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

Guidelines for CIC® Initial Certification 

Successful CIC® certification indicates competence in the actual practice of infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology.

It is intended for individuals who are directly responsible for the infection prevention and control program activities within their current position. It is recommended candidates be actively employed and accountable for infection prevention and control.

Direct Responsibility: Within their role this person is responsible for providing consultation to departments or assigned practice settings on infection prevention and control program elements, practices and processes, as well as products used within health care facilities and/or provides direct supervision of those who perform these responsibilities. Other examples of those who are eligible are public health practitioners who must be prepared to provide guidance appropriate to reduce transmission or halt outbreaks in a variety of practice settings and their job description includes this activity.

 

 

 

It is recommended candidates have:

  1. Completed post-secondary education in a health-related field including but not limited to medicine, nursing, laboratory technology, public health, or biology.  Post-secondary includes public or private universities, colleges, community colleges, etc. 

  2. Direct responsibility of the infection prevention and control programs/activities in a healthcare setting, and this is reflected in your current job description.

  3. Work experience, defined as active engagement in infection prevention, determined by a current job description, for compensation, for a minimum of:

  • At least one year full-time employment

OR

  • Two (2) years part-time employment

OR

  • Completed 3,000 hours of infection prevention work experience earned during the previous three (3) years

Infection prevention activities include:

  1. Identification of infectious disease processes
  2. Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation
  3. Preventing and controlling the transmission of infectious agents
  4. Environment of care
  5. Cleaning,  disinfection, sterilization, and asepsis

AND at least two (2) of the remaining three (3) components:

  1. Employee / occupational health
  2. Management and communication
  3. Education and research

  Find out more information

Additional Information:

Identification of infectious disease processes

  • Including modes of transmission, signs and symptoms

Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation

  • Including syndromic surveillance

Preventing and controlling the transmission of infectious agents

  • Standard precautions and transmission-based precautions
  • Antibiotic stewardship

Environment Of Care

  • Infection Control serves as consultant in construction and renovation, environmental services, emergency management; and more

Cleaning, sterilization, disinfection and asepsis

  • Evaluation of disinfection and sterilization processes
  • Collaboration or consultation with central sterile reprocessing department

Employee/occupational health

  • Collaboration or consultation with employee/occupation health
  • Counseling employees after exposure to communicable diseases
  • Education of employees to reduce exposure to communicable diseases
  • Supervision, oversight, or management of the employee/occupational health department

Management and communication

  • Manage the infection control and prevention program/processes
  • Supervise the infection control and prevention program/processes

Education and research

  • Educate patients and/or staff about infection control and prevention circumstances
  • Develop educational programming in infection control and prevention

 

 

Typical Job Titles that Fit the CIC® Guidelines:

List below are some job titles that may fit the CIC® guidelines:

  • Infection Preventionist
  • Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner/Professional (ICP)
  • Infection Control Link Nurse
  • RN Infection Preventionist
  • Microbiologist 
  • Epidemiologist (e.g. Hospital, Public Health or HAI epidemiologist)
  • Research Analyst (ICP/Epidemiology related)

 

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