Certification

If you are interested in presenting more information on how and why to become certified click here to be taken to the available PowerPoint presentations that can be used at state and regional meetings. Need more info? Contact the CBIC Office at (414) 918-9796 or via email at info@cbic.org.

Objectives of Certification

The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC) endorses the concept of voluntary, periodic certification for all infection control professionals meeting educational and practice requirements.

The purpose of the certification process is to protect the public by:

1. Providing standardized measurement of current basic knowledge needed for persons practicing infection control.
2. Encouraging individual growth and study, thereby promoting professionalism among infection control professionals.
3. Formally recognizing infection control professionals who fulfill the requirements for certification.

Eligibility Requirements for Initial Certification (and for Lapsed Certificants)

Professionals in infection prevention and control must meet the eligibility requirements and pass the computer-based certification examination to become certified for the first time. Certification in infection prevention and control is valid for five years from the year of successful examination.

In order to qualify to sit for your initial (first-time) certification, or if your certification has lapsed and you wish to renew your certification, you must apply to take the computer-based test (CBT).

In order to be eligible to take the CBT, you must meet ALL of the following requirements:

1. You are a licensed or certified healthcare professional (including, but not limited to, registered nurse, licensed / registered practical nurse  (LPN, RPN), nurse practitioner, physician, medical technologist, respiratory therapist) with current registration/certification in good standing with the appropriate licensing board /certification/ governing body (e.g. state/provincial medical licensure; state/provincial nursing association or board, etc.), OR have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree;
   
   AND
    
2. You are currently working in healthcare;
   
   AND
    
3. Infection prevention and control is one of your primary roles / responsibilities in your current position;
   
   AND
    
4. You have had sufficient experience in infection prevention and control, which must include active roles in:
   1. Collection, analysis and interpretation of infection prevention outcome data; AND
   2. Investigation and surveillance of suspected outbreaks of infection; AND
   3. At least 3 of the following additional activities:
      • Planning, implementation and evaluation of infection prevention and control measures
      • Education of individuals about infection prevention and control;
      • Development and revision of infection prevention and control policies and procedures;
      • Management of infection prevention and control activities;
      • Consultation on infection prevention and control risk assessment, and prevention and control strategies.

There is no specific time requirement that defines “sufficient experience”; however we emphasize that this certification examination is geared towards the infection preventionist who has had at least two years of full-time experience in infection prevention and control.

Please click here if you'd like the content outline for the Computer Based Test (as of July 1, 2010) and for the SARE (as of February 1, 2011.

Please click here if you'd like the references for the Computer Based Test (as of July 1, 2010) and for the SARE (as of February 1, 2011).

Information for Candidates and Stakeholders

Infection Preventionists that are interested in learning more about certification or are interested in becoming certified, along with current CIC certificants interested in re-certification, can find information on certification activities in the October 2010 edition of the CBIC e-newsletter or by contacting the CBIC Office at 414.918.9796 or info@cbic.org..

Last updated: January 5, 2012