The HIV Diploma Examination, Dip HIV Man (SA), is one of the most widely undertaken postgraduate diploma exams by clinicians in South Africa. With the country facing the world’s largest HIV epidemic and a high burden of tuberculosis and related conditions, the exam plays a critical role in ensuring that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are well-prepared to deliver quality HIV care.

At Four Minute Medicine, we are committed to supporting clinicians with focused, exam-ready preparation. Here’s everything you need to know about the CMSA HIV Diploma Exam, its requirements, and the best preparation courses available.

Who Can Write the HIV Diploma Exam?

To be eligible for the exam, candidates must meet the CMSA requirements:

• Clinical experience:
  • At least six months of supervised training under a qualified HIV clinician (i.e. a clinician who also holds a diploma in HIV management), OR
  • Twelve months of unsupervised experience in a high HIV-burden facility plus A minimum of 40 hours of accredited CPD training in HIV medicine (i.e. 40 CPD points related to HIV medicine) 

This ensures candidates have both the clinical exposure and academic grounding to manage patients living with HIV.

HIV Diploma Exam Structure

The CMSA HIV Diploma Exam is written twice yearly, in February and July.

• Format: Two online written exam papers (no oral exam)
  Day 1 – Paper 1: A combination of multiple choice and extended matching questions, 100 marks, 3 hours
• Day 2 – Paper 2: Clinical Data Interpretation, 60 marks, 3 hours
• Exam Fee: Currently R14,300

The focus is not only on factual knowledge but also on the ability to apply clinical reasoning in real-world patient scenarios.

The Gap: Limited HIV Diploma Preparation Materials

One of the biggest challenges candidates face is the lack of exam-focused preparation resources. While the Learn@CMSA platform provides a structured 9-week study programme, it does not allow candidates to test their exam readiness through mock exams or practice questions. This leaves many clinicians uncertain about how well they will perform under exam conditions.

HIV Diploma Courses Available in South Africa

Several organisations offer structured HIV Diploma preparation courses, but they vary in scope, CPD points, and price:

• Clinical Care Platform – 80 CPD points, priced at R5,000
• SAHCS Advanced Clinical HIV Management Online Course – 30 CPD points priced at R7, 245
• Four Minute Medicine:
  • HIV Diploma Review & Practice Course – 30 CPD points priced at R1, 750
  • HIV Diploma Review & Practice Course + HIV Mock Exam Bundle – 30 CPD points at R1, 850 (valued at R2, 049)
  • HIV Diploma Mock Exam (standalone) priced at R299
    

Why Choose Four Minute Medicine’s HIV Diploma Prep Course?

Our HIV Diploma Review & Practice Course is designed specifically to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

• High-yield summaries aligned with the latest South African HIV guidelines
• Practise questions covering both knowledge and clinical reasoning
• A realistic HIV Diploma Mock Exam, mirroring the style and difficulty of the CMSA papers
• CPD-accredited (30 points) – meeting both professional and exam requirements

At just R1, 750 (or R1, 850 with the mock exam included), our course is the most affordable and exam-focused HIV Diploma preparation course in South Africa.

Final Thoughts

The HIV Diploma Exam is a vital step for clinicians seeking to strengthen their expertise in HIV care. With clear eligibility requirements, a well-defined exam structure, and the right preparation, success is within reach.

At Four Minute Medicine, our mission is to ensure clinicians don’t just study, they prepare with confidence.

Ready to start your preparation? Explore the Four Minute Medicine HIV Diploma Review & Practice Course today and walk into your exam fully prepared.