The primary purpose of the Board, and therefore its most essential function, is protection of the public through the establishment and maintenance of standards in the field of cardiovascular perfusion. To achieve this objective, the Board has established qualifications for examination and procedures for recertification. Its requirements and procedures are reviewed and modified periodically as necessary.

Certification in cardiovascular perfusion is evidence that a perfusionist's qualifications for operation of extracorporeal equipment are recognized by his/her peers. It is not intended to define requirements for employment, to gain special recognition or privileges, to define the scope of extracorporeal circulation, or to state who may not engage in cardiovascular perfusion. Certification of a clinical perfusionist does not relieve an employer from determining the professional responsibilities of a cardiovascular perfusionist in his/her specific clinical setting.

The Board does not use or sanction the terms, "Board Eligible" or "Board Qualified." The Board does not consider any perfusionist to be qualified for examination until he/she has made formal application for examination and has been accepted. Acceptance for examination acknowledges only that the candidate has successfully fulfilled the requirements, but confers no recognition as a specialist in perfusion.

The Board will report the status of a perfusionist as certified, not certified or has made application and has been accepted for examination.