What the Course Entails and Exam Details

Preparing for the CIC exam is not about taking a "course" so much as mastering a body of knowledge. The content of the examination is based on a comprehensive practice analysis of infection prevention and control professionals and covers eight main domains. A deep understanding of these areas is essential for success.

The core content areas are:

• Identification of Infectious Disease Processes: Interpreting diagnostic and laboratory reports and risk factors for diseases.
• Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation: Designing and managing effective infection surveillance systems and outbreak investigations.
• Preventing and Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents: Implementing and collaborating on strategies, policies, and community responses.
• Employee and Occupational Health: Collaborating on immunization, screening, and safe work practices for healthcare personnel.
• Management and Communication: Planning, managing, and communicating infection prevention programs and quality improvements.
• Education and Research: Developing, implementing, and assessing educational offerings and engaging in research.
• Environment of Care: Ensuring environmental safety and monitoring the healthcare environment.
• Cleaning, Sterilization, Disinfection, and Asepsis: Identifying, evaluating, and auditing critical cleaning and reprocessing practices.

 What to Expect in the Final Exam

The CIC exam is an objective, multiple-choice examination consisting of 150 questions. However, your score is only based on 135 scored questions; the remaining 15 are unscored pretest questions used to evaluate items for future forms. Crucially, as of early 2025, candidates must answer all items in the order they appear and cannot skip or flag questions to return to them later. Once you confirm an answer, you cannot go back. The use of a text highlighter and strikeout tool is still permitted during the exam.

A total of 3.5 hours is allotted for the exam process, which typically includes 3 hours of actual testing time, plus 15 minutes each for a pre-exam tutorial and a post-exam survey. To achieve passing status, candidates must obtain a scaled score of at least 700, on a scale ranging from 300 to 900. Your results are presented as pass/fail, without a specific numerical score. The pass/fail status is based on a standard setting study conducted by content experts.

How to Study and Exam Centers

Effective preparation for the CIC exam requires a multifaceted approach. Begin by thoroughly reviewing the official CBIC CIC Examination Content Outline, which details every topic you may be tested on. A main study resource is the APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology. We highly recommend using official CBIC Practice Exams as part of your study plan to familiarize yourself with the question formats, timing constraints, and the new forward-only navigation of the exam environment. Create a dedicated study schedule that covers all core domains, utilize flashcards for key terms, and form study groups with colleagues.

The exam is computer-based and is administered by Prometric. You have two options for where and how to take the test:

• Prometric Testing Centers: Schedule an appointment at a local, physical Prometric testing center.
• Live Remote Proctoring (LRP): Take the exam in your own appropriate space via the ProProctor™ system, where you will be proctored remotely in real-time.

You can select the option that best suits your needs and schedule during the application process.

 Job Opportunities from the Course

Earning the CIC credential is a powerful catalyst for professional growth and opens the door to numerous impactful career paths. Many healthcare organizations require or strongly prefer the CIC for roles in infection prevention and control. The certification can lead to a diverse range of titles and responsibilities.

Common career paths include:

• Infection Preventionist
• Infection Control Practitioner
• Infection Prevention and Control Manager or Director
• Healthcare Epidemiologist
• Public Health Epidemiologist (specializing in IPC)
• Quality Improvement Manager (focusing on infection metrics)
• Infection Control Consultant
• Clinical Nurse Specialist in Infection Control