Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC®)

Advanced Leadership Certification in Infection Prevention and Control

The Advanced Leadership Certification in Infection Prevention & Control (AL-CIP™) is an assessment of knowledge, skills and abilities expected of individuals who demonstrate professional expertise, leadership and impact in the field of infection prevention and control. It is a portfolio-based assessment that demonstrates leadership within infection prevention and control that has a measurable impact.  The current application cycle is July 10, 2025-August 15, 2025. The application will close on August 15 at 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time. 

The first 2026 application cycle will take place January 20, 2026-March 2, 2026. 

AL-CIP™ Resources

Eligibility Requirements
1. Demonstrated positive impact on the profession:  Active engagement and advanced infection prevention and control practice, leadership, education, research, policy and/or advocacy for a recommended minimum of 5-10 years
2. Active CIC® and/or LTC-CIP® certification 

Upcoming Informational Sessions - Registration Required

Join us for an informational session on the Advanced Leadership Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (AL-CIP). AL-CIP–certified experts will be on hand to answer your questions, discuss common challenges, and provide guidance on crafting a strong rationale and uploading effective evidence for your portfolio.​​​​​​​

Jul 22, 2025 12:00 PM Central Time

https://apic.zoom.us/meeting/register/aXst1VG8SvW7u-LRqpQ56w

Aug 5, 2025 05:00 PM Central Time 

https://apic.zoom.us/meeting/register/C17RtNkIQkaz5qb9I8-ECw

Aug 12, 2025 02:00 PM Central Time

https://apic.zoom.us/meeting/register/ATojE1fLSdqROR8dMm-nKQ

Aug 14, 2025 08:00 AM Central Time

https://apic.zoom.us/meeting/register/2uSQwx_hQACczq7se9Tr9w

AL-CIP™ News and Media

Scoring of the AL-CIP™

Each portfolio is reviewed and scored by three (3) infection prevention and control subject matter experts from diverse backgrounds to ensure fairness in the assessment of submitted content. A cut score / passing point was established by a panel of experts in accordance with best practices for certification programs.

Rationale Rating Scale: 

Absent (0)

Limited (1)

Solid (2)

Significant (3)

Rationale is missing, lacks any logical flow, or is unrelated to the selected Sub-Competency, or lacks any persuasive elements to connect the candidate’s work to the Sub-Competency

Rationale illustrates some connection to the selected Sub-Competency, but that connection is not effectively presented, is unclear or vague, or does not fully address the Sub-Competency

Rationale is clear, understandable, and adequately describes a connection between the candidate’s work and the Sub-Competency.

Rationale is well organized and clearly communicated. Nothing additional is needed to illustrate connection between applicants’ work and the Sub-Competency

Evidence Rating Scale: 

Absent (0)

Limited (1)

Solid (2)

Significant (3)

Evidence is either missing, or unrelated /irrelevant to the Sub-Competency.

Evidence is somewhat connected to the Sub-Competency, but that connection is tenuous or indirect, or there are gaps/discrepancies between the evidence and the rationale.

Evidence is adequately aligned to the Sub-Competency, and there are few, if any, discrepancies between the evidence and the rationale.

Evidence is comprehensive and very clearly illustrates that the candidate’s work is aligned with the Sub-Competency. Nothing else is needed to illustrate a connection and no discrepancies exist between the evidence and rationale.

Retake Policy for Unsuccessful AL-CIP™ Candidates

If your AL-CIP™ portfolio is unsuccessful, your results letter will include a list of the sub-competencies that were not met.

You may retake the AL-CIP™ at a 50% reduced fee, but only need to resubmit evidence and rationale for the sub-competencies you did not pass. All evidence must be from within the last 10 years.

To qualify for the reduced fee and partial resubmission:

  • You must reapply within the next two AL-CIP™ application cycles.

If you do not reapply within this timeframe, or if your second attempt is unsuccessful:

  • You must submit a full portfolio.
  • The full application fee will apply.
  • You will be assessed as a new applicant.

Example:
If your results letter indicates unmet sub-competencies in Interpersonal Communication and Risk Assessment & Reduction:

  • Reapply within the next two application cycles.
  • Pay 50% of the original fee.
  • Resubmit only the evidence and rationale for those two sub-competencies.
  • Ensure all evidence is from the past 10 years.

AL-CIP™ Recertification 

Recertification of the AL-CIP includes the following: 

• Resubmission of four unique pieces of evidence and four unique rationales from the previous five years. The certificant will be required to submit two unique pieces of evidence and two unique rationales from Domain I (Leadership) and two unique pieces of evidence and two unique rationales from Domain II (Professionalism). 

  •  Additionally, the certficant will attest to earning 20 infection prevention units (IPUs) from the previous five years that address at least 50% of the domains within the content outline.
  • If the certificant holds both the CIC® and LTC-CIP®, half the credits must address the CIC® content outline and half must address the LTC-CIP® content outline. LTC certificants must address the Long-Term Care domain with their IPUs. Certificants will be randomly selected for audit and will be asked to provide proof of earning IPUs. 

•The deadline will be November 30 of the year the certification expires to align with existing CBIC policies. The fee will mirror that of the initial AL-CIP application fee. 

Example:

John Doe, CIC®, LTC-CIP®

  • John Doe, CIC®, LTC-CIP® passed the AL-CIP in 2025, and his AL-CIP expires 12/31/2030. His CIC® and LTC-CIP® were extended by CBIC to 12/31/2030.
  • In 2030, he will submit four unique pieces of evidence and rationales to maintain the AL-CIP. Two are required to be from Leadership and two are required to be from Professionalism. A sample recertification portfolio may include the following:

Domain 1 Leadership:
1.    Quality Improvement (evidence + rationale)
2.    Coalition Building (evidence + rationale)
Domain 2: Professionalism 
1.    Implementation (evidence + rationale)
2.    Individual Development (evidence + rationale)
 

He will also sign an attestation form saying he earned 10 IPUs that address the CIC® content outline and 10 IPUs that address the LTC-CIP® content outline within the last five years. His IPUs must address 50% of the domains for each certification. Upon successful submission, all three certifications will have a new expiration date of 12/31/2035.

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