Evaluation of Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc Certification in Infection Control (CIC) examination rates.

Abstract

Background: Infection prevention professionals develop through training and certification practices, with the Certified in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) exam being the industry standard for infection prevention and control expertise.

Methods: This study conducted a secondary analysis of Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc exam scores from 2013 to 2022. Reliability coefficients, Spearman-Brown coefficients, and Standard Error Measurement averages were calculated for the CIC exam's eight objective areas from 2016 to 2022.

Results: Over the past decade, pass rates varied from 57.30% to 85.40%, with a mean of 69.7%. The number of exam participants ranged from 574 to 1,392. Despite the variability, the highest reliability, Spearman-Brown, and Standard Error Measurement averages were consistently observed in areas such as identifying infectious disease processes, surveillance, epidemiological investigation, and controlling transmission of infectious agents.

Conclusions: As more facilities push for certification, the number of CIC exam takers has increased. However, the evolving nature of infection prevention and the lack of a standardized training track contribute to variations in reliability coefficients across the exam's objective areas.