Pfizer recognized the Certified Physician Investigator designation obtained through the Association of Clinical Research Professionals' (ACRP) Certification Program as an acceptable method for clinical investigators to demonstrate competency in good clinical practice (GCP) for Pfizer-sponsored clinical trials.

The decision recognizes the importance of high-quality training in the tenets of GCP to promote physician investigators' safe and ethical conduct of clinical trials with human subjects. Pfizer has reviewed the ACRP Certification Program and says it will recognize the CPI® designation for investigators who wish to conduct Pfizer-sponsored clinical trials.

The examination taken by qualified physicians wishing to earn the CPI® designation is administered by the Academy of Clinical Research Professionals, an affiliate of ACRP that also oversees the Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC®) and Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA®) Certification Programs. The non-profit ACRP was founded in 1976 to promote integrity and excellence in the field and, since 1992, has been the leading certifier of clinical research professionals with more than 24,000 professionals, including nearly 1,100 CPIs, having earned a designation to date.