PCC Home Volunteer Committee Member Login Item Writer Login Item Writer Workshop FAQs

Item Writing

Item writing is the process utilized to develop test questions for ISPE-PCC professional certification examinations.

The examination is one of the most important assessment methods of a professional certification program.

Call for Subject Matter Expert (SME) Item Writers

The International Standard ISO/IEC 17024, Conformity Assessment, requires the certification body to develop examinations that are fair, valid and reliable. To comply with these International Standards, the ISPE-PCC utilizes subject matter experts (SMEs) to write the items. The SMEs are evaluated and selected in accordance with standards established by the ISPE-PCC.

Qualification Criteria

Selected SMEs will be required to sign an ISPE-PCC Confidentiality, Conflicts and Copyright Assignment Agreement. All SME item writers attend a mandatory item writing workshop (recorded webinar) prior to writing their assigned items. An item writing manual is prepared for the SMEs. Download The Item Writing Manual for the CPIP Examination. (Word DOC, 513KB)

On-line Item Writing

ISPE-PCC certification examination items are written and modified on-line using a password-protected item writing section. Each approved SME is assigned a unique password used to access the on-line item writing section of the ISPE-PCC Web Site. The examination item writing section guides SMEs through the item writing process allowing for multiple item writers to participate in creating a reliable and valid examination. The items are stored in a secure item bank on the ISPE Professional Certification server. NOTE: CPIP™ credential holders can gain recertification points for writing examination items (refer to the recertification section of this Web Site.)

After all SME item writers complete their item writing assignments an item review workshop is conducted where all items are reviewed by the ISPE-PCC Examination Development Committee. Approved items are placed into an "item bank" from which items are randomly selected for the construction of examinations thus requiring a yearly replenishing of the "item bank."

To be considered as an item writer (SME):

submit a current CV (WORD document) and write a statement (WORD document) explaining what part of your education/work experience is most aligned with one of the seven knowledge elements of CPIP™ competency #1. Submit WORD documents to Michael Phelan, Director of Professional Certification mphelan@ispe.org.