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a-IPC (Associate – Infection Prevention and Control) Examination
The a-IPC (Associate – Infection Prevention and Control) is the entry-level certification examination of the Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC), a measure of basic infection prevention knowledge for novice infection preventionists and those pursuing careers in infection prevention and control. It is an objective, multiple-choice, forward-navigation computer-based exam of 100 questions (85 scored) with a 2.5-hour appointment window (two hours of exam time plus 15 minutes on each end for tutorial and survey), delivered at Prometric testing centers throughout the United States, Canada, and international sites, or at home via Prometric's live remote proctoring (ProProctor). A total-test scaled score of at least 700 on the 300–900 scale is required to pass; the credential is valid five years. There are no eligibility requirements to apply.
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Questions100 multiple-choice questions, of which 85 are used in computing the score (15 are unscored pretest items)
Testing time2.5-hour appointment window: two hours for the examination itself, plus 15 minutes on each end for the tutorial and the post-exam survey; no breaks are built into the a-IPC™ exam
ScoringPass requires a total test scaled score of at least 700; one reported pass/fail decision score with the minimum passing score set using the Angoff method; passing candidates receive only a Pass message (no numeric score), failing candidates receive a scaled score of 300–699
Exam feeUSD 199 for a-IPC initial certification & recertification / IPU portfolio in high-income countries; tiered by World Bank income classification — USD 129 upper-middle, USD 99 lower-middle, USD 79 low-income countries; re-score request minimum USD 200
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- CBIC
- Category
- Infection Prevention & Control
- Current version
- Current specification is the a-IPC content outline based on the 2025 Practice Analysis, effective May 22, 2026 (the prior 2020-practice-analysis outline remained in effect through May 11, 2026); administered under the 2026 Candidate Handbook (revised January 2026)
- Where it applies
- Global
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- 300–900 (scaled; failing scores reported 300–699, passing candidates receive a Pass message with no numeric score)
- Testing provider
- Prometric (test centers and live remote proctoring; Prometric handles administration, security, scoring, and score reporting under contract to CBIC)
- Format
- Computer-based at Prometric testing centers, or at home via Prometric's live remote proctoring option ProProctor at no additional cost or approval process; forward-navigation delivery with text highlight and strikeout tools permitted (no skipping, flagging, or returning to prior questions since January 2, 2025)
- Availability
- Offered five to seven days a week by appointment at Prometric testing centers throughout the United States, Canada, and international sites around the world; remote proctoring also available; eligibility to schedule is valid for 90 days after CBIC's email confirmation
- Results
- Pass/fail notification appears on screen immediately after completing the exam; Prometric emails the score report within an hour of completing the exam
- Credential validity
- a-IPC certification is valid for five years from the year of successful examination; maintained every five years through a continuing-education IPU portfolio (prorated minimums of 12/20/27/35 IPUs for expirations 2026–2029, full 40 IPUs thereafter, covering at least six of the eight content domains) or by retaking the initial a-IPC examination in the fifth year
- Remote testing
- Available
Exam structure
Single objective multiple-choice exam of 100 items (85 scored) with no built-in breaks, delivered with forward navigation (candidates must answer all items in order, cannot skip, flag, or return, since January 2, 2025). Current (2025 practice analysis, effective May 2026) outline — eight domains by scored items: Processes to Identify Infectious Diseases 14, Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation 17, Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents 14, Employee/Occupational Health 7, Management and Communication of the Infection Prevention Program 7, Education and Research 6, Environment of Care 10, Cleaning, Disinfection, Sterilization of Medical Devices and Equipment 10
Where rules vary
Worldwide entry-level professional certification, not tied to one jurisdiction: the a-IPC is offered 'five to seven days a week at testing centers throughout the United States, Canada, and international sites around the world', and CBIC prices the a-IPC fee on a tiered scale by World Bank country income classification (high-income / upper-middle / lower-middle / low-income) so certification stays accessible across income levels worldwide
Eligibility
None — there are no job-specific or education requirements to be eligible for the a-IPC; a candidate must only have interest in the field of infection prevention and control and pay the application fee; no supporting documentation required to apply
Retake policy
The a-IPC may only be taken twice within a twelve-month period, and no more than once every six months (unlike the CIC®/LTC-CIP®, which allow four attempts per year, no more than once every 90 days)