CBIC Practice Test Questions

What are the topics and tasks covered on the exam?

• Identification of Infectious Disease Processes – 22 questions
• Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation – 24 questions
• Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents – 25 questions
• Employee/Occupational Health – 11 questions
• Management and Communication – 13 questions
• Education and Research – 11 questions
• Environment of Care – 14 questions
• Cleaning, Sterilization, Disinfection, Asepsis – 15 questions

Identification of Infectious Disease Processes

This topic will address tasks such as understanding the importance of diagnostic and laboratory reports, determining the right practices for the collection of specimens, as well as handling and storing, figuring out the difference between colonization infection and contamination, and linking clinical signs and symptoms with the process of infectious disease.

Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation

This topic will address tasks such as performing risk assessments, establishing goals and objectives, recording surveillance data, using standardized definitions, utilizing statistics to explain information, presenting findings, confirming an outbreak, establishing a hypothesis regarding outbreaks, and developing and distributing reports.

Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents

This topic will address tasks such as creating policies and procedures related to infection prevention, working with groups and agencies, dealing with biologic threats, and recognizing strategies with regard to hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, immunization programs, and using medical equipment and products.

Employee/Occupational Health

This topic will address tasks such as evaluating immunization programs, working with others on counseling regarding communicable diseases, and determining risk of occupational exposure to infectious diseases.

Management and Communication

This topic will address tasks such as drafting a mission and vision statement for an infection prevention and control program, taking part in cost benefit assessments, communication infection prevention and control findings, choosing quality and performance improvement tools, and partaking in quality and performance improvement activities.

Education and Research

This topic will address tasks such as evaluating needs and creating goals for education, creating educational content, assess the effectiveness of the education, and performing a literature review.

Environment of Care

This topic will address tasks such as distinguishing factors of a safe care environment, evaluating infection risks that affect care settings, and choosing disinfectant products.

Cleaning, Sterilization, Disinfection, Asepsis

This topic will address tasks such as determining proper practices for cleaning, sterilizing, and disinfecting, and finding and assessing the important steps of cleaning, disinfecting at a high level, and sterilizing.

How do I apply?

Apply online and pay using a credit card. Approximately a week later, you will receive an email that gives instructions on how to schedule your exam. Once you are ready to schedule your exam, you can do so online or over the phone. You will have 90-days to schedule and complete your exam.

What is the cost of the exam?

The fee to take this exam is $375.

What are the testing dates and locations?

This exam is administered on a continuous basis, at many testing centers in the United States and Canada.

What should I do the day of the exam?

Arrive at the testing center a minimum of 30 minutes early. This will give you time to park, check-in, and get settled in for the exam. It is very important that you are not late to the testing site. Being late will prevent you from taking the test.

Bring a form of identification that is not expired or a photocopy. It is necessary that this identification include your name, signature, and photo. You will not be allowed to take the exam if your ID does not meet these requirements.

Personal items such as a cell phone, calculator, other electronic devices, and food/drink are not permitted in the testing area.

What happens after I take the exam?

You will receive a score report via email, within an hour of taking the exam. You can print off this report. The official score report will be sent in the mail. If you pass the exam, you will receive your certificate in 4-6 weeks, and will be certified for five years.

What happens if I don’t pass the exam?

You can re-take the exam up to four times a year. You must adhere to a 90-day waiting period between each attempt.

How Can I Prepare for the CBIC Test?

That’s a great question.  We’ve broken down the answer into three parts.

1. Do yourself a favor and study.  Do not walk in unprepared. We have recommended prep materials below, but that only helps if you actually try.  Plus, studying is actually proven to be the best antidote to test anxiety.
2. Take care of yourself.  Make sure you’re eating well, exercising, and sleeping.  All of these things are scientifically linked to brain performance.  If you take care of your body, you’ll be helping your grades.
3. Get a study guide or set of flashcards.  Some people study better a certain way. Find your study strengths and make the most of them.  We’ve tried to make it easy for you by tracking down the best study guide and flashcard set for your exam.  Below you’ll see links to both!