100+ Free Dip HIV Man(SA) Practice Questions

Pass your Diploma in HIV Management of the College of Family Physicians of South Africa: Dip HIV Man(SA) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Sample Dip HIV Man(SA) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Dip HIV Man(SA) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A nurse sustains a hollow-bore needle-stick injury from a known HIV-positive source patient immediately after drawing blood. What is the most appropriate next step regarding post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)?

A.Give a single dose of nevirapine only and discharge if the wound looks clean

B.Defer PEP until the source patient's viral load result from today is available

C.Wait 72 hours to see if seroconversion symptoms develop before starting PEP

D.Start recommended PEP as soon as possible, ideally within hours of exposure, and complete a full course

Explanation: Occupational HIV PEP should be started as soon as possible after a significant exposure—ideally within hours—and continued for the full recommended course while source and recipient testing is completed. Delaying PEP for VL results, giving single-dose NVP alone, or waiting for symptoms all miss the prevention window.

2A survivor of sexual assault presents within 24 hours. HIV status of the assailant is unknown. Which statement best reflects correct PEP practice in South African HIV care?

A.PEP should be delayed until police case numbers are issued

B.PEP should be offered promptly according to national sexual-assault PEP guidance, with HIV testing, counselling and STI care

C.Only hepatitis B vaccine is indicated; HIV PEP is reserved for known HIV-positive assailants

D.PEP is never indicated if the assailant’s HIV status is unknown

Explanation: After sexual assault, HIV PEP should be offered promptly when indicated by national guidance, alongside HIV testing, counselling and broader STI/forensic care. Unknown assailant status does not automatically exclude PEP, and administrative or police steps must not delay clinical prevention.

3An HIV-negative adult at ongoing substantial risk of sexual HIV acquisition asks about oral PrEP. According to current Southern African PrEP practice, which statement is most accurate?

A.Oral PrEP replaces the need for condoms and STI screening indefinitely

B.PrEP is only for sex workers and is contraindicated in serodifferent couples

C.Daily oral F/TDF is an established PrEP option; event-driven dosing may be suitable for some cisgender men who have sex with men as per SAHCS guidance

D.Oral F/TDF PrEP is taken only once after a high-risk event and never as daily therapy

Explanation: Daily oral emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate remains a core PrEP option in Southern Africa. SAHCS also describes event-driven (2-1-1) oral dosing for eligible cisgender MSM. PrEP complements—not replaces—condoms and STI care and is not limited to one key population.

4Before starting oral PrEP, which baseline action is essential?

A.Mandate a genotype resistance test in all PrEP starters

B.Start PrEP immediately without testing if the client feels well

C.Require a CD4 count below 200 before PrEP can be issued

D.Confirm HIV-negative status with appropriate testing and assess contraindications such as significant renal impairment for TDF-based PrEP

Explanation: PrEP must only be started in people confirmed HIV-negative, with assessment for contraindications (including renal considerations for TDF-based regimens) and ongoing HIV testing on follow-up. CD4 thresholds and routine genotypes are ART concepts, not PrEP initiation requirements.

5A client on daily oral PrEP reports missing several doses over two weeks and had condomless sex yesterday. What is the best counselling emphasis?

A.Stop all prevention permanently after any missed dose

B.Discuss reduced protection with poor adherence, the need for HIV testing, and strategies to restart consistent use or switch prevention method

C.Switch immediately to third-line ART without testing

D.Missed doses never matter because PrEP has indefinite intracellular protection

Explanation: PrEP effectiveness depends on adherence around exposure. Counselling should address possible reduced protection, prompt HIV testing, and practical adherence or alternative prevention options—not false reassurance or inappropriate ART switches.

6Which ethical principle is most directly violated if a clinician discloses a patient’s HIV status to an employer without lawful basis or patient consent?

A.Mandatory public naming of all people with HIV

B.Confidentiality and respect for privacy of health information

C.Duty to refuse all partner notification in every circumstance

D.Obligation to publish CD4 counts in the workplace

Explanation: HIV status is sensitive health information. Disclosure to employers without consent or a clear lawful basis breaches confidentiality. Partner notification follows specific public-health frameworks and never justifies casual workplace disclosure.

7When counselling an HIV-negative person on combination HIV prevention, which package is most appropriate?

A.Stopping all sexual activity as the only acceptable advice

B.BCG vaccination as primary adult HIV prevention

C.Discussion of condoms, PrEP where indicated, PEP after exposures, STI care, and treatment-as-prevention if a partner has HIV

D.ART for the negative partner only, with no other options discussed

Explanation: Comprehensive prevention counselling covers behavioural and biomedical options: condoms, PrEP, PEP, STI services, and U=U/treatment-as-prevention when a partner is on effective ART. Single-option or irrelevant advice (e.g., BCG) is incomplete.

8According to South African 2023 ART clinical guidelines, what is the preferred first-line ART regimen for most ART-naïve adults and adolescents who qualify for tenofovir?

A.Zidovudine + lamivudine + nevirapine

B.Lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy

C.Stavudine + didanosine + efavirenz

D.Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate + lamivudine + dolutegravir (TLD)

Explanation: NDoH 2023 ART guidelines recommend TLD (TDF/3TC/DTG) as preferred first-line for most eligible adults and adolescents. Older thymidine-analogue/NNRTI combinations and PI monotherapy are not preferred first-line options.

9A newly diagnosed adult is clinically well. Which statement best reflects current same-day ART initiation principles in South Africa?

A.ART should wait until two consecutive genotypes are available

B.Same-day or rapid ART initiation is encouraged once HIV is confirmed and major contraindications/opportunistic issues are addressed

C.ART is only started when the patient develops an AIDS-defining illness

D.ART must always be deferred for four weeks of counselling alone if CD4 is above 500

Explanation: South African guidance supports rapid/same-day ART after confirmed HIV diagnosis, with clinical assessment for conditions that need concurrent management. High CD4 no longer justifies withholding ART, and genotypes are not routine before first-line TLD.

10An adult on TLD has a routine viral load of 320 copies/mL. What is the most appropriate immediate management step per NDoH VL algorithms?

A.Stop ART for a structured treatment interruption

B.Immediately switch to third-line ART the same day

C.Perform a thorough ABCDE-type assessment of causes of viraemia (adherence, interactions, dosing, intercurrent illness) and arrange appropriate follow-up VL

D.Ignore any VL below 1000 copies/mL permanently

Explanation: On DTG regimens, VL ≥50 copies/mL prompts assessment of adherence, drug interactions, dosing errors and intercurrent illness (ABCDE approach), with timed repeat VL—not automatic third-line switching or treatment interruption.

About the Dip HIV Man(SA) Exam

The Dip HIV Man(SA) is an outcome assessment from the College of Family Physicians under the CMSA for doctors managing HIV in primary care, community health centres, general practice and district hospitals. It is offered twice yearly (typically February and July), is not tied to a university course, and examines the breadth of a 27-Professional-Activity curriculum covering prevention, adult and paediatric ART, women's health, opportunistic infections, adverse events, comorbidity and adherence support.

Assessment

Two online written papers only (no oral): Paper 1 case-based single-best-answer and extended-matching MCQs (100 marks, 62.5% weighting) and Paper 2 clinical data-interpretation MCQs including media such as X-rays, photographs, charts and laboratory results (60 marks, 37.5% weighting). Items map to 27 Professional Activities (87 observable professional activities) in the CMSA Dip HIV Man(SA) curriculum blueprint.

Time Limit

CMSA regulations (December 2021) specify two papers of two hours each. Confirm exact online sitting duration in the candidate information pack for your examination session.

Passing Score

Pass mark is determined by Modified Cohen65 standard setting at the 90th centile with 1× SEM added to the aggregated written mark (total 160). CMSA does not publish a fixed percentage cut-score.

Exam Fee

R15 100 listed on the CMSA Dip HIV Man(SA) diploma page; confirm the current fee on cmsa.co.za before application. (Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), College of Family Physicians)

Dip HIV Man(SA) Exam Content Outline

HIV Prevention (PrEP, PEP, Counselling & Ethics)

Occupational and sexual-assault PEP, PrEP, prevention counselling and HIV ethics (PA 1.1).

Adult ART Initiation, Monitoring & Treatment Failure

Testing, initiation/monitoring on TLD-era regimens, default re-initiation, failure and OI/TPT prophylaxis (PAs 2.1–2.2).

25%

Paediatric & Adolescent HIV

Child/neonate ART, paediatric failure, paediatric complications, childhood TB/HIV and adolescent transition (PAs 3.1–3.5).

Women, Pregnancy & Sexual/Reproductive Health

VTP/PMTCT, labour, neonatal care, breastfeeding, contraception, cervical screening and STIs (PAs 4.1–4.2).

29%

Opportunistic Infections & HIV-Related Conditions

TB/HIV, neurology, GI, respiratory, oral, skin, mental health, malignancy and eye disease (PAs 5.1–5.9).

11%

ART Adverse Events & Toxicity

Liver injury, FBC abnormalities, metabolic changes, neurotoxicity, renal impairment and drug rash (PAs 6.1–6.6).

Comorbid Chronic Disease in Adults with HIV

CVD, diabetes/metabolic syndrome, epilepsy, reflux/PUD and VTE with HIV (PA 7.1).

Adherence, Key Populations & Supportive Care

Adherence support, key/rural population access and palliative/rehab care (PA 8.1).

How to Pass the Dip HIV Man(SA) Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Pass mark is determined by Modified Cohen65 standard setting at the 90th centile with 1× SEM added to the aggregated written mark (total 160). CMSA does not publish a fixed percentage cut-score.
Assessment: Two online written papers only (no oral): Paper 1 case-based single-best-answer and extended-matching MCQs (100 marks, 62.5% weighting) and Paper 2 clinical data-interpretation MCQs including media such as X-rays, photographs, charts and laboratory results (60 marks, 37.5% weighting). Items map to 27 Professional Activities (87 observable professional activities) in the CMSA Dip HIV Man(SA) curriculum blueprint.
Time limit: CMSA regulations (December 2021) specify two papers of two hours each. Confirm exact online sitting duration in the candidate information pack for your examination session.
Exam fee: R15 100 listed on the CMSA Dip HIV Man(SA) diploma page; confirm the current fee on cmsa.co.za before application.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Dip HIV Man(SA) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Download the Oct 2025 / current Dip HIV Man(SA) Curriculum Blueprint and tick off all 27 Professional Activities — CMSA states MCQs cover the breadth of the curriculum, not only favourite topics.

2Practice data interpretation: Paper 2 includes X-rays, photos, charts and labs, so rehearse reading VL trends, FBC/LFT panels, CXRs and skin/oral images against NDoH and SAHCS algorithms.

3Anchor adult and paediatric answers in the 2023 NDoH ART Clinical Guidelines (TLD/ALD era, VL ABCDE assessment, rifampicin–DTG dose adjustment) rather than outdated EFV-first teaching.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the CMSA Dip HIV Man(SA) examination?

It is an online written examination only (no oral): Paper 1 case-based MCQs (100 marks) and Paper 2 clinical data-interpretation MCQs with media (60 marks), using single-best-answer and extended-matching items. Combined marks total 160, with Paper 1 weighted 62.5% and Paper 2 37.5%.

How is the Dip HIV Man(SA) pass mark set?

CMSA does not publish a fixed percentage. After marking, aggregated written scores are standard-set with Modified Cohen65 at the 90th centile and 1× SEM is added, so the cut-score can differ between sittings depending on paper difficulty.

What experience is required before sitting Dip HIV Man(SA)?

CMSA lists eligibility that includes supervised HIV experience or longer unsupervised experience in a high HIV-burden facility plus a minimum of 40 hours of accredited HIV-related CPD (see current regulations on the CMSA diploma page for the exact route that applies to you). Candidates must be registered or registrable with the HPCSA (or meet CMSA foreign-graduate provisions).

What curriculum should I study for Dip HIV Man(SA)?

Use the CMSA Dip HIV Man(SA) Curriculum Blueprint (27 Professional Activities / 87 OPAs), current NDoH ART and TB guidelines, Standard Treatment Guidelines, and Southern African HIV Clinicians Society guidelines. CMSA also publishes a structured multi-week study programme around the professional activities.