WHODrug's certification service
WHODrug Insignia learning path
Everything you need to prepare for the WHODrug Insignia exam in one place, from the basics of the terminology to its practical use.
Learn at your own pace
Follow the courses in order, from the basics of the terminology to its practical use, at a pace that suits you.
Practise before the exam
Course 7, Additional learning materials, includes optional practice questions to help you get familiar with the exam format.
Take the exam when ready
When you feel prepared, take the WHODrug Insignia exam at the end of this learning path. A score of at least 80% is required to pass.
Learning programme contents
Questions and answers
About
WHODrug Insignia
Is
WHODrug Insignia meant for a specific role, or can any WHODrug user get
certified?
WHODrug
Insignia is open to all WHODrug users, whether you work as a coder, data
analyst, quality or compliance reviewer, drug safety specialist, or manager
overseeing WHODrug use. The exam tests general knowledge of WHODrug Global, not
role-specific tasks.
Is
WHODrug Insignia a requirement for working with WHODrug?
No.
WHODrug Insignia recognises and supports professional development. It is not
intended to be used as a hiring requirement or as a basis for performance
evaluation or employment decisions.
Is WHODrug Insignia an academic qualification or
a professional licence?
No. WHODrug Insignia is a certification service
from UMC that recognises knowledge and expertise in WHODrug Global. It is not
an accredited academic qualification or a professional licence.
Eligibility
and access
What
do I need to get the certificate?
Your
organisation must have an active WHODrug subscription, and you need a personal
user account with access to WHODrug Insight. To receive the certificate, you
must pass the exam with a score of 80% or higher.
How
do I get a user account?
User accounts are created by your organisation’s
Access Manager and provide access to WHODrug applications and our online
learning platform. If you do not have a user account, contact your
organisation’s Access Manager. If they are unable to help, or you do not know
who your Access Manager is, contact us at support@who-umc.org.
Why
do I need access to WHODrug Insight?
The exam includes practical exercises that
require you to search WHODrug Insight to answer questions. Access to WHODrug
Insight depends on your organisation’s subscription type. If you are unsure
whether you have access, contact your organisation’s Access Manager. If they
are unable to help, contact us at support@who-umc.org.
Do
I need to pay to take the exam?
No. The exam is included with your organisation’s WHODrug subscription.
Can
I take the exam if my organisation does not have an active WHODrug
subscription?
No.
The exam is only available through an active WHODrug subscription and cannot be
purchased separately.
Preparing
for the exam
How
should I prepare for the exam?
You
can prepare using WHODrug training materials, including self-paced courses,
webinars, tutorials, and documentation. For a structured path, we recommend
following the WHODrug Insignia learning path on our online learning platform
[here].
I
only use one WHODrug format (B3 or C3) in my work. Is there a certification
focused on that format?
No.
The exam covers the general use of WHODrug Global rather than specialised
knowledge of a particular format.
Is
the exam based on a specific version of WHODrug Global?
No.
The exam is not tied to a specific version of WHODrug Global. It covers
principles and practices that apply across versions.
Are
the scenarios in the exam based on real cases?
No.
Exam questions are based on tasks commonly performed by WHODrug users, such as
drug coding, classification, grouping, and data analysis. However, the
medicines, products, datasets, and scenarios used are fictional examples
created specifically for the exam. They do not represent real cases, safety
analyses, or regulatory scenarios.
Taking
the exam
What
resources can I use during the exam?
You
may use only the tools and resources provided as part of the WHODrug Insignia
learning path, including WHODrug Insight, which is required for some exam
questions. You may not use AI tools or other external resources to answer
questions, ask another person for help, or share exam questions or answers with
anyone else.
What
languages is the exam available in?
The
exam is only available in English.
How
much time do I have to complete the exam?
You
have two hours to complete it.
Do I need an internet connection to take the
exam?
Yes. The exam is taken on our web-based online
learning platform and requires a stable internet connection throughout. It
cannot be taken offline.
What
happens if I lose my internet connection or my browser closes during the exam?
Your
answers are automatically saved for up to 30 minutes. If you return to the exam
within that time, you can continue where you left off. If you return after
that, your attempt will be recorded as unsuccessful
and the retake policy will apply.
Results
and retakes
How
soon will I get my exam results?
You
will see whether you have passed immediately after submitting the exam. Your
score and the correct answers are not shared. If you pass, your certificate
will be sent to the email address registered on our online learning platform.
What
happens if I do not pass the exam?
You can take it again. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but a waiting period applies between attempts:
- Second attempt: after a 24-hour wait.
- Third attempt: after a 90-day wait.
- If the third attempt is unsuccessful: a 12-month wait from the date of your first attempt before trying again, after which the cycle restarts.
If
I have concerns about a specific exam question, can I request a review?
Yes.
Write to support@who-umc.org
describing the question and your concern, and our team will review it. Please
note that we cannot share scores or correct answers.
Validity
and renewal
How
long is the certificate valid for?
The
certificate is valid for five years from the date you pass the exam.
Does
the certificate indicate which version of WHODrug it was based on?
No.
The certificate is not tied to a specific version of WHODrug Global.
If
WHODrug is updated, is my certificate still valid or do I need to get certified
again?
It
stays valid. There is no need to recertify when WHODrug is updated to a new
version.
Do
I need to pay to renew my certificate?
No.
Renewal simply involves retaking the exam and is included as long as your
organisation’s WHODrug subscription remains active.
When
can I renew my certificate?
You
can renew your certificate up to three months before it expires. We will notify
you when that window opens. Renewing earlier is not possible.
Managing
your certificate
I
can’t find the link to my certificate. How can I get it back?
You
can search for your certificate here using the email address
it was issued to. You can also write to support@who-umc.org
and ask us to resend the link. We can only resend the link to the email address
the certificate was originally issued to.
Can
I change the name on my certificate?
Minor
corrections, such as spelling mistakes, can be made by writing to support@who-umc.org. We cannot change the name the certificate was issued
to.
Can
I change the email address for my certificate?
No.
Your certificate stays linked to the email address it was issued to. We
recommend saving the link so that you always have access.
Can
I share my certificate on my CV, email signature, or LinkedIn?
Yes.
You are welcome to share it wherever you wish.
How
can someone verify that my certificate is authentic?
They
can open the link to your certificate and click “Verify”.
What
format will I receive my certificate in (PDF, digital badge, both)?
You
will receive a link to your digital certificate, which you can download as a
PDF, image, or QR code. It is also available in JSON format for sharing across
digital channels and social media, such as LinkedIn.
How
do I add the certificate to my LinkedIn profile?
You
will find detailed instructions here.
Your
certificate and your organisation
Is
my certificate personal, or does it belong to the organisation I work for?
It
is personal and belongs to you. We recommend saving the link to your
certificate somewhere you can always access it. If you lose access to the email
address it was issued to (for
example, after leaving your organisation), it may be difficult
to retrieve later.
Is
my certificate linked to the organisation I work for in any way?
Only
in the sense that an active WHODrug subscription is required to take the exam.
The organisation’s name does not appear on your certificate.
What
happens if I stop working for the organisation that had the WHODrug
subscription? Will my certificate still be valid?
Yes,
your certificate remains valid. To renew it when it expires, you will need
access to an active WHODrug subscription, for example through a new
organisation.
What
happens if my organisation cancels its WHODrug subscription? Will my
certificate remain valid?
Yes.
Your certificate remains valid until it expires. However, renewal requires an
active WHODrug subscription.
Privacy
and support
What
happens to my personal data when I sign up for the exam?
You
can read more about how personal data is handled here.
How
do I contact support if I have a problem not covered here?
Fill
out this support
form with your details so we can help you.
Who we are
Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) is an independent, self-funded, non-profit foundation dedicated to safer use of medicines and vaccines. UMC advances the science of pharmacovigilance and transforms its practice through technological innovation.
Who we are
Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) is an independent, self-funded, non-profit foundation dedicated to safer use of medicines and vaccines. UMC advances the science of pharmacovigilance and transforms its practice through technological innovation.
Copyright © 2026
Who we are
Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) is an independent, self-funded, non-profit foundation dedicated to safer use of medicines and vaccines. UMC advances the science of pharmacovigilance and transforms its practice through technological innovation.
Find us on social media
Copyright © 2026
Copyright © 2026
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