CAii/CMII
Certified Associate in Infection Control and Instrumentation (CAii) / Certified Medical Instrumentation and Infection Control (CMII)
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The CAii (Certified Associate in Infection Control and Instrumentation) and CMII (Certified Medical Instrumentation and Infection Control) credentials are aimed at people who handle reusable medical devices and the infection-control side of that work: sterile processing technicians, endoscopy reprocessing staff, biomedical equipment technicians, and the supervisors who sign off on their work. The exams test whether you can reason across the full loop from contaminated device to patient-ready device, and whether you understand the safety and documentation obligations that sit around it. Content is organized into seven domains: infection prevention and control principles; medical device reprocessing and sterilization; instrumentation inspection, testing, and maintenance; regulatory standards and accreditation requirements; environmental safety and occupational health; quality assurance and documentation; and professional practice and communication. Expect multiple-choice items that mix recall (for example, which sterilization method suits a given device) with applied judgement (for example, what to do when a load fails a biological indicator or when a wrapper is compromised). Preparation works best in layers: build vocabulary in microbiology and chain-of-infection concepts first, then move through decontamination, cleaning verification, packaging, sterilization, and sterile storage in process order, and finish with standards, documentation, and communication scenarios. Practice explaining your reasoning out loud, because the applied items reward knowing why a step exists, not just the step order. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the certifying body; confirm eligibility, current fees, scheduling, and scoring directly with the official organization.
What you'll study
About CAii/CMII preparation
Is this an official study guide?
No. This is independent preparation material written for candidates searching for this exam. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by the certifying organization. Always treat the official body's published content outline, candidate handbook, and standards references as the authoritative source, and use independent material only to rehearse and organize your understanding.
What is the exam format?
The profile for these credentials lists multiple-choice questions. The certifying body controls the current delivery mode (test center or remote proctoring), item count, and time allowance, and those details change. Check the official organization's website or candidate handbook for the current format rather than relying on secondhand descriptions.
How long is the exam and how many questions are there?
Those figures are set by the certifying body and are not fixed permanently, so no number is given here. The official organization publishes the current question count, appointment length, and any scheduled breaks in its candidate handbook. Confirm before you book so you can practice under realistic timing conditions.
How hard is it, and what score do I need to pass?
Difficulty is subjective, but candidates generally find the applied judgement items harder than the recall items, because several answers can look plausible. The passing standard is set by the certifying body and is published on its site; it is not a figure this page can supply. Aim to understand mechanisms deeply rather than memorizing lists.
What happens if I fail? Can I retake it?
Retake rules, waiting periods, and any limits on attempts are set by the certifying organization and can change, so check its current policy before you sit. Practically, if you do not pass, request your score report by domain if it is offered, then rebuild your study plan around the weakest domain rather than rereading everything.
In what order should I study the seven domains?
Follow the physical process: infection principles, then decontamination and cleaning, then inspection and testing, then packaging and sterilization, then sterile storage, then standards and documentation, then communication. This order makes later topics feel like consequences of earlier ones. Weight your remaining time toward the two 20 percent domains, since they carry the most scoring weight.
What are the most common failure modes?
Three recur: memorizing step sequences without understanding why each step exists, so applied scenarios defeat you; ignoring documentation and quality-assurance content because it feels administrative; and never practicing under time pressure. A fourth is studying only sterilization and skipping inspection and maintenance, which is a substantial share of the exam.
Do I need hands-on experience to pass?
The exam is written for working practitioners, and scenario items assume familiarity with real workflow, so hands-on exposure helps considerably. If you are new to the field, supplement reading with supervised observation in a reprocessing area where permitted, and ask technicians to explain deviations they encounter. Do not enter restricted areas without authorization and training.
Where do I confirm eligibility, fees, and scheduling?
Only with the certifying organization. Eligibility requirements, application steps, fees, testing windows, score reporting, and credential validity periods are all published and maintained by that body. This page deliberately omits those figures because they change and because quoting a stale number would mislead you. Start at the official website before making any plans.