Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC®) Certification is Commitment Updated: April 2018 1

What is CBIC? Voluntary, independent, multidisciplinary Board Mission: To protect the public through the development, administration and promotion of an accredited certification in infection prevention & control. CBIC maintains and promotes professional certification of the highest quality through the accomplishment of key objectives. The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (or CBIC) is a voluntary autonomous multidisciplinary Board that develops and administers the initial CIC examination and the recertification examination. While CBIC is responsible for the administration and development of the CIC exam, CBIC is not responsible for education or determining common infection control practices. The mission of CBIC is to protect the public through the development, administration and promotion of an accredited certification in infection prevention and control. CBIC maintains and promotes professional certification of the highest quality through the accomplishment of key objectives. 2 2

What is CBIC? Established by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) in 1981; CBIC is an affiliate of APIC Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) Member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), formerly National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) In 1981, the APIC established CBIC; however, CBIC is now an independent organization that works with APIC as a partner, but not as a parent organization. APIC remains the sole member of CBIC. CBIC also works closely with IPAC Canada. In addition, CBIC is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, also known as the NCCA. The NCCA sets standards that shape CBIC policies and procedures. As part of its accreditation with the NCCA, CBIC is also a member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, which provides education and research on certifying agencies and best practices. 3 3

Why Certify? Supports future knowledge and skills Reaffirms that through study and hard work, certificants attain an internationally recognized level of knowledge in the infection prevention and control field Supports future knowledge and skills Enhances professional credibility and prestige Grants personal satisfaction Why should you become certified? The CIC credential is an internationally recognized standard of competence in the infection prevention and control field. Having the credential demonstrates to yourself, your coworkers, your employer and the public that you are knowledgeable in your field. In addition, it provides a measure of accountability to grow with the profession through recertification every five years.

Use of the CIC® Credential Only individuals who have successfully passed the proctored, initial certification examination and have maintained current certification, through the recertification examination* may use the CIC® credential. The CIC® credential may be used on resumes, business cards, letterhead, and other professional communications. The CIC® credential may not be used for product or other endorsements. In order to use the CIC credential, an individual must first pass the initial certification examination, and then maintain their certification through recertification. Once earned, the CIC credential can be used on any form of written communication, such as resumes, business cards, letterhead, email signatures, name badges, publications, and almost anywhere your name appears. It’s a credential to be proud of and you should show it off! If your certification lapses, you will need to remove the credential from any of the aforementioned materials. Finally, individuals are not legally permitted to produce products using the CIC credential or logo. If you are interested in products bearing the CIC logo, please contact CBIC to purchase their products. *CICs may maintain certification through the proctored examination, only if they receive a failing score on the recertification exam. 5 5

Methods of Certification & Recertification Initial certification: Proctored initial certification examination Recertification: Self-paced, open book recertification examination* *Proctored certification examination if candidate fails recertification examination Each certification cycle lasts five years. To initially become certified in infection prevention and control, you will need to take and pass the initial examination at a Prometric testing center. Once you have successfully passed the initial certification examination, you will need to recertify every five years. To recertify you must take the self-paced online recertification examination. This can be taken on any computer that has access to the internet. Under the circumstance that the recert exam is failed, CICs have the opportunity to maintain their certification by taking and passing the initial examination at a Prometric facility. Certification/recertification is valid for 5 years

Certification Examinations Comprehensive, job-related, objective tests 150 multiple choice questions; 135 of which are scored Developed from a practice analysis of Infection Prevention and Control Professionals in the U.S., Canada and other countries Recognized by APIC and IPAC Canada as the standard for certification in infection control Recognized by TJC as a measure of competence The certification examination is comprised of 150 multiple choice questions. Only 135 of these count towards your score. The other 15 questions are placed in unscored “pre-test” slots to ensure their validity and reliability. The performance statistics for these questions will determine their use as scored questions on future examination forms. You will not know which questions are which. The examination content outline is developed from a practice analysis that is conducted every 5 years. This practice analysis ensures that the exam encompasses the most crucial job-related tasks and knowledge for professionals responsible for infection prevention and control. The exam is recognized by APIC and IPAC Canada as the standard for certification in infection prevention and control. It is also recognized by The Joint Commission as a measure of competence.

Certification Examinations Aligned with recognized practice standards for Infection Control and Healthcare Epidemiology The only standardized measurement of essential knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of infection prevention and control professionals in North America ALL examination questions are the copyrighted property of CBIC The certification examination is aligned with recognized practice standards for infection control and healthcare epidemiology. You can see a list of the references used to write the current examination in the Candidate Handbook online. Currently, CBIC is the only certification program to offer a measure of competence in infection prevention and control in North America. The CIC credential is recognized internationally as a standard of competence, and CBIC has certificants in many countries. Finally, please note that all of the questions on the examination are copyrighted and therefore should not be discussed or shared after taking the exam.

Initial Examination Proctored examination Required for initial certification Administered at assessment centers throughout the United States, Canada and other international sites 90-day window from application approval to exam completion The initial certification examination is comprised of 150 multiple choice questions, which are administered at Prometric testing facilities. These facilities can be found worldwide. A search tool enabling users to locate the testing center nearest their home or work can be found on the Prometric website. Once you apply for the examination and are approved, you have 90 days to schedule AND sit for your examination. Keep that in mind when considering when to apply to take the exam. 9

Recertification Examination Self-administered (non-proctored), multiple choice, internet-based from any location Questions are based on the most current CBIC practice analysis The purpose of the recertification examination is to demonstrate continued knowledge mastery in the field of infection prevention and control Once you sit for and pass the initial certification examination, you are required to recertify every five years. This is done by taking the recertification exam, which is a multiple choice test that is accessible from any computer with an internet connection. Once you purchase the examination, you have the rest of the calendar year to complete the exam. You can log in and out at any time and your answers will be saved. Just like the initial exam, the recert exam is based on the most recent practice analysis. The purpose of the recertification exam is to demonstrate continued knowledge mastery in the field of infection prevention and control.

Recertification Examination Unlimited access before submission Must be done alone; do not discuss with colleagues Deadline to purchase: December 1 Deadline to submit: 11:59pm GMT/6:59pm EST on December 31* (same calendar year) *CBIC strongly recommends submitting the SARE no later than December 30th to be sure that the exam is submitted successfully in time.  Once again, you will have unlimited access to the recert exam once it is purchased through the end of the calendar year. The deadline to submit the exam is 11:59pm Greenwich Mean Time, which is 6:59pm Eastern Standard Time, on December 31st of your recertification year. If you have not submitted your exam, it will be automatically submitted at this time. CBIC recommends submitted the exam a day early so that if you have any questions regarding the submission, you can speak with someone on the phone and work it out before the 31st. The last day to purchase the recertification exam is December 1st of your recertification year. If you have not purchased it by that time, your certification will lapse and you will need to test as a first time certificant the following year. The sooner you purchase your exam, the longer you will have to take it! You can purchase it as early as January of your recertification year. Finally, just as with the initial exam, the recertification examination questions are copyrighted and confidential. You are not allowed to take the exam as a group or discuss the questions with your colleagues. The sooner you purchase the exam, the more time you have to complete it! 11

Eligibility for Certification 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. You are accountable for the infection prevention and control activities/program in your setting and this is reflected in your current job description. AND First and foremost, in order to be eligible to sit for the exam, you MUST be accountable for the infection prevention and control activities and/or program in your setting and this must be reflected in your current job description. 12

Eligibility for Certification You have a post-secondary degree from an accredited academic institution. 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 In addition to being accountable for infection prevention and control you must also have a post-secondary degree and experience in identification of infectious disease processes, surveillance and epidemiologic investigation, and preventing and controlling the transmission of infectious agents. The post-secondary degree must be from an accredited academic facility and must be at least an associates’ degree or higher. An associates’ degree is equivalent to a Canadian two- or three-year diploma. Please note that, while CBIC recommends two years of experience in infection prevention and control, it is not a requirement. While there is no specific time requirement that defines “sufficient experience”; the certification examination is geared toward the professional who has had at least two years of full-time experience in infection prevention and control.

Eligibility for Certification 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 The last eligibility requirement that a candidate must meet is that they must have experience in at least two of the remaining five core competencies of the examination. These are: employee/occupational health, management and communication, education and research, environment of care, and cleaning, sterilization, disinfection, and asepsis.

Eligibility for Certification Candidates who are self-employed must submit additional documentation (See Candidate Handbook on our website for details) Individuals who are currently certified are automatically eligible for recertification every 5 years. Eligibility for Recertification The documents that you must submit to prove you meet the eligibility requirements include: an updated resume or CV, your current job description (usually obtained from your human resources department), an attestation statement signed by your supervisor, and proof of your degree. If you are self-employed, you must also submit an additional self-employment attestation statement. Once you meet the eligibility requirements and successfully certified, you will be automatically eligible for recertification every five years as long as you don’t let your certification lapse at any point and adhere to the CBIC Code of Ethics. 15

Lapsed Certification If you fail to recertify when you are due and later decide that you would like to, you: Must meet the criteria for initial certification May no longer be eligible if you have changed positions to one where infection control is NOT your main area of responsibility In order to maintain your certification you must recertify every five years. If you are eligible for recertification and do not successfully recertify then your certification will lapse. If your certification lapses and you wish to once again certify, you will then have to meet all of the eligibility requirements again. This is especially important to remember if you change positions, retire, or if your job responsibilities no longer encompass infection prevention and control. 16

Preparing for the Examination Current Content Outline Content Domain Items Identification of Infectious Disease Processes 22 Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation 24 Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents 25 Employee/Occupational Health 11 Management and Communications 13 Education and Research Environment of Care 14 Cleaning, Sterilization, Disinfection, Asepsis 15 On this slide you can see the 8 core competencies that both the initial and recertification examinations cover. This slide also lists the number of scored questions in each domain are on the examinations. Once again, there are 135 scored questions on each examination.

Preparing for the Examination Create a study plan Review reference material (as listed in the candidate handbook), journals and standards, including APIC and IPAC Canada’s Practice Standards Form a study group amongst your peers Listen to our webinars “Road to CIC Certification” https://webbertraining. com/recordingslibraryc4 .php "How to Prepare for the CIC exam” http://www.cbic.org/ce rtification/media Contact your local APIC or IPAC Canada chapter for support. Per the NCCA Standards, CBIC can neither recommend nor endorse any study materials. However CBIC does have a few helpful hints. First of all, it is useful to review the core competencies on the previous slide to determine what areas you will need to review the most and create a study plan. It is recommended that candidates utilize the primary and secondary references that are used to write the exam. This list can be found on the CBIC website in the Candidate Handbook. Other ideas are to form a study group or contact your local infection prevention and control agency for more resources.

Exam References Primary References: APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology, 4th ed., Volume I, Volume II and Volume III, APIC, Washington, DC, 2014.** Kulich P, Taylor D, eds. The Infection Preventionist’s Guide to the Lab, APIC, Washington, DC, 2012. Heymann, D., ed. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 19th ed., Washington, DC: American Public Health Association; 2008. Brooks, Kathy. Ready Reference for Microbes, 3rd ed., APIC; 2012. Here is the list of primary references used to write the CIC examination.

Exam References Secondary References: Current Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Current guidelines, standards, and recommendations from CDC, APIC, SHEA, and Public Health Agency of Canada. Pickering, Larry K, ed. Red Book, 29th ed., Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2012. **The 2015 recertification examination was written using the 3rd edition of the APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Volumes I and II. Here is the list of secondary references used to write the CIC examination.

Resources Check CBIC Web site www.cbic.org for: Online Candidate Handbook (all application and order forms for the examinations are included) Background information on CBIC and the certification process The CBIC website is a great resource for any other information you may want to know about can be found on the CBIC website, including the Candidate Handbook which takes you through the polices and processes from preparing to apply, to recertifying. 21

Resources Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) 1275 K St., NW Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 789-1890 www.apic.org Infection Prevention and Control Canada (IPAC Canada) PO Box 46125 RPO Westdale Winnipeg, MB R3R 3S3 (866) 999-7111 www.ipac-canada.org CBIC works closely with both APIC and IPAC Canada and they are great resources for infection prevention and control best practices.

Resources CBIC Executive Office: Testing Company: 555 East Wells Street Suite 1100 Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone: (414) 918-9796 Fax: (414) 276-3349 Web site: www.cbic.org Testing Company: Prometric Phone: (800) 278-6222 (toll free U.S., U.S. Territories, and Canada) Website: www.prometric.com/cbic Finally, this is the contact information for both CBIC and their testing agency Prometric. If you have not applied for the exam yet, please contact CBIC for any questions, before contacting Prometric. 23