Eligibility Requirements

Requirements for Initial Certification and for Lapsed Certificants

Successful certification indicates competence in the actual practice of infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology, and is intended for individuals who are actively accountable for the infection prevention and control program within their current position.

In order to qualify to sit for your initial certification, you must apply to take the initial certification examination. In order to be eligible to take the initial certification exam, you must meet ALL of the following requirements:

You are accountable for the infection prevention and control activities/program in your setting and this is reflected in your current job description.

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What does this mean?

In order for you to be candidate eligible to take the CIC examination you must be responsible for and/or have duties that relate to infection control and prevention. Your job title and/or program that you participate in and/or oversee must provide evidence of this as well.

AND

You have a post-secondary degree from an accredited academic institution.

Have a three-year Diploma RN degree (applicable through December 31, 2020 only)

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You must have an Associate’s degree or higher from an accredited academic institution. After December 31, 2020 Diploma RN’s will not be eligible to sit for the CIC examination**.

** After considering appeals and requests from potential CIC® candidates, The Board of Directors of the Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC) has approved changing the eligibility criteria for individuals who hold a three-year Diploma RN degree. Previously, graduates with Registered Nursing Diploma degrees (“Diploma RNs”) were an exclusion and unable to certify. This change will deem Diploma Nurses from accredited institutions eligible to apply for the CIC® certification, effectively immediately and will expire on December 31, 2020. After 2020, “Diploma RNs” will not be eligible to sit for the CIC® exam.

AND

You have had sufficient experience (recommended: two years) in infection prevention and control which includes all three (3) of the following:

Identification of infectious disease processes
Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation
Preventing and controlling the transmission of infectious agents

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What does this mean?

Identification of Infectious disease processes:
1. Determining the contributing factor(s) of an outbreak within a facility
2. Identifying an outbreak within a facility
3. Coordinating processes, procedures and/or policies to combat identified infectious diseases
Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation
1. Collect, analyze, monitors and communicates infection control data
2. Monitors and measures the extent of infectious diseases
3. Detect infectious organisms and their patterns
4. Partnering with appropriate healthcare team to analyze and perform job
Preventing and controlling the transmission of infectious agents
1. Communicating infection data to staff and patients
2. Coordinating and/or facilitating educational programming for infection control and prevention
3. Implementation of evidence-based processes specific to preventing and controlling infections

And at least two (2) of the remaining five (5) components:

Employee/occupational health
Management and communication
Education and research
Environment of care
Cleaning, sterilization, disinfection, and asepsis

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What does this mean?

Employee/occupational health
1. Collaboration or consultation with employee/occupation health
2. Counseling employees after exposure to communicable diseases
3. Education of employees to reduce exposure to communicable diseases
4. Supervision, oversight, or management of the employee/occupational health department
Management and communication
1. Manage the infection control and prevention program/processes
2. Supervise the infection control and prevention program/processes
Education and research
1. Educate patients and/or staff about infection control and prevention circumstances
2. Develop educational programming in infection control and prevention
Environment Of Care
1. Infection Control serves as consultant in construction and renovation, environmental services, emergency management; and more
Cleaning, sterilization, disinfection and asepsis
1. Evaluation of disinfection and sterilization processes
2. Collaboration or consultation with central sterile reprocessing department

Typical Job Titles that Fit the CIC Requirements:

List below are some job titles that may fit the CIC requirements: Note that all applications will be reviewed thoroughly to determine a candidate’s true eligibility.

Infection Preventionist
Infection Control Link Nurse
RN Infection Preventionist
Epidemiologist (also includes Hospital Epidemiologist)
Research Analyst (ICP/Epidemiology related)

Candidates will be required to submit the following documentation with their application:

Attestation Statement (completed, signed and dated by supervisor)
Proof of Degree (transcript or degree/diploma)
CV/Resume
Official Job Description (must be signed by your immediate manager or supervisor)

By Proof of degree requirement note that: any licensure and/or letter is not a sufficient proof of degree document

By Job description: a letter written by your supervisor, colleague and/or HR department is not an sufficient job description document. This document must be an official job description provided on the letterhead of your employer entailing your duties and requirements of the position you hold and a signature from your manager or supervisor.

If you have any questions about these changes to the CBIC eligibility requirements, please contact the CBIC office at (414) 918-9796 or via email at info@cbic.org.