CBIC Test

The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC) is an organization that certifies health care workers through the completion and passing of the CBIC exam. Once certified, certification lasts for five years. The exam is administered at over 140 testing centers in North America by Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP).

Prior to applying for the CBIC examination, certain specific educational and practice requirements must be met. Details about these requirements can be found online on the CBIC website. There are two ways in which to apply for the CBIC exam. One way is to apply online on the Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) website. After applying online, a confirmation of eligibility is available immediately, and then an exam appointment can be scheduled. One can also apply online by mailing a paper application to AMP directly. This application can be found online in the Candidate Handbook on the CBIC website. After applying by mail, a notice of eligibility will be sent to approved candidates within two weeks. When applying for the CBIC exam, all fees must be paid as well, and these fees are outlined online. The eligibility window for both online and mail applicants lasts for 90 days. The CBIC must be taken during this 90 day window. There are no specific examination dates, and the exam can be taken on Mondays-Fridays at either 9 am or 1:30 pm. Exams can be scheduled by calling AMP directly or online on the AMP website. Exam locations can be found online on the AMP website.

The CBIC examination is computer-based, and consists of 150 multiple choice questions. Of these 150 questions, 15 questions are pre-test questions.

The major content areas effective July 1, 2007:

I. Identification of Infection Disease Processes

II. Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation

III. Infection Prevention and Control

IV. Program Management and Communication

V. Education

VI. Infection Control Aspects of Employee Health

After the completion of the CBIC exam, a score report is available from the examination proctor. The score report contains the raw score for the entire exam, which is the total number of questions answered correctly, as well as the raw score of each of the six major content areas. In addition, the score report will note whether the candidate has passed or failed the examination. The minimum passing score is determined using the Angoff method. This method estimates the probability of passing each question on the examination. The minimum passing score varies between different examination forms.

Prior to the CBIC examination, it is crucial to be familiar with the content and format of the exam. Reviewing the content structure online on the CBIC website can be useful. In addition, the CBIC website lists reference books which may be of use as study aids. Taking practice examinations and completing practice questions can also be of use. During the exam, taking advantage of the practice test at the start of the testing session is useful. This practice test is not scored, rather, it is for helping the test-taker become familiar with the computer testing environment. Pacing during the examination is also important. Time can be checked using the time feature on the testing computer. All questions presented should be answered, as any blank answers are considered to be incorrect in terms of scoring. If a question seems difficult, it can be skipped and returned to later during the examination. A best guess is better than no answer at all.

CBIC Exam Information