Become a Pelvic Pain Specialist

Complete the Application

• Upload an up-to-date curriculum vitae or résumé.
• Upload a current license in your designated field, if applicable.
• Provide a 500-word statement describing your qualifications and contributions to the field.
• Document 50 hours of pelvic pain-related education completed during the last three years. Documentation must include IPPS meetings and may include Convergences PP, PainWeek, ISSWSH, or equivalent interdisciplinary pelvic pain education.
• Provide two letters evaluating your accomplishments, reputation, clinical competence, and ethical values. One must come from an IPPS member; the other may come from a community colleague or academic or institutional leader.
• Acknowledge that you reviewed the IPPS Ethics, Professionalism, and Equality Policy .
• Acknowledge that the IPPS Office will send the PPSD Test after application submission.
• Confirm that the information submitted is true and accurate.

Equivalent meetings: Submit both the academic program and certificate of attendance for each meeting. The documented education must still total at least 50 hours.

You will be prompted to create an application account, allowing you to save your work and return before submitting.

Pay the Designation Fee

• A $300 non-refundable fee is due upon approval.
• The IPPS PPSD is valid for five years.
• Renewal requires 50 hours of documented pelvic pain education plus continued compliance with membership and Annual Scientific Meeting requirements. The renewal fee is $200.

Study and Complete the PPSD Test

• Use the IPPS PPSD Reading Guide to prepare for the test.
• Complete the test using the link provided by the IPPS Office.
• Earn a score of at least 85% to pass.
• If needed, the test may be attempted up to three times. Questions are randomized, and multiple versions are used.

Studying with the PPSD Reading Guide is highly recommended.

Application Review and Decision

• The application and test score are verified and sent to the Executive Board for final review.
• A recommendation is presented to the Board of Directors, which makes the final designation decision.
• The IPPS Office notifies each applicant of their status by email.