CIC - Certified in Infection Control

About CIC

The Certified in Infection Control (CIC) exam, administered by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC), is a professional certification for individuals working in infection prevention and control. This certification validates expertise in identifying infectious disease processes, surveillance, and epidemiology strategies for infection prevention and control. Earning the CIC credential demonstrates a commitment to maintaining high standards in infection prevention, including developing and enforcing effective policies, conducting outbreak investigations, and collaborating with healthcare teams to ensure safety and compliance. Obtaining this credential signifies dedication to public health and patient safety while supporting professional growth in infection control.

BoardCerts CIC Question Bank

BoardCerts provides a comprehensive question bank designed to support success on the Certified in Infection Control (CIC) exam. The practice questions are fully aligned with the official CIC exam content outline. Each question is carefully reviewed by physicians and CIC-certified nurses to ensure accuracy and relevance. The question bank mirrors the exam's complexity and includes detailed explanations and rationales to enhance understanding and build confidence.

Content Outline of CIC Exam

The Certified in Infection Control (CIC) certification exam encompasses eight primary content areas, each contributing to the overall assessment of a candidate’s proficiency:

• Identification of Infectious Disease Processes (16.3%): Evaluates the ability to recognize and interpret infectious disease data, including pathogen characteristics, host responses, and diagnostic methods.
• Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation (16.3%): Assesses knowledge in designing, analyzing, and managing infection surveillance systems, including outbreak investigation and data interpretation.
• Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents (16.3%): Focuses on infection prevention strategies, standard and transmission-based precautions, and antimicrobial stewardship to reduce the spread of infections.
• Employee/Occupational Health (8%): Covers topics related to healthcare worker safety, immunization programs, and managing occupational exposures to infectious agents.
• Management and Communication (10.4%): Examines the development and implementation of infection control programs, policy development, regulatory compliance, and effective stakeholder communication.
• Education and Research (9%): Emphasizes infection prevention education, training programs, and the application of research findings to improve infection control practices.
• Environment of Care (10.4%): Evaluates knowledge of infection risks within healthcare environments, including environmental hygiene, construction considerations, and water and air quality control.
• Cleaning, Disinfection, Sterilization of Medical Devices and Equipment (13.3%): Covers principles and best practices related to sterilization, disinfection, aseptic techniques, and instrument processing to ensure patient and healthcare worker safety.

For more detailed blueprint outline, please review the CIC exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources.

CIC Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for CIC® certification, candidates must have:

• Completed post-secondary education in a health-related field. Acceptable credentials include a diploma RN, LPN/LVN, DNP, or a health-related associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
• They must currently be responsible for providing consultation on infection prevention and control practices within healthcare settings.
• Additionally, candidates must have at least one year of full-time, two years of part-time, or 3,000 hours of infection prevention work experience within the past three years.

CIC Application Process

CIC Exam Dates and Costs

The CIC exam is offered year-round, allowing candidates to take the test at their convenience. Once your application is approved, you have a 90-day window to schedule and complete the exam.

For the most up-to-date information on CIC exam timelines, application processes, and fees, visit the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) website at cbic.org.

CIC Exam Format

Number of Questions: The CIC exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, with the candidate's score based on 135 scored questions. The remaining 15 are unscored pretest questions used for evaluating potential items for future exams.

Exam Response Options: Multiple-choice test.

Testing Options: The exam is available at designated test centers and can also be taken via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP), providing flexibility for candidates.

Time Allotted: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam.

CIC Pass/Fail Rates

Difficulty Level: The CIC exam is considered a challenging, with annual pass rates varying between 57% to 85% over recent years.

Passing Score: To pass the CIC exam, candidates must achieve a scaled score of at least 700 on a scale ranging from 300 to 900. Scaled scores are calculated by converting the number of correct answers into a standardized score, ensuring fairness across different exam versions.

Exam Statistics: Detailed statistics, including annual pass rates and the number of candidates tested for the CIC examination, are available on the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) website.

Score Reporting: Upon completing the examination, candidates will receive their pass/fail status immediately on-screen. Additionally, an email confirmation will be sent to the address provided during scheduling, which includes the official score report. Candidates may also access their results through Prometric’s Score Report Portal.

CIC Exam Proctoring

The Certified in Infection Control (CIC) exam is administered by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) in collaboration with Prometric. Candidates have the flexibility to choose between two proctoring options:

• Live Remote Proctoring (LRP): This option allows you to take the exam from a location of your choice, such as your home or office. During the exam, a professional proctor monitors you in real-time via your computer's webcam and microphone to ensure the integrity of the testing process.

• In-Person Testing Centers: Alternatively, you can opt to take the exam at one of Prometric's designated testing centers, which are available across various locations. This traditional method involves attending a physical location to complete the exam under supervised conditions.

Both options are designed to maintain the exam's security and integrity while providing flexibility to accommodate your preferences and circumstances.

CIC Preparation and Resources

BoardCerts meticulously aligns its practice questions with the CIC exam blueprint to ensure relevance and comprehensive coverage of the content candidates will encounter on the test. The question bank is developed in coordination with this blueprint, incorporating the same authoritative resources that form the foundation of the official exam. This approach provides candidates with an effective and thorough preparation experience, mirroring the structure and difficulty of the actual test.

Topics on Exam: Review the topics outlined in the CIC exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources.

Review Course: Consider taking a review course, such as those offered by Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC), to deepen your understanding of the exam content.

Question Bank: A comprehensive resource like the BoardCerts CIC Question Bank is highly recommended. Designed to align with the exam blueprint, it features questions reviewed by CIC-certified nurses and physicians.

CIC Renewal

The CIC certification is valid for five years. Recertification ensures professionals stay up-to-date with the latest practices, guidelines, and knowledge essential for effective infection prevention and control. To renew the CIC credential, candidates can either:

• Recertify by Continuing Education: Earn 40 Infection Prevention Units (IPUs) over five years, covering at least six of eight infection prevention domains. At least 20 IPUs must come from accredited sources.

• Recertify by Examination: Pass the web-based recertification exam before certification expires. The recertification examination is open-book, untimed, and must be taken independently.

Effective January 1, 2026, the open-book untimed recertification examination will no longer be offered. Recertification will be obtainable through infection prevention units (IPUs) or by retaking the initial CIC proctored examination.

For the latest information and detailed requirements, visit the CBIC website.

CIC Exam Practice Questions

• Practicing sample questions is an essential step in preparing for the CIC exam, helping you familiarize yourself with the exam format, question style, and core content areas. The BoardCerts CIC Question Bank provides high-quality, exam-aligned sample questions designed to reflect the blueprint and challenge level of the CIC exam, ensuring you are fully prepared and confident on test day.

• Access Sample Questions: Explore sample questions from the BoardCerts question bank here. These questions are carefully crafted to mirror the complexity and application level of the CIC exam.

CIC Related Certifications

The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) offers a variety of certifications for professionals in infection prevention and control:

• Long-Term Care Certification in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP): For professionals specializing in infection prevention within long-term care settings.
• Associate – Infection Prevention and Control (a-IPC): An entry-level certification for individuals new to infection prevention and control.