CT(IAC) Exam study guide
CT(IAC) Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC®) is a professional credential administered by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC). It signals that a practitioner can apply infection prevention and control science across a healthcare organization, from identifying infectious disease processes to cleaning, sterilization, and performance improvement. The CT(IAC) Exam study guide has 9 sections and about 3,067 words.
01Identification of Infectious Disease Processes
This domain tests whether you can recognize when a patient has a true infection rather than colonization, interpret diagnostic tests correctly, and link clinical findings to the pathogens and transmission routes that drive prevention decisions. Chain of infection - infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.
350 words, about 2 min02Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation
This domain tests the mechanics of counting infections correctly and of running an outbreak investigation: standardized case definitions, correct denominators, and a disciplined sequence of epidemiologic steps. Use a written case definition (NHSN/CDC or locally validated) applied consistently; changing a definition mid-year breaks comparability.
366 words, about 2 min03Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents
This domain tests whether you can select the right precaution tier for a given organism, apply it for the right duration, and get the practical details - PPE, hand hygiene, room assignment - right. Standard precautions apply to every patient: hand hygiene, gloves for contact with blood/body fluids, gown and eye protection when splash is likely, safe injection practices, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette.
359 words, about 2 min04Employee/Occupational Health
This domain tests the interface between infection prevention and employee health: pre-placement screening, immunizations, exposure management, and work restrictions. Pre-placement : immunity documentation (MMR, varicella, hepatitis B, Tdap, influenza, COVID-19 per policy) and baseline TB test (two-step TST or IGRA).
350 words, about 2 min05Management and Communication
This domain tests program leadership: how the infection prevention program is organized, prioritized, and resourced, and how its messages reach staff, leaders, regulators, and the public. Annual risk assessment drives the program plan - based on population served, services offered, past surveillance data, and construction/outbreak history.
330 words, about 2 min06Education and Research
This domain tests how you build real competencies in staff and how you read and conduct research well enough to base practice on it. Education must change behavior, not just knowledge.
323 words, about 2 min07Environment of Care
This domain tests the physical environment as a transmission risk: construction, ventilation, water systems, and surface management. Construction/renovation requires a pre-project infection control risk assessment (ICRA) classifying the activity and the patient risk group.
327 words, about 2 min08Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
This domain tests correct reprocessing decisions: matching device classification to the required level of processing and verifying that the process actually worked. Spaulding classification : critical (enters sterile tissue or the vascular system - sterilize); semicritical (contacts mucous membranes or nonintact skin - high-level disinfection minimum); noncritical (touches intact skin only - low-level disinfection).
331 words, about 2 min09Performance Improvement
This domain tests whether you can turn surveillance data into measurable improvement and interpret variation correctly. Model for Improvement : a clear aim, measures (outcome, process, balancing), and changes tested through PDSA cycles.
331 words, about 2 min