the device track, spend extra time on troubleshooting and programming, and practice reading the case before looking at the options. If you are on the electrophysiology track, add the pediatric and syncope sets. In the last days, do mixed sets under timed conditions to build stamina for a long sitting, and plan your test-center trip with PSI.
Remember that our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam items, so treat them as practice for reasoning, not as a preview of the test.
Cardiac electrophysiology experts in training aim to ace the IBHRE test. This exam checks their cardiac arrhythmia expertise and electrophysiology mastery. Passing it is key to getting cardiac electrophysiology certification and becoming a heart rhythm specialist. It’s important to know what the exam covers.
The IBHRE test has different parts, each testing a candidate’s rhythm management proficiency and cardiac device management skills. The written part covers topics like electrocardiogram interpretation, arrhythmia management, and electrophysiology study guide. Candidates also show their skills in hands-on tests and case studies.
To do well on the IBHRE test, future heart rhythm specialists need to know a lot about cardiac electrophysiology. They should understand the heart’s anatomy and physiology, how cardiac arrhythmias work, and how antiarrhythmic drugs act. Knowing about defibrillator implantation and pacemaker programming is also key, as these are part of the ep study guide.
| Exam Component | Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| Written Examination |
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| Practical Skills Assessment |
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| Case Studies |
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By learning the basics of cardiac electrophysiology and using a good electrophysiology study guide, candidates can do well on the IBHRE test. This helps them move forward in their careers and become respected heart rhythm specialists in cardiac care.
Getting an IBHRE (International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners) certification can change your career path. It opens doors to special roles like a heart rhythm specialist, cardiac device technician, or electrophysiology lab manager.
This certification shows you’re an expert in cardiac arrhythmia management. You know how to handle defibrillator implantation, pacemaker programming, ablation procedures, and give antiarrhythmic medications. Employers look for IBHRE-certified people because they know they’re hiring the best.
Getting certified also means you can earn more money. You’ll get better pay and be more likely to get into advanced roles. This is because you have special skills and a recognized certification.
But it’s not just about making more money. It’s also about feeling proud of reaching a big goal in your career. Getting certified takes hard work and dedication. But it’s all worth it for the benefits you get.
Start moving up in your career by looking into the IBHRE certification. Invest in your future and open new doors in the exciting world of cardiac electrophysiology.
Try these questions from our free IBHRE - International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A patient is undergoing implantation of a biventricular pacemaker for cardiac resynchronization therapy. The physician is attempting to place the left ventricular lead via the coronary sinus. Which major cardiac vein is a direct tributary of the coronary sinus and runs in the posterior interventricular groove?
Answer: C. Middle Cardiac Vein
The Middle Cardiac Vein, also known as the posterior interventricular vein, is the largest proximal tributary of the coronary sinus. It courses alongside the posterior descending artery in the posterior interventricular groove and drains into the coronary sinus near the right atrium, making it a key vessel considered for left ventricular lead placement.
Which electrophysiological test is used to identify and map the origin of arrhythmias in the heart?
Answer: B. Electrophysiology study (EPS)
An electrophysiology study (EPS) is an invasive diagnostic procedure specifically designed to evaluate the heart's electrical activity and identify the source of arrhythmias. During an EPS, catheters with electrodes are threaded into the heart to record electrical signals and induce arrhythmias. This allows electrophysiologists to precisely map the abnormal pathways or areas of tissue causing the arrhythmia, guiding treatment decisions like ablation.
In cardiac electrophysiology, what is an "ablation" procedure primarily used for?
Answer: C. To destroy or isolate areas of heart tissue that are causing abnormal electrical signals
Cardiac ablation is a therapeutic procedure used to treat various arrhythmias by targeting and neutralizing the specific heart tissue responsible for generating or sustaining abnormal electrical signals. Using heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation), the procedure creates small scars that block the faulty electrical pathways. This effectively restores a normal heart rhythm and prevents future episodes of arrhythmia.
A routine interrogation of a VVI pacemaker reveals intermittent pacing spikes that are not followed by a QRS complex. A threshold test is performed and shows the ventricular capture threshold is 3.5V @ 0.4ms. The device is currently programmed to an output of 2.5V @ 0.4ms. What is the most appropriate immediate programming change?
Answer: A. Increase the ventricular output to 4.5V @ 0.4ms
The issue is loss of capture, where the programmed pacing output is insufficient to depolarize the myocardium. The threshold test confirms this, as the required energy (3.5V) is higher than the delivered energy (2.5V). The immediate solution is to increase the pacing output to a value that provides an adequate safety margin above the measured threshold. An output of 4.5V provides a 1.0V safety margin. Changing sensitivity, rate, or mode does not address the failure to capture.
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