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Dip HIV ManQuestion & explanation
Choosing ARV regimens in patients who are failing on first or second line ARVs
A 42-year-old woman on TLD2 for 10 months has two viral loads above 1 000 copies/mL despite adherence support. Her resistance test result is not yet available. A colleague suggests switching her empirically to a boosted PI regimen now. What is the correct response?
A
Switch to TDF/3TC with LPV/r now and adjust the regimen when the result arrives
B
Switch to ABC/3TC/DTG now, because the TDF backbone may be the reason for failure
C
Add a boosted PI to TLD now to cover possible resistance until the result returns
D
Do not switch until InSTI resistance is confirmed on a resistance test · Correct
E
Stop all ART until the resistance result is available
Understand why.
The guidelines state there should be no empirical switches from DTG to a PI-containing regimen; DTG-containing regimens are changed only when InSTI resistance is confirmed on a genotypic resistance test. InSTI resistance on second-line DTG is uncommon, so most such clients can re-suppress on TLD with better adherence. Stopping ART would encourage resistance and disease progression.
National Consolidated Guidelines 2026, What's new: No DTG-containing regimen changes without a resistance test (p. xv); HIV drug resistance (p. 99)
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Switch from learning by topic to a timed Certiva mock exam. Review your results after the paper and return to the areas that need work.
Paper 1 mock exam
Included in your pass100 case-based single-best-answer and extended-matching questions across every Professional Activity in the blueprint, in one timed session.
Start Paper 1 mockResume Paper 1 mock100questions
2 hourstimed practice
Paper 2 mock exam
Included in your pass60 data-interpretation questions: half laboratory results (HIV and TB tests, viral loads and CD4 counts, LFTs, FBCs, renal and CSF results), half clinical images (photographs, X-rays, scans and microscopy).
Start Paper 2 mockResume Paper 2 mock60questions
2 hourstimed practice
Each mock matches the marks and time in the CMSA regulations (Paper 1: 100, Paper 2: 60, two hours each). Mock exams require active access. For official exam formats and dates, consult the CMSA.
Your syllabus
coverage.
Make your next decision count. Explore the topics covered by this question bank and their source references.
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29 topic sections
Prevention: PEP, PrEP and counselling
PEP occupational · PEP after sexual assault · PrEP for HIV Negative persons · Counselling on HIV prevention · Ethical considerations around HIV counselling, confidentiality and disclosure
Source references: National PEP Guidelines 2021; APC 2023; PHC STG 2026; SAHCS PEP Guideline 2023; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS PrEP Guideline 2025
Practise this topicTesting and starting adults on ART
Understanding, Interpreting and managing patients HIV test results · Recognising and managing seroconversion illness in newly infected patients with HIV · Assessment of newly diagnosed HIV positive patient /patient who defaulted who is clinically ill · Initiation and monitoring of ARVs in patients with uncomplicated HIV · Re-initiating treatment in a patient that defaulted ARVs
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS Adult ART Guidelines 2023; PHC STG 2026; National PEP Guidelines 2021; SAHCS PrEP Guideline 2025; DMOC SOPs 2025
Practise this topicAdults on ART: treatment failure and OI prophylaxis
Diagnosing and counselling of adults with virological failure · Choosing ARV regimens in patients who are failing on first or second line ARVs · Primary and secondary OI prophylaxis in patients with HIV including TPT
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS Adult ART Guidelines 2023; SAHCS 2023 Adult ART Guidelines: What's new?; NDoH HIV Drug Resistance Regimens 2025; Hospital Adult STG 2026; NDoH Guidelines on the Treatment of TB Infection 2023
Practise this topicTesting and starting children on ART
Identifying children with HIV infection · Interpreting and managing HIV test results in neonates, infants and children · Preparing the newly diagnosed child or neonate for ART initiation · Initiating and monitoring of ARVs in neonates · Initiation, management and monitoring of ARVs in children · Initiation and completion of CTX prophylaxis in HIV positive children
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; Paediatric Hospital STG 2023
Practise this topicChildren on ART: treatment failure
Diagnosing virological failure in children on first or second line ARVs · Choosing ARV regimens in patients who are failing on first or second line ARVs · Counselling a caregiver looking after a child with virological failure
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; HIV Drug Resistance Regimens 2025; Paediatric Hospital STG 2023; DMOC SOPs 2025
Practise this topicComplications and comorbid disease in children
Understanding BCG vaccination in HIV positive children and management of complications · Managing acute lung infections in children with HIV · Diagnosing and managing chronic lung infections in children with HIV · Managing ENT infections in children with HIV · Diagnosing & managing developmental delay mental sequelae for children / adolescents with HIV
Source references: Management of TB in Children and Adolescents 2024; PHC STG 2026; Paediatric Hospital STG 2023; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS Mental health and CNS sequelae in HIV-positive children and adolescents 2014
Practise this topicTB in children with HIV
Diagnosing and managing TB in the HIV positive child · Prevention of TB in the HIV positive child / exposed neonate · Managing ARVs in the HIV positive child with TB
Source references: Management of TB in Children and Adolescents 2024; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; Paediatric Hospital STG 2023
Practise this topicAdolescents with HIV
Managing vulnerable and key populations with HIV · Improving adherence in adolescents · Transitioning the child / adolescent to adult regimens and services · Creating a Youth Friendly service · Disclosing to a child / adolescent their status
Source references: SAHCS Adolescent Adherence Guideline 2017; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; National Contraception Clinical Guidelines 2019; DMOC SOPs 2025
Practise this topicPMTCT: pregnancy, labour, the exposed infant and breastfeeding
HIV in Pregnant women · HIV positive woman in labour · Managing neonatal prophylaxis of HIV exposed infant · Managing breast feeding in mothers with HIV · Screening and prevention of TB in pregnant women with HIV
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; Maternal and Perinatal Care Guideline 2024
Practise this topicSexual health and family planning
Family Planning for couples with HIV · Cervical screening and HPV management in women with HIV · Managing STIs in persons with HIV
Source references: National Contraception Clinical Guidelines 2019; PHC STG 2026; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; Cervical Cancer Elimination Framework 2026; Hospital STG 2024; SAHCS Syphilis Guideline
Practise this topicTB and HIV in adults
Diagnosing and managing TB and EPTB in the HIV positive patient · Managing HIV treatment in patients with drug sensitive TB · Managing HIV treatment in adults and children >6 years of age with DRTB · Identifying and Managing TB IRIS
Source references: NDoH Guidelines on Treatment of TB Infection 2023; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; APC 2023 Clinical Tool; PHC STG 8th ed.; Hospital Adult STG 2024; SAHCS Adult Hospital AHD Guidelines 2022
Practise this topicNeurological presentations
HIV positive patient with focal neurological signs · HIV positive patient with seizures · HIV positive patient with confusion / delirium · HIV positive patient with signs of meningitis · HIV positive patient with encephalopathy / dementia
Source references: SAHCS Adult Hospital AHD Guidelines 2022; Hospital Adult STG 2024; APC 2023 Clinical Tool; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS Cryptococcal guideline update 2026
Practise this topicGastro-intestinal symptoms and weight loss
Assessment and Management of patients with diarrhoea (acute and chronic) · Assessment and Management of patients with abdominal symptoms and weight loss
Source references: SAHCS Adult Hospital AHD Guidelines 2022; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; Hospital Adult STG 2024; APC 2023 clinical tool; SAHCS NTM guideline 2024
Practise this topicRespiratory presentations
Patient with HIV and acute respiratory symptoms · Patients with HIV and chronic lung infections
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS Adult Hospital AHD Guidelines 2022; Hospital Adult STG 2024; PHC STG 2026; SAHCS NTM guideline 2024
Practise this topicOral lesions
Oral lesions prevalent in patient with HIV · Management of oral and oesophageal candidiasis · Management of severe gum disease in patients with HIV · Management of mouth ulcers in patients with HIV
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; APC 2023 clinical tool; PHC STG 2026; Hospital Adult STG 2024
Practise this topicSkin presentations
Management of HIV specific skin conditions · Common skin conditions diagnosed in patients with HIV
Source references: PHC STG 2026; Hospital Adult STG 2024; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; APC 2023 clinical tool; SAHCS Adult Hospital AHD Guidelines 2022
Practise this topicMental health
Depression and anxiety in patient with HIV · Psychosis in patient with HIV
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS Mental health guideline 2014; PHC STG 2026; APC 2023 clinical tool; SAHCS AHD guideline 2022; Hospital Adult STG 2024
Practise this topicHIV-related malignancy
Identification and management of Kaposi sarcoma · Diagnosis and management of lymphoma in patients with HIV
Source references: Hospital Adult STG 2024; SAHCS AHD guideline 2022; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; APC 2023 clinical tool
Practise this topicVision loss and eye lesions
New onset vision loss in a patient with HIV · Eye lesions in patients with HIV
Source references: Hospital Adult STG 2024; APC 2023 clinical tool; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; PHC STG 2026
Practise this topicAbnormal LFTs, DILI and hepatitis B
Managing the patient with HIV with new onset jaundice (new or already on TB or HIV treatment) · Managing the patient with HIV and Hep B co-infection
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS DILI guideline 2024; PHC STG 8th ed.; Hospital Adult STG 2024
Practise this topicThe abnormal FBC
Managing the abnormal FBC in patients with HIV
Source references: Hospital Adult STG 2024; PHC STG 8th ed.; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS Adult Hospital AHD Guidelines 2022; SAHCS NTM guideline 2024
Practise this topicMetabolic complications on ART
Gynaecomastia in patients on ARVs · Hyperlipidaemia and / or weight gain / lipodystrophy
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; APC 2023 clinical tool; Hospital Adult STG 2024; SAHCS Adult ART Guidelines 2023; PHC STG 8th ed.
Practise this topicNeurological adverse events on ART
Managing Neurological adverse events due to ARVs
Source references: SAHCS Adult ART Guidelines 2023; Hospital Adult STG 2024; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026
Practise this topicImpaired renal function
The patient not on ARVs with increased creatinine · Deteriorating renal function in a patient on ARVs · The patient with HIV and chronic kidney disease
Source references: Hospital Adult STG 2024; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS Adult ART Guidelines 2023; SAHCS HIV Palliative Care Guidelines 2018
Practise this topicDrug rashes on ART
Managing a drug-related rash in a patient on ARVs
Source references: Hospital Adult STG 2024; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; PHC STG 8th ed.; SAHCS DILI Guideline 2024; NDoH Guidelines on the Treatment of TB Infection 2023
Practise this topicChronic comorbid disease
Patients with HIV with cardiovascular disease / diabetes / metabolic syndrome · Patients with HIV and epilepsy · Managing a patient with HIV and acid reflux / peptic ulcer disease · Managing a patient with HIV and DVT / pulmonary embolism
Source references: Hospital Adult STG 2024; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; PHC STG 8th ed.; APC 2023 clinical tool
Practise this topicAdherence, key populations and palliative care
Counselling a patient on ARVs with poor adherence · Creating accessible health care programs for key populations · Creating accessible health care services for patients with HIV in rural and underserviced areas · Palliative and rehabilitative care for patients with HIV
Source references: DMOC SOPs 2025; National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; SAHCS PrEP guideline 2025; National PEP guidelines 2021; SAHCS harm reduction guideline 2020; SAHCS HIV palliative care guideline 2018
Practise this topicPaper 2: data interpretation
Viral load and CD4 · HIV testing · Infant and child testing · Drug resistance · PMTCT results · TB diagnostics · and more
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; HIV Drug Resistance Regimens 2025; NDoH RR-TB Clinical Guidelines 2023; PHC STG/EML 8th ed.; APC 2023 clinical tool; Hospital Adult STG/EML 2024
Practise this topicPaper 2: clinical images
Oral lesions · Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma · Skin · Eye · STIs · Drug reactions · and more
Source references: National Consolidated Guidelines 2026; PHC STG 8th ed.; Hospital Adult STG 2024; NDoH National TB Management Guidelines 2014; SAHCS Adult Hospital AHD Guidelines 2022; SAHCS STI guidelines 2022
Practise this topicExam at a glance
What is the Dip HIV Man exam?
The Dip HIV Man(SA) is the Diploma in HIV Management of the College of Family Physicians, examined by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). The written exam has two MCQ papers: Paper 1 is case-based and Paper 2 is clinical data interpretation, with X-rays, photographs, charts and results. Certiva prepares you for both papers.
Last checked 28 October 2026 against the official CMSA page · blueprint (PDF). Certiva is independent of the CMSA, so always confirm details there.
| Official name | Dip HIV Man(SA) |
|---|---|
| Run by | Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), College of Family Physicians |
| Papers | 2 written MCQ papers: single best answer and extended matching |
| Marks | Paper 1 (case-based): 100 marks, 62.5%. Paper 2 (data interpretation): 60 marks, 37.5%. |
| Duration | Two hours per paper (CMSA regulations) |
| Eligibility | Six months supervised HIV experience, or twelve months unsupervised in a high HIV-burden facility plus at least 40 hours of accredited HIV CPD |
| CMSA exam fee | R15,100 (at last check) |
| When it is written | Twice a year, February and July. Next sitting: Tue 2 Feb 2027 (CMSA timetable; always confirm with the CMSA). |
| Past papers | Not published: questions stay in a secure CMSA bank. |
| Certiva bank | Explained questions on every Professional Activity, answered from the 2026 national guidelines, and timed mock exams |
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What does the Dip HIV Man Exam Pass include?
Your Dip HIV Man Exam Pass includes the full question bank and two timed mock exams, mapped to the CMSA syllabus; the exact guideline section for every answer; a tracker that picks your next topic, with smart revision and a readiness score; a week-by-week study plan to your sitting; two UCT-accredited ethics CPD courses; and a refund or more time if you don’t pass. The 3-, 6- and 12-month passes have the same features, are paid once and don’t renew. The CV and cover-letter maker and one SAMA-accredited ethics CPD course are free for everyone.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. Try five questions with explanations and guideline references, with no account or card. Then create a free account for the mini mock exam: 20 questions across the syllabus, then your weakest topics and the guideline sections to read. Try 5 questions free.
How does the tracker know what I should revise?
After each session, your tracker shows the topics you’re scoring below 60% and the exact section to read. Questions you get wrong come back after 10 minutes, then after 1, 3 and 7 days. Your readiness score appears after 50 questions across 3 topics. It is a study guide, not a prediction of your result.
What happens if I do not pass?
The bank and the mock exams are the plan. Answer at least 60% of the question bank and do every mock exam before your sitting, with no minimum score. If you still don’t pass, send your result within 30 days and choose your money back or twice your pass length, free. Monthly membership, group passes and the CPD bundle are excluded. Read the full refund terms.
Does it work on my phone between calls?
Yes. Certiva runs in your phone’s browser, so a 20-minute session between calls counts. Your progress is saved to your account, and questions you miss come back for revision after 10 minutes, then after 1, 3 and 7 days.
I’m writing in a few weeks. Is it still worth it?
Yes, if you use it to find and fix your weakest topics. Start with a timed mock exam, then let the tracker pick what to revise. To stay eligible for a refund or more time, answer at least 60% of the question bank and do every mock exam before your sitting.
Is Certiva the official CMSA resource?
No. Certiva is independent exam preparation and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the CMSA. This page describes Certiva’s practice material, not official exam regulations. Check the CMSA website for current regulations, eligibility and exam dates.
What is the format of the Dip HIV Man exam?
The Dip HIV Man(SA) is the Diploma in HIV Management of the College of Family Physicians, examined by the CMSA. There are two MCQ papers of two hours each: Paper 1 is case-based (100 marks) and Paper 2 is clinical data interpretation with X-rays, photographs, charts and results (60 marks). Both use single-best-answer and extended-matching questions. Certiva prepares you for both papers, from the CMSA blueprint and the 2026 national guidelines.
Can I get Dip HIV Man past papers?
No. The CMSA keeps its MCQs in a secure bank and does not release them. A question bank mapped to the blueprint, with explained answers from the current guidelines, is the closest alternative. Try 5 questions free.