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CIC (Certification in Infection Control) Examination
The CIC certification examination is the initial certification exam of the Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC), the standardized measure of knowledge, skills and abilities expected of proficient professionals working in infection prevention and control. It is an objective, multiple-choice, forward-navigation computer-based exam of 150 questions (135 scored, 15 pretest) with a 3.5-hour exam window (3 hours of exam time plus tutorial and survey; two 90-minute sections split by an optional 16-minute break after the first 75 questions), delivered daily at Prometric testing centers worldwide 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, with the passing point set by the Angoff method. A Spanish-language CIC examination is also offered.
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Questions150 multiple-choice questions, of which 135 are scored and 15 are pretest questions used for item evaluation
Testing time3.5-hour exam window: 3 hours of examination time plus 15 minutes at each end for tutorial and post-exam survey; structure is Introduction & Tutorial 10 min, Section 1 90 min (first 75 questions), optional 16-minute scheduled break, Section 2 90 min, Survey 5 min
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 445 for CIC initial certification & recertification (high-income countries); tiered by World Bank income classification — USD 330 upper-middle, USD 220 lower-middle, USD 110 low-income; Spanish-language CIC exam promotional USD 222.50 (high-income; 50% discount valid September 1, 2026–January 31, 2027, standard rates resume February 1, 2027); re-score request minimum USD 200
Prep options
Study resources for CIC
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- CBIC
- Category
- Infection Prevention & Control
- Current version
- Current CIC content outline based on the 2021 Practice Analysis; a revised content outline from the 2026 practice analysis takes effect for exams starting February 2027; administered under the 2026 Candidate Handbook (rev. 2.4.26)
- Where it applies
- Global
- Exam languages
- English, Spanish
- Score scale
- 300–900 (scaled; failing scores reported 300–699)
- Testing provider
- Prometric (test centers and live remote proctoring; Prometric handles administration, security, and scoring)
- Format
- Computer-based at Prometric testing centers worldwide, or at home via Prometric's live remote proctoring option ProProctor; forward-navigation delivery (must answer each item in order, cannot skip, flag, or return)
- Availability
- Offered daily by appointment at Prometric testing centers worldwide, or at home via live remote proctoring, year-round
- Results
- Pass/fail notification appears on screen immediately after completing the exam; Prometric emails the score report within an hour of completion
- Credential validity
- CIC certification is valid for five years; maintained every five years through a continuing-education portfolio (minimum 40 approved Infection Prevention Units) or by retaking the examination
- Remote testing
- Available
Exam structure
Single objective multiple-choice exam of 150 items (135 scored, 15 pretest) in two 90-minute sections separated by an optional 16-minute break (first 75 questions in Section 1; forward navigation — no skipping, flagging, or returning to prior questions since January 2, 2025). Current (2021 practice analysis) outline — eight domains by scored items: Identification of Infectious Disease Processes 22, Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation 22, Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents 22, Employee/Occupational Health 11, Management and Communication 14, Education and Research 12, Environment of Care 14, Cleaning, Disinfection, Sterilization of Medical Devices and Equipment 18
Where rules vary
Worldwide professional certification, not tied to one jurisdiction: "The CIC® examination is offered daily at testing centers worldwide", CIC initials are internationally recognized, and CBIC prices exam fees on a tiered scale by World Bank country income classification (high-income / upper-middle / lower-middle / low-income) for candidates across income levels worldwide
Eligibility
Eligibility requires ALL of: (1) completed post-secondary education in a health-related field (diploma RN, LPN/LVN, DPN, or health-related associate's/bachelor's/master's/doctorate); (2) direct responsibility for infection prevention and control programs/activities in a healthcare setting reflected in the current job description; (3) infection prevention work experience — at least one year full-time OR two years part-time OR 3,000 hours within the previous three years — covering surveillance/epidemiologic investigation, transmission prevention, environment of care, and cleaning/disinfection/sterilization plus at least two of: employee/occupational health, management and communication, education and research. No supporting documentation uploaded at application
Retake policy
The initial certification examination may be retaken a maximum of four times per year, no more than once every 90 days