Certification in Infection Prevention and Control

1. Certification in Infection Prevention and Control Certifying the Professional Elevating the Profession

2. What is CBIC? • Voluntary, independent, multidisciplinary Board • Provides direction for and administers the certification process for infection prevention and control (IP&C) • Mission: Protect the public by raising the standard of the infection prevention and control profession through the development, administration and promotion of an accredited certification process.

3. What is CBIC? • Established by APIC in 1981 • Certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) • Member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, formerly National Organization for Competency Assurance

4. Board Composition(Minimal Requirements per Bylaws) • Medical Doctor: (1) • Medical Technologist: (1) • RNs: (4) • Canadian Infection Preventionist (IP): (1) • IP non-acute setting: (1) • IP long-term care setting: (1) • IP 4 years or less experience as IP • Public Consumer* * All but consumer director must be CIC®

5. CBIC Strategic Priorities • Maintain and improve the accredited certification program • Increase recognition/value of certification • Increase the number of certificants • Establish/Maintain partnerships with APIC, CHICA-Canada and other organizations to accomplish goals

6. Objectives of Certification • Provide a standardized measurement of current essential knowledge • Encourage attainment of credential that denotes practice excellence among infection prevention and control professionals • Formally recognize individuals who fulfill the requirements for certification with the CIC® credential

7. Method of Certification • Initial certification: proctored computer-based examination • Remains valid for 5 years

8. Methods of Re-certification • Proctored computer-based examination OR • Self Achievement Recertification Exam (SARE) • Remains valid for 5 years

9. Certification Examinations • Comprehensive, job-related, objective tests • 150 multiple choice questions • Developed from a practice analysis of Infection Prevention and Control Professionals in the U.S., Canada and many other countries • Recognized by APIC and CHICA-Canada as the standard for certification in infection control

10. Certification Examinations • Aligned with the Practice Standards for Infection Control and Healthcare Epidemiology • The only standardized measurement of essential knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of infection prevention and control professionals • ALL examination questions are the copyrighted property of CBIC

11. Proctored Computer-based Examination • Administered at Assessment Centers throughout the United States, Canada and other international sites Sites listed at: AMP web site, www.goamp.com • Used for both initial certification and re-certification

12. Self Achievement Re-certification Examination (SARE) • Similar in content to the computer-based examination (follows content outline) with 150 multiple choice items developed from the practice analysis • Questions are practice oriented and challenging • Test geared to IP&C professional with seven (7) years experience

13. Self Achievement Recertification Examination (SARE) • Self-administered (non-proctored), Web-based at a location of one’s choosing • May access the SARE multiple times before completion • Deadline to purchase: December 1 • Deadline to submit: December 31 • The sooner the purchase, the more time to complete

14. Validity of the Certification Examinations • Exams are based on a practice analysis of infection prevention and control professionals • The practice analysis, examination development and process adhere to nationally recognized standards for validation, educational and psychological testing

15. Validity of the Certification Examinations • Developed under the guidance of a psychometrician and test development specialist from an independent testing agency. The testing agency also oversees scoring of the examination. • Each test item (question) undergoes both expert and statistical scrutiny before use.

16. Validity of the Certification Examinations • Passing scores are calculated to compensate for item difficulty and differences between examinations • Acknowledged by The Joint Commission as an important element of an effective infection control program

17. Certification Examination2010 Content Outline • Identification of Infectious Disease Processes • Surveillance & Epidemiologic Investigation • Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents • Employee/Occupational Health • Management and Communication (Leadership) • Education and Research

18. Eligibility for Certification • Must meet practice requirements for “current clinical practice of infection prevention and control” • Must have primary responsibility for the infection prevention and control program for their employing organization OR the department in which the applicant is employed is assigned responsibility for the infection prevention and control program in the organization. • Must meet educational requirements (or apply for a waiver) • All requirements described in Candidate Handbook

19. Eligibility for Certification (cont) • A current license or registration as a medical technologist, physician, or registered nurse; OR • A minimum of a baccalaureate degree • Contact CBIC Executive Office regarding educational requirement waiver

20. Eligibility for Certification (cont) • Candidates who are self-employed or who work in non-traditional settings must submit additional documentation (SeeCandidate Handbookfor details) • Candidates with lapsed certification must meet the practice requirements as described in the Candidate Handbook for first time applicants and take the computer-based examination.

21. Eligibility for Re-Certification Individuals who are currently certified are automatically eligible for re-certification every 5 years.

22. Definition of Infection Control Practice • The clinical practice of infection control occurs in a variety of settings and includes both: • analysis and interpretation of collected infection prevention and control data; and • the investigation and surveillance of suspected outbreaks of infection. AND

23. Definition of Infection Control Practice (cont.) • Includes at least threeof the following five activities: • Planning, implementation and evaluation of infection prevention and control measures; • Education of individuals about infection risk, prevention and control;

24. Definition of Infection Control Practice (cont.) 3. Development and revision of infection control policies and procedures; • Management of infection prevention and control activities; 5. Provision of consultation on infection risk assessment, prevention and control strategies.

25. Applying for the Certification Examination • Obtain a Candidate Handbook with application forms and special accommodations requests from CBIC. • Ensure that the eligibility requirements are met (request an educational waiver, if necessary). • You may apply online at www.goamp.com or complete the paper application in the Candidate Handbook and send to AMP

26. Preparing for the Examination Refer to the detailed content outline in the Candidate Handbook to guide study efforts

27. Preparing for the Examination(cont.) • Review current infection prevention and control reference books, journals and standards. • Solicit support from your local APIC or CHICA chapter. • Form a study group among your peers.

28. Confidentiality of Examination Scores • Both CBIC and AMP (CBIC’s testing agency) maintain complete confidentiality of individual test scores. • Only summary statistics are provided at open forums and published periodically in the infection prevention and control literature.

29. Reasons for Achieving CIC® • Support professional growth • Provide employers and consumers with an accepted measure of one’s mastery of essential infection control knowledge

30. Reasons for Achieving CIC® (cont’d) • Achieve formal recognition as an infection prevention and control professional who fulfills the requirements for certification • Enhance credibility and prestige • Receive personal satisfaction

31. Proper Use of the CIC® Credential Only individuals who have successfully passed the proctored computer-based certification exam and have maintained current certification, through either the computer-based or SARE examination, may use the CIC® credential.

32. Proper Use of the CIC® Credential • The CIC® credential may be used on resumes, business cards, letterhead, and other professional communications. • The CIC® credential may not be used for product or other endorsements.

33. Resources • Check CBIC Web site www.cbic.orgfor: • Candidate Handbook (all application and order forms for the examinations are included) • Background information on CBIC and the certification process

34. CBIC does not produce or endorse products or materials related to preparing for the certification examination.

35. Resources • CBIC Executive Offices are located at: 555 East Wells Street Suite 1100 Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone: (414) 918-9796 Fax: (414) 276-3349 Web site: www.cbic.org

36. Resources (cont.) • AMP (CBIC's testing company): 18000 W. 105th St Olathe, KS 66061-7543 (888) 519-9901info@goamp.com

37. Resources (cont.) • APIC 1275 K St., NWSuite 1000Washington, DC, 20005-4006(202) 789-1890apicinfo@apic.org • CHICA-Canada PO Box 46125 RPO WestdaleWinnipeg MBR3R 3S3(866) 999-7111chicacanada@mts.net