CIC (Irrigation Association Certifications) study guide
CIC · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CIC® credential - Certification in Infection Prevention and Control - is administered by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC®), an independent certifying body. The CIC study guide has 6 sections and about 1,633 words.
01Domain 1: Identification of Infectious Disease Processes
Identification of Infectious Disease Processes tests how well you connect microbiology and host response to infection prevention decisions: recognizing syndromes, interpreting laboratory results, and distinguishing colonization from infection. The chain of infection requires a pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host; breaking any link can prevent transmission.
281 words, about 1 min02Domain 2: Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation
Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation tests case definitions, rate calculation, surveillance systems, outbreak investigation, and basic study design. The exam expects you to use data consistently and to separate signal from surveillance artifact.
292 words, about 1 min03Domain 3: Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents
Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents tests Standard Precautions, transmission-based precautions, hand hygiene, PPE, environmental cleaning, and device bundles. The emphasis is selecting the correct precaution immediately and sustaining it.
273 words, about 1 min04Domain 4: Employee/Occupational Health
Employee/Occupational Health tests pre-placement assessment, immunization, exposure management, work restrictions, and regulatory requirements for healthcare personnel. The exam favors practical decisions that protect workers and patients.
274 words, about 1 min05Domain 5: Management and Communication
Management and Communication tests program leadership, risk assessment, policy and regulatory readiness, quality improvement, and communication with executives, frontline staff, and public health. The exam asks what a competent infection preventionist does with data and people.
261 words, about 1 min06Domain 6: Education and Research
Education and Research tests how to assess learning needs, design effective education, validate competency, and appraise or conduct research in infection prevention. The exam distinguishes education from behavior change and quality improvement from research.
252 words, about 1 min