CERTIFIED CARDIAC DEVICE SPECIALIST —
EXAM-FOCUSED PRACTICE • 2026 EDITION
Original practice material • Not an actual exam • Not a reproduction of the linked Stuvia document
Use with current IBHRE materials. The current IBHRE CCDS examination is a 200-item computer-based
multiple-choice examination with a four-hour administration time. IBHRE describes the content broadly across
electrophysiology science, device technology/design/function, clinical diagnosis and management of tachy- and
bradyarrhythmias, and patient/device follow-up management of CIEDs. ■cite■turn0search1■turn0search23■
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, HIGH-YIELD EXAM FRAMEWORK
Think in four layers: (1) electrophysiology, (2) device/lead technology, (3) rhythm diagnosis and clinical management, and (4)
patient/device follow-up. These are the major knowledge domains identified by IBHRE for CCDS. ■cite■turn0search1■turn0search23■
Core troubleshooting sequence: Patient stability → presenting symptom/event → stored electrograms → sensing → capture →
impedance → battery → programmed parameters → trends → clinical action.
Five distinctions to memorize: oversensing vs undersensing; loss of capture vs failure to pace; conductor fracture vs insulation breach;
appropriate vs inappropriate ICD therapy; programmed pacing percentage vs effective capture.
EXAM-DAY FORMULAS
Concept Formula / principle
Ohm's law V=I×R
Current I=V÷R
Charge Q=I×t
Energy (basic pacing relationship) Energy is proportional to voltage × current × pulse duration
Series resistance Rtotal = R1 + R2 + …
Two resistors in parallel Req = (R1 × R2) ÷ (R1 + R2)
Sensitivity convention For common CIED sensing notation: lower mV value = greater sensitivity.
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, 1. ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY FUNDAMENTALS
1. Rheobase is best defined as:
A. The minimum current amplitude required at an indefinitely long pulse duration
B. The pulse width at twice threshold
C. The maximum safe pacing output
D. The voltage divided by resistance
ANSWER: A. The minimum current amplitude required at an indefinitely long pulse duration
Rationale: Rheobase is the minimum stimulus strength capable of exciting tissue when pulse duration is effectively very long.
Exam trap / memory cue: Memory cue: Rheobase = baseline strength.
2. Chronaxie is conventionally described as:
A. The pulse duration needed at twice rheobase to achieve excitation
B. The maximum refractory period
C. The intrinsic ventricular rate
D. The sensing amplitude
ANSWER: A. The pulse duration needed at twice rheobase to achieve excitation
Rationale: Chronaxie relates pulse duration to stimulus strength and is defined using twice the rheobase current.
Exam trap / memory cue: Trap: Chronaxie is a time measure, not a voltage.
3. Using Q = I × t, a 5 mA pulse lasting 0.4 ms has a charge of:
A. 2 µC
B. 0.2 µC
C. 20 µC
D. 200 µC
ANSWER: A. 2 µC
Rationale: 5 mA × 0.4 ms = 2 µC after converting units appropriately.
Exam trap / memory cue: Exam cue: Keep current and time in compatible units.
4. Ohm's law is represented by:
A. V = I × R
B. I = V × R
C. R = V × I
D. V = I ÷ R
ANSWER: A. V = I × R
Rationale: Voltage equals current multiplied by resistance.
Exam trap / memory cue: Memory cue: V-I-R triangle.
5. If resistance increases while applied voltage remains constant, current will:
A. Decrease
B. Increase
C. Remain identical
D. Become zero in every case
ANSWER: A. Decrease
Rationale: By I = V/R, increasing resistance decreases current when voltage is fixed.
Exam trap / memory cue: Trap: Constant voltage and constant current behave differently.
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