CIC · a-IPC · LTC-CIP
CBIC's infection prevention credentials are the recognized standard for infection preventionists across hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis units, and long-term care. Many hospital systems, Magnet-status facilities, and infection-control leadership roles now list the CIC as a hiring or promotion requirement, and surveyors increasingly expect certified IPs on staff. With the exams moving to strict forward navigation in 2025 and a fresh content outline arriving in 2026, knowing exactly how these tests are built — CIC, the associate-level a-IPC, and the long-term-care LTC-CIP — is the difference between passing on the first attempt and re-paying a $445 fee.
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Three distinct exams from the Certification Board of Infection Control — which one applies to you
| Credential | Official code | Questions | Fee (USD) | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certification in Infection Prevention & Control | CIC | 150 (135 scored) | $445 | Practicing IPs with ~1 yr experience |
| Associate – Infection Prevention & Control | a-IPC | 100 (85 scored) | $335 | Entry-level — no experience or degree required |
| Long-Term Care Certification in Infection Prevention | LTC-CIP | 150 (135 scored) | $445 | IPs in nursing homes & skilled-care settings |
All three share the same Prometric delivery, the 300–900 scaled scale, the 700 pass mark, and forward-only navigation. They differ in length, eligibility, and clinical focus. CIC and LTC-CIP both certify for five years; the a-IPC is an associate stepping-stone many candidates use before they have the experience to sit the full CIC.
How the CIC examination is built — at a glance
150
The CIC has 150 questions; 135 are scored and 15 are unscored pre-test items seeded for future exams. You cannot tell which is which, so every question is worth answering carefully.
2 × 90
The exam runs in two 90-minute halves with one optional 16-minute break between them. Total seat time is about three hours once check-in is complete.
700
Raw correct answers convert to a scaled score from 300 to 900; you need 700 to pass. Pass candidates see only "Pass"; the rest get a 300–699 score with domain feedback.
Effective January 2, 2025, the CIC, a-IPC, and LTC-CIP all use forward navigation. You answer each item in the order it appears and cannot return to a previous question once you confirm it. There is no "mark for review" — your first decision is final, so pacing discipline and reading each stem carefully matter far more than on older review-style exams.
CBIC ran a fresh Practice Analysis in 2025, and the a-IPC examination switches to the updated content outline on May 22, 2026, with the CIC outline refreshed on the same cycle. If you're testing in 2026, confirm whether you'll sit the current or the revised blueprint — they shift the relative weight of surveillance, device reprocessing, and emerging-pathogen content.
Eight CIC content domains — bars show each domain's share of the 135 scored items
~22 items on microbiology, the chain of infection, diagnostic interpretation, and recognizing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and outbreaks.
~22 items on NHSN definitions, rate calculation, data analysis, outbreak investigation, and reporting to public health.
~22 items on isolation precautions, hand hygiene, PPE, bundles, and limiting spread of multidrug-resistant organisms.
~18 items on reprocessing medical devices and equipment, Spaulding classification, and sterile processing oversight.
~14 items on program leadership, policy, regulatory standards (Joint Commission, CMS), and influencing staff behavior.
~14 items on construction/renovation risk assessment (ICRA), air and water systems, and environmental cleaning.
~12 items on staff education, evidence-based practice, evaluating literature, and applying research to IP programs.
~11 items on immunization programs, exposure management, bloodborne-pathogen follow-up, and staff health policy.
The three surveillance/transmission/identification domains together account for nearly half the scored exam, which is why candidates from a bedside-nursing background often underestimate the epidemiology and rate-calculation load. The LTC-CIP uses a parallel nine-domain blueprint tuned to nursing-home settings, while the a-IPC covers the same fundamentals at an associate depth across 85 scored items.
Two ways to sit the exam through Prometric — and what to expect on test day
You sit the exam in a quiet, monitored room at a Prometric center. Staff verify your government-issued ID, store your belongings in a locker, and watch the room throughout. Centers are available across the US, Canada, and international sites. You must schedule within the 90-day window after CBIC approves your application.
You take the exam from a private room at home, monitored live through Prometric's ProProctor platform — no extra fee or approval beyond your application. You install the ProProctor app, run a system readiness check, complete an ID and 360-degree room scan, and a live proctor unlocks the exam. No scratch paper is allowed; an on-screen whiteboard is provided.
A valid, unexpired government photo ID with your name matching your CBIC application exactly. ProProctor captures your photo and ID image before the exam unlocks.
A clear, private room with a clean desk, no second monitor, no phone, no notes, and no one else present. You show the proctor the room, walls, and desk on camera.
Stay on camera and in frame. One optional 16-minute break is permitted between the two sections. Talking aloud, leaving the seat, or dropping connection can pause or flag the session.
CBIC certification gates infection-prevention roles
Eligibility differs by credential — and the bar is real
Difficulty: The CIC is notorious for breadth, not depth — it pulls from clinical microbiology, surveillance math, regulatory standards, and sterile processing in a single sitting. The new forward-only navigation removes your safety net, so a clinically strong nurse can still miss 700 by mismanaging epidemiology and rate-calculation items. That breadth-under-pressure is exactly the pain point our help is built to remove.
The CIC, a-IPC, and LTC-CIP are broad, forward-only exams standing between you and an infection-prevention role or promotion. Exam Assist pairs you with a vetted specialist and works on a pay-after-you-pass model — so the risk sits with us, not you. No upfront fee, guaranteed results: Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end, and you settle only after the verified result.
Tell us which credential you're sitting (CIC, a-IPC, or LTC-CIP), your delivery method (Prometric center or ProProctor), and your approval window. Takes a couple of minutes over WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord.
We review your timeline and target and tell you plainly whether it's realistic — before any money is discussed. If it isn't a fit, we say so.
Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end. You're matched with an infection-control specialist who maps the work around the eight domains, the forward-navigation format, and the ProProctor environment — discreetly and confidentially.
You only pay once your passing result is confirmed by CBIC. No verified result, nothing owed.
Our nursing-focused team also supports infection-control certifications for RNs moving into IP roles.
ServiceSpecialist support for high-stakes clinical and board-style exams across the healthcare cluster.
GuideHow online-proctored exams like ProProctor work, and how we help you navigate the check-in and rules.
Share your exam details and get an honest, pay-after-you-pass plan for the credential you're sitting.
Straight answers about the CIC, a-IPC, and LTC-CIP exams
Sibling healthcare & nursing certifications
AACN's certification for acute and critical-care nurses — a common stepping stone for nurses moving into specialty and IP roles.
View exam CNORThe CCI certification for OR nurses — heavy on sterile technique and aseptic practice, closely aligned with infection control.
View exam CHCThe HCCA certification covering healthcare regulatory and compliance standards that intersect with IP program oversight.
View exam CPNThe PNCB certification for pediatric nurses — another specialty credential in the same nursing certification cluster.
View examGet expert infection-control exam help with no upfront fee — you settle only after your verified passing result. Honest feasibility answer first, results-first arrangement always.