Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Certification CPGP
Process: Learn > Prepare > Apply > Certify > Recertify
The Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional understands the good manufacturing practices (GMP) as regulated and guided by national and international agencies for the pharmaceutical industry. This covers finished human and veterinary drugs and biologics, ectoparasiticides, and dietary supplements (alternatively called nutraceuticals) where regulated as drug products, as well as their component raw materials (includes active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients), and packaging, and labeling operations.
Read some common questions about the CPGP.
Download the Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Certification Brochure (PDF, 3.18 MB)
Download the Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Certification Fact Sheet (PDF, 60 KB).
ASQ Members $398 (save $100)
Non-members $498
Retakes $298
Download an Application (CBT Delivered Exams).
Price includes $70 non-refundable fee.
ASQ Certification Prep Resources
The Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Handbook, Second Edition
Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Question Bank
Requirements
Here are the minimum expectations, requirements, experience and exam specifics for a Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional.
Work Experience
Work experience must be in a full time, paid role. Paid intern, co-op or any other course work cannot be applied towards the work experience requirement.
Candidates must have five years of on-the-job experience in one or more of the areas of the Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Body of Knowledge. A minimum of three years of this experience must be in a decision-making position. "Decision-making" is defined as the authority to define, execute, or control projects/processes and to be responsible for the outcome. This may or may not include management or supervisory positions.
Education
There are no education waivers for this exam.
Expectations
Here are the minimum expectations of a Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional.
- Will have a fundamental understanding of regulatory agency governance including, global regulatory framework, relevant regulations and guidelines, and mutual recognition agreements.
- Will be able to develop and apply elements and requirements of a quality system, evaluate various types of audits and self-inspections, and analyze documents and record management systems.
- Will be able to distinguish between and verify suitability of factors relating to laboratory systems, including relevant compendia for U.S., Europe and Japan, investigations of aberrant laboratory results, and instrument control and record-keeping.
- Will be able to determine requirements and specifications for construction of facilities, utilities and equipment, evaluate automated or computerized systems, and apply business continuity plans and disaster recovery techniques.
- Will be able to use sampling plans and apply procedures for shipping and receiving materials, analyze in-house storage, identification, and rotation of materials, and meet requirements for materials traceability and sourcing, including returned goods.
- Will have a thorough understanding of sterile and nonsterile manufacturing systems and be able to analyze master and completed batch records, material control procedures, and contamination controls.
- Will have a thorough understanding of product design factors and phase-appropriate GMP requirements. Will be able to develop and evaluate filling and packaging operations and controls, and analyze technology transfer activities.
Body of Knowledge
This BOK includes subtext explanations and corresponding cognitive levels for each topic or subtopic. These details will be used by the Examination Development Committee as guidelines for writing test questions and are designed to help candidates prepare for the exam by identifying specific content that can be tested.
The subtext is not intended to limit the subject matter or be all-inclusive of what might be covered in an exam but is intended to clarify how topics relate to the role of the Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional (CPGP). The descriptor in parentheses at the end of each subtext entry refers to the highest cognitive level at which the topic will be tested. A more complete description of cognitive levels is provided at the end of this document.
Please Note: The Body of Knowledge for certification is affected by new technologies, policies, and the changing dynamics of manufacturing and service industries. Changed versions of the examination based on the current Body of Knowledge are used at each offering.
Download the Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Body of Knowledge
Prepare for the exam
ASQ designed these resources to help you get ready to take the exam. Have you already reviewed these items? Then choose an exam date below.
Review a list of references that provide the basis for the exam questions. These items give you a better idea of the material covered in the exam.
Training
- The Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Question Bank
Need other training options? ASQ Sections and ASQ Forums/Divisions offer more training opportunities.
Books
- The Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional Handbook, Second Edition
- The FDA and Worldwide Current Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality System Requirements Guidebook for Finished Pharmaceuticals
- Handbook of Investigation and Effective CAPA Systems, Second Edition
- Quality Risk Management in the FDA-Regulated Industry, Second Edition
- Statistical Process Control for the FDA-Regulated Industry
- Development of FDA-Regulated Medical Products: A Translational Approach, Second Edition
- Search for more ASQ books
Examination
Each certification candidate is required to pass an examination that consists of multiple-choice questions that measure comprehension of the Body of Knowledge.
Computer Delivered - The CPGP examination is a one-part, 165- multiple choice question, four-and-a-half-hour exam and is offered in English only. 150 multiple choice questions are scored and 15 are unscored.
Paper and Pencil - The CPGP examination is a one-part, 150- multiple choice question, four-hour exam and is offered in English only.
All examinations are open book with the exception of the constructed response (essay) portion of the CMQ/OE exam. Each participant must bring his or her own reference materials. Use of reference materials and calculators is explained in the FAQs.
Recertification
To maintain the integrity of your Pharmaceutical GMP Professional certification, ASQ requires that you recertify every three years. Find out the steps you need to take for recertification.
ASQ certification examinations are delivered by ASQ's testing partner, Prometric. The examination scheduling instructions in your eligibility letter will direct you to a section of Prometric's website, where you can select and schedule your examination date and location.
Special Administration Exam Dates
**For a list of dates and locations of ASQ offered Permanent Special Administration sites (paper based exams) please click here.**