Perfusion Basic Science Examination (PBSE) 

Eligibility Criteria

The criteria for application to take the Perfusion Basic Science Examination are as follows:

1. The applicant must fulfill one of the following criteria:
   • The applicant must have graduated from, or be currently enrolled in, an accredited cardiovascular perfusion education program, and anticipating graduation prior to the date of the examination; or
   • The applicant must have been admitted to the examination process before April 15, 1981, or have been previously certified by the ABCP.
2. Applicants for the examination must have the following on file in the National Office at least four weeks prior to the examination:
   • A current official transcript of credits from the accredited school of cardiovascular perfusion, indicating date of graduation.
   • A written statement of satisfactory clinical competency from the Clinical Competency Committee of the school.
   • Documentation of a minimum of 75 cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) cases performed during the education program. A minimum of 10 clinical pediatric cases requiring cardiopulmonary bypass must be observed or performed for the certification process. Pediatric cases performed may count toward the 75 minimum cardiopulmonary bypass case requirements; observational pediatric cases do not count toward the 75 minimum cardiopulmonary bypass case requirements.
     • Credit will be considered for perfusion experience only when the following criteria are met:
       • The student performed all seventy-five (75) cases, after 08/01/24, within the United States of America, U.S. Territories, and/or Canada.
       • The student participated in the preoperative planning and selection of equipment used during the perfusion.
       • The student performed those technical manipulations that constituted the essential parts of the procedure itself.
       • An instructor must be physically present during cardiopulmonary bypass cases and that instructor must be a Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP).

Please Note: Beginning July 1, 2023: 5 of the 75 Primary Clinical Perfusion Activities (PCPA) must qualify as 3P - ECMO or 6P -VAD cases per Table A of the BOI on page 12 and the remaining 70 (or more) PCPA must qualify as 1P - primary cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Definitions of Qualifying Primary Clinical Perfusion Activities:

1. 1P - Cardiopulmonary Bypass: The primary operator of the heart-lung machine, used during cardiac surgery and other surgeries that require extracorporeal circulation, used to manage the patient’s physiological status.
2. 3P - ECMO: the primary operator of Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) circuit that provides life support for respiratory and/or cardiac failure. The CCP candidate must be documented at the institution as a member of the patient care team for that period and a physician name must accompany the case in the Clinical Activity Report. 
3. 6P - VAD: primary operator of the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) that provides cardiac support for the failing heart.

Applicants are required to submit or arrange to submit the following items to the National Office prior to the examination:

1. Clinical education record documenting 75 clinical perfusions, after 08/01/24, within the United States of America, U.S. Territories, and/or Canada. Observational pediatric cases do not count toward the 75-minimum clinical perfusion requirement.
2. A current, official transcript of credits from the accredited school of perfusion, indicating date of graduation; and
3. A statement of satisfactory clinical competency from the Clinical Competency Committee chairperson at the accredited school of perfusion.

The number of times that the Perfusion Basic Science Examination can be taken is not limited.

Applicants retaking the Perfusion Basic Science Examination are NOT required to resubmit or arrange for resubmission of items 1-3, the Clinical Education Record, the official transcript, and the Clinical Competency statement. These items will remain on file from the previous application. 

All files MUST be complete by March 24^th for the spring exam and September 29^th for the fall exam. Eligibility to reserve a seat with the Testing Site is contingent upon receipt of all documentation by the National Office.