CIC Exam Content Outline 2026: The 8 Domains, What's Changing and Who Can Apply
The CBIC CIC® exam's 8 domains and item counts, what changes in the 2026 outline, and who is eligible to sit the infection control exam.
In this article
The CBIC Certified in Infection Control (CIC®) exam has 135 scored questions across 8 domains. CBIC has published an updated 2026 outline that keeps the 8 domains and the 135 items but moves weight toward education, research and program management, and away from cleaning and sterilization. Candidates applying under the current outline must apply by November 10, 2026.
Not to be confused with the AAPC Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC), a medical-coding credential. This guide is about the CBIC infection control exam.
What are the 8 CIC exam domains?
The CIC exam tests eight domains of infection prevention and control. Three of them — identifying infectious diseases, surveillance, and preventing transmission — make up roughly half of the scored items in both outlines.
| Domain | 2021 (items) | 2026 (items) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of infectious disease processes | 22 | 22 | — |
| Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation | 22 | 23 | +1 |
| Preventing/controlling transmission of infectious agents | 22 | 22 | — |
| Employee/occupational health | 11 | 11 | — |
| Management and communication of the IP program | 14 | 16 | +2 |
| Education and research | 12 | 15 | +3 |
| Environment of care | 14 | 13 | −1 |
| Cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of devices and equipment | 18 | 13 | −5 |
| Total scored items | 135 | 135 |
Source: CBIC CIC outline comparison summary.
What changes in the 2026 CIC outline?
The biggest shift is five fewer items on cleaning, disinfection and sterilization and five more on education, research and program management. CBIC also adds new content on:
- acting on surveillance data and genomic epidemiology
- airborne isolation and respiratory protection
- leading immunization programs
- integrating technology into the IP program
- onboarding and competency-based education
- evaluating environmental technologies and overseeing contracted services
- investigating device-reprocessing failures
When does the new outline start?
CBIC's dates for the transition (from the About the Examination page):
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 10, 2026 | Last day to apply under the current outline |
| December 11, 2026 | Last day to request an eligibility extension |
| Nov 24, 2026 – Feb 22, 2027 | Beta exam application window (25% fee discount) |
| March 1 – April 9, 2027 | Beta exam testing on the new outline |
What this means for you: if you are ready now, apply before November 10 and prepare on the current outline. If you start studying today for a 2027 exam, give extra time to education, research and program management.
Who is eligible to sit the CIC exam?
You are eligible if you are currently responsible for infection prevention and control in a paid role and have enough recent experience. CBIC recommends post-secondary education in a health-related field (such as medicine, nursing, laboratory science, public health or biology), but does not require a specific degree or licence.
| Requirement | CBIC rule |
|---|---|
| Current role | Your job description shows direct responsibility for IPC program activities |
| Experience (one of) | 1 year full-time · 2 years part-time · 3,000 hours of IPC work in the last 3 years |
| Paid work | Experience must be paid employment |
| Tasks | All 5 core areas (disease identification, surveillance, transmission prevention, environment of care, cleaning/sterilization) + at least 2 of 3 others (occupational health, management, education/research) |
| Education | Post-secondary education in a health-related field recommended |
Source: CBIC eligibility guidelines.
Not eligible yet? CBIC's entry-level a-IPC (Associate – Infection Prevention and Control) credential is designed for people starting out in IPC.
What does the CIC exam look like?
| CIC® exam | |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 multiple choice, 135 scored |
| Time | Two 90-minute sections, optional 16-minute break |
| Pass mark | Scaled score of 700 (range 300–900) |
| Navigation | Forward only since January 2, 2025 — no going back |
| Where | Prometric test centre or online (ProProctor) |
| Fee | $445 / $330 / $220 / $110 by country income level |
| Valid for | 5 years; recertify by exam or infection prevention units (IPUs) |
Prepare by domain
The CIC Exam Prep Course follows the 8 CBIC domains module by module, with exam-style practice in each. Compare options and exam fees for your country on our CIC certification page, and see the full study plan in how to pass the CIC exam.
FAQ
How many domains are on the CIC exam?
Eight, covering 135 scored items in both the 2021 and 2026 outlines.
Which CIC domain has the most questions?
Under the 2026 outline, surveillance and epidemiologic investigation has 23 items; identification of infectious diseases and transmission prevention have 22 each.
Do I need a nursing or medical degree for the CIC?
No specific degree is required. CBIC recommends post-secondary education in a health-related field and requires current, paid responsibility for IPC.
How much experience do I need?
One year full-time, two years part-time, or 3,000 hours of IPC work in the past three years.
When is the deadline for the current outline?
November 10, 2026.
#CIC#Infection control#CBIC
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Dr Shorouk Elsayed
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