- What CTP Means Here
- Who Issues the Credential and Who Needs It
- What the Exam Looks Like
- The Five Domains in Plain Language
- Eligibility, Fees, and Scheduling Mechanics
- The 110 Versus 120 Question Conflict
- Reading the Historical Pass Rate
- A Domain-Ordered Study Sequence
- Original Practice Questions
- Staying Certified: Renewal
- Career Value Without Assuming a Pay Premium
- Frequently Asked Questions
- CTP here means Certified Transplant Preservationist, awarded by the American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC).
- The exam has 110 multiple-choice questions, 100 scored and 10 unscored pretest, with a two-hour limit.
- Organ Recovery carries the most scored items at 30 of 100, followed by Organ Preservation at 25.
- Each attempt costs $645 ($495 exam plus $150 application), before any $225 international surcharge.
What CTP Means Here
The acronym "CTP" is shared by several unrelated credentials, which is why searches for its meaning often return confusing results. On this site, CTP means Certified Transplant Preservationist, and nothing else. It is a professional certification in the organ transplant field, and it has no connection to treasury or finance credentials that happen to use the same letters.
A Certified Transplant Preservationist is a professional who has demonstrated knowledge of the work that happens between an organ becoming available and that organ reaching a recipient: recovering it, preserving it, collecting the associated specimens, and labeling and packaging it for transport. The credential signals that a person's knowledge of those tasks has been checked against an expert-established standard.
If you are new to the topic, our companion explainers cover the same ground from different angles, including What Is CTP? and What Does CTP Stand For?. This article focuses on what the credential actually requires and how to approach it.
Who Issues the Credential and Who Needs It
The certifying body is the American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC). Exams are delivered by PSI at computer-based test centers, and you will see "ROC-P" used in applications and certification records. The credential is the Certified Transplant Preservationist exam specifically, not another ABTC examination.
The people who pursue it typically work in organ procurement and preservation settings. If you want a sense of the roles that surround this credential, see our overview of CTP jobs. For a broader look at what the certification represents, CTP certification and What Is CTP Certification? go deeper.
What the Exam Looks Like
The format is straightforward, which means your preparation can focus on content rather than test mechanics.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 110 multiple choice |
| Scored items | 100 |
| Unscored pretest items | 10 (indistinguishable from scored items) |
| Time limit | Two hours |
| Answer options | Four, with one best answer |
| Delivery | Computer-based at PSI test centers |
| Reference materials | Closed book; calculators prohibited |
| Identification | Two forms required |
Two details deserve attention. First, "one best answer" means several options may look plausible, and your job is to choose the most correct one in context. Second, because the 10 pretest items are mixed in and unmarked, you should treat every question as if it counts.
Passing is determined by your overall performance against ABTC's expert-established standard. There is no separate pass requirement per domain, and no fixed numeric passing mark should be assumed. Our page on the CTP passing score explains how to think about this without guessing at a number.
The Five Domains in Plain Language
The ABTC examination content outline lists five domains. Summing the recall, application, and analysis columns in the outline gives scored-item allocations of 15, 30, 25, 12, and 18, in domain order. These are item counts, not issuer-published percentages, so treat them as a guide to emphasis rather than exact weighting. For a fuller treatment, see the complete guide to all five CTP content areas.
Domain 1: Professional Practice (15 scored items)
The framework within which preservation work happens: roles, responsibilities, documentation habits, and professional conduct.
- Understand how your role fits into the broader recovery and transplant process
- Expect scenario questions where the best answer reflects sound professional judgment
- Do not dismiss this domain because it feels less technical; it is a meaningful share of the exam
Domain 2: Organ Recovery (30 scored items)
The largest domain by item count. It covers the recovery process itself.
- Study the sequence and purpose of recovery steps rather than memorizing lists in isolation
- Expect application and analysis questions, not just recall
- Asepsis and handling principles recur here and in neighboring domains
Domain 3: Organ Preservation (25 scored items)
The second-largest domain and the heart of the credential's name.
- Know the principles behind preservation methods, not just their names
- Be ready to reason about why a given approach suits a given situation
- Connect preservation decisions to downstream transport requirements
Domain 4: Specimen Collection (12 scored items)
The smallest domain, covering the specimens that accompany an organ.
- Focus on correct collection, identification, and handling of specimens
- Small but not trivial: a dozen scored items can swing a borderline result
Domain 5: Organ Labeling and Packaging for Transport (18 scored items)
The final link in the chain: making sure an organ is identified, packaged, and documented correctly for its journey.
- Accuracy of labeling and completeness of documentation are recurring themes
- Questions often test whether you can spot the error or omission in a described scenario
Key Takeaway
Organ Recovery (30) and Organ Preservation (25) together account for 55 of the 100 scored items. If your time is limited, those two domains deserve the most hours, but the remaining three still make up nearly half the exam.
Eligibility, Fees, and Scheduling Mechanics
Eligibility
Candidates need 12 months of organ-preservation work experience. That experience does not have to be your full-time responsibility, and your application includes a supervisor employee attestation. For the complete picture, see CTP requirements.
Fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Examination fee | $495 |
| Application fee | $150 |
| Total per attempt | $645 |
| International administration surcharge (if applicable) | $225 |
Fees are nonrefundable and apply again if you reapply. That makes your first attempt worth preparing for seriously. Our CTP certification cost breakdown covers the full financial picture, including renewal.
The eligibility window and retakes
ABTC provides a 90-day examination-eligibility window. Public instructions are inconsistent about when that clock starts: some wording suggests payment, others application approval, others eligibility confirmation. Do not assume these are interchangeable. Follow the dates on your individual authorization, and if anything looks inconsistent, resolve it directly with ABTC or PSI before you book your seat.
If you do not pass, retakes require a 90-day interval. After three unsuccessful attempts, you must earn 20 Category 1 CEPTCs before reapplying. Scheduling details are covered further in CTP exam dates.
The 110 Versus 120 Question Conflict
You may encounter sources that describe the exam as having 120 questions. The cause is a public PSI store listing for a practice product, which still describes a 120-question certification exam. That conflicts with the current ABTC candidate handbook, which describes 110 questions: 100 scored plus 10 unscored pretest items.
The handbook is the controlling source for the live exam. The version reviewed is dated August 13, 2026, and its content outline for the CTP appears on PDF pages 39-40. When two sources disagree, prefer the certifying body's current handbook over a retail listing, and recheck the handbook before test day in case it has been updated.
Reading the Historical Pass Rate
ABTC's March 2025 statistical report records a 52% pass rate among 86 candidates for 2024. It is useful context, but it is easy to misread:
- It is a 2024 figure, not a 2026 rate.
- It is not a passing score. Passing is based on performance against the expert-established standard.
- It is not documented as a first-attempt-only rate, so it may blend first-time and repeat candidates.
- With 86 candidates, the sample is small, and year-to-year movement should not be over-interpreted.
The sensible takeaway is that the exam is a genuine hurdle, not a formality, and that preparation matters. For more discussion, see what the pass-rate data shows and how hard the CTP exam is.
A Domain-Ordered Study Sequence
Rather than a generic plan, order your weeks by domain weight and by how the domains depend on one another. The full methodology is in the CTP study guide; here is one way to sequence the content itself.
Organ Recovery foundations
- Start with the largest domain (30 scored items)
- Learn the recovery sequence and the reason behind each step
- Note every asepsis principle you meet; it will resurface later
Organ Preservation
- Study preservation principles while recovery is still fresh
- Practice explaining why one approach fits a scenario better than another
Specimen Collection and Labeling/Packaging
- Pair these two because both depend on accurate identification and documentation
- Drill on spotting errors in described scenarios
Professional Practice and mixed review
- Cover Domain 1 and then interleave all five domains
- Take timed sets to rehearse the two-hour pace across 110 questions
Two hours for 110 questions leaves a little over a minute per item, so timed practice matters. A condensed review is also available in the CTP cheat sheet, and the main practice test site offers question sets for timed drilling.
Original Practice Questions
The following questions are original study aids written for this article. They are not actual exam items and are not represented as such. They test reasoning in the style of one-best-answer questions, and they are for educational review only; always verify current clinical policies and your organization's protocols before applying anything in practice.
Question 1 (Labeling and Packaging)
A package is ready for transport, but the documentation lists an identifier that does not match the label on the container. What is the best next step?
- A. Ship it and correct the paperwork afterward
- B. Resolve the discrepancy and verify identification before the package moves
- C. Remove the label and rely on the paperwork
- D. Ask the receiving team to reconcile it on arrival
Best answer: B. Identification errors should be resolved before transport, not passed downstream.
Question 2 (Professional Practice)
You notice a colleague's documentation is incomplete for a step you were not involved in. What is the most appropriate response?
- A. Ignore it because it is not your step
- B. Complete it from memory of what usually happens
- C. Raise it through the proper channel so the record can be accurately corrected by those responsible
- D. Wait to see if anyone else notices
Best answer: C. Accurate records are maintained by flagging gaps to the right people, not by guessing.
Question 3 (Specimen Collection)
Why is accurate specimen identification emphasized at the point of collection?
- A. It reduces the number of specimens required
- B. It ensures results can be reliably tied to the correct source
- C. It removes the need for later documentation
- D. It speeds up transport
Best answer: B. Results are only useful if they can be traced to the right source.
Staying Certified: Renewal
Certification is valid for three years. To renew, you can either:
- Earn 60 CEPTCs, including at least 20 Category 1 and 10 Category 2 points, or
- Pass the examination again.
The single-certification renewal fee is $395. Because the CEPTC requirement is structured by category, plan your continuing education across the full three years instead of leaving it for the final months. Check ABTC's recertification pages for the current rules before you plan.
Career Value Without Assuming a Pay Premium
It is tempting to ask whether the credential pays for itself, but no figure in this article assumes that certification automatically raises compensation. Whether it helps depends on your employer, your role, and whether the credential is preferred or required where you work. A careful way to weigh it is to compare the total cost per attempt ($645, plus any surcharge) and the renewal fee against concrete benefits you can verify locally, such as job postings that mention it, employer support for fees, or professional credibility in your team.
Our discussions of CTP earnings and whether the certification is worth it take this cautious approach and avoid projecting a guaranteed pay increase. If you want structured preparation, the CTP Exam Prep practice test and the overview of CTP training are good places to continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means Certified Transplant Preservationist, a credential offered by the American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC). It is unrelated to other credentials that share the same acronym.
The current ABTC candidate handbook describes 110 questions: 100 scored and 10 unscored pretest items. A public PSI practice-product listing still mentions 120, but the handbook controls the live exam.
There is no published fixed numeric passing mark to rely on. Passing is based on overall performance against ABTC's expert-established standard, not separate domain passes.
ABTC's March 2025 report records a 52% pass rate among 86 candidates for 2024. That is historical, not a 2026 rate or a passing score, and it is not documented as first-attempt-only.
An attempt costs $645: a $495 exam fee plus a $150 application fee. An additional $225 international administration surcharge may apply, and fees are nonrefundable.