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CIC – Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CBIC): free practice test

Start with 10 free questions to see what needs more practice. Finish to see your score, weakest units and every option explained.

700 on the 300–900 scale This is your practice accuracy. It cannot be converted to the exam’s scaled score or used to determine whether you pass.

Back to CIC – Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CBIC)

Practice test questions with answers and explanations

Try the questions in the test above first, then open each one here to see the correct answer and why every other option is wrong.

01Key difference between colonisation and infection?

Practice question Unit: Processes to Identify Infectious Diseases

  1. AEvery positive culture establishes clinical infection

    A positive culture alone does not establish clinical infection; specimen quality and clinical findings matter.

  2. BColonised people cannot transmit the organism

    People who are colonised can still transmit organisms, even without symptoms.

  3. CColonisation can occur without disease; infection requires clinical interpretation ✓ Correct answer

    Colonisation means an organism is present without attributable symptoms or disease; infection must be interpreted in context.

  4. DColonisation always means the specimen was contaminated during collection

    Colonisation is an actual organism presence; contamination introduces organisms during collection or handling.

Reference: CDC, Infection Control Basics, Colonization; https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/about/

02What is diagnostic stewardship?

Practice question Unit: Processes to Identify Infectious Diseases

  1. AReviewing antibiotic prescriptions 72 hours after therapy begins

    Antimicrobial review concerns treatment use; diagnostic stewardship focuses on the testing pathway and interpretation.

  2. BIncreasing tests on every patient so that no infection is ever missed

    Indiscriminate testing can produce misleading positives and unnecessary downstream care.

  3. CAccrediting laboratories against international quality standards only

    Laboratory accreditation addresses laboratory quality systems, not the full patient-specific choice and use of tests.

  4. DOrdering the right test for the right patient at the right time to guide care ✓ Correct answer

    Selecting and interpreting appropriate tests supports better diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Reference: CDC, Core Elements of Hospital Diagnostic Excellence, Diagnostic stewardship; https://www.cdc.gov/patient-safety/hcp/hospital-dx-excellence/

03Why use standardised NHSN definitions?

Practice question Unit: Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation

  1. AThey lower case counts

    The purpose is consistent case identification, not obtaining a predetermined lower case count.

  2. BBecause they set each patient's treatment better than clinical judgement

    Surveillance definitions do not replace individual clinical diagnosis or treatment decisions.

  3. CThey remove chart review

    Applying definitions often still requires clinical, laboratory and medical-record data.

  4. DTo ensure consistency and allow internal and external rate comparison ✓ Correct answer

    Consistent criteria improve aggregation and trend comparison; differences in case mix still need consideration.

Reference: CDC NHSN FAQs, Surveillance vs. Clinical, Q4; https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/faqs/faqs-miscellaneous.html

046 CLABSIs over 3,000 central-line days. Rate per 1,000 line-days?

Practice question Unit: Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation

  1. A2.0 ✓ Correct answer

    The rate is (6 ÷ 3,000) × 1,000 = 2.0 CLABSIs per 1,000 central-line days.

  2. B0.2

    A rate of 0.2 per 1,000 would imply only 0.6 events over 3,000 line-days, not six.

  3. C5.0

    A rate of 5.0 per 1,000 would imply 15 events over this denominator.

  4. D18.0

    Multiplying events by three gives 18, but a rate requires dividing by exposure days before scaling.

Reference: CDC NHSN Patient Safety Component Manual, January 2026, BSI, Rates and Ratios, p.4-26; https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/pscManual/pscManual_current.pdf

05Hierarchy of controls, most effective first?

Practice question Unit: Preventing/Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents

  1. APPE, administrative, engineering, substitution, elimination

    Starting with PPE reverses the preferred emphasis on removing the hazard before relying on individual protection.

  2. BElimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE ✓ Correct answer

    NIOSH orders controls as elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative and then PPE.

  3. CEngineering, substitution, elimination, administrative, PPE

    Engineering follows elimination and substitution, not the other way round in the preferred hierarchy.

  4. DAdministrative, elimination, substitution, engineering, PPE

    Training is an administrative control; it should not precede elimination, substitution and engineering in the hierarchy.

Reference: CDC NIOSH, Hierarchy of Controls, Overview (2026-10-28); https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hierarchy-of-controls/about/index.html

06What is respirator fit testing?

Practice question Unit: Employee/Occupational Health

  1. AAssessing the face seal of a specific respirator model and size on the wearer ✓ Correct answer

    A fit test determines whether a particular respirator model and size provides an acceptable seal for that wearer.

  2. BChecking the seal by the wearer every time the respirator is donned

    A user seal check is performed each time the respirator is donned; it does not replace formal fit testing.

  3. CMeasuring the filtration efficiency of the filter material in a laboratory

    Filter-efficiency testing evaluates filter performance, not the seal between a particular face and facepiece.

  4. DEvaluating whether the worker is medically able to use respiratory protection

    Medical evaluation concerns ability to use respiratory protection safely, a separate part of the programme.

Reference: CDC NIOSH, Fit Testing; User Seal Check (Publication 2018-130); https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/respirators/fit-testing.html

07An IPC team has judged its proposed targets feasible. Which goal is most specific, measurable and time-bound?

Practice question Unit: Management and Communication of the Infection Prevention Program

  1. AReduce the ICU CLABSI rate by 20% soon

    The target percentage is stated but “soon” supplies no definite deadline.

  2. BReduce the ICU CLABSI rate by 20% from baseline by December ✓ Correct answer

    The location, outcome measure, relative reduction from baseline and deadline are all specified.

  3. CImprove ICU hand-hygiene compliance by December

    A deadline is stated, but no target level or size of improvement is specified.

  4. DReduce ICU infections from baseline by December

    The direction and date are stated, but the desired amount of reduction is not measurable as written.

Reference: CBIC exam content outline (CBIC-CIC-ECO-2026-07), domain "Management and Communication of the Infection Prevention Program", topic "5a Planning, leadership and resources"; https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/CIC/CIC_Content_Outline_July-2026.pdf

08After CLABSI bundle training, how to assess Kirkpatrick level 3 (behaviour)?

Practice question Unit: Education and Research

  1. ACLABSI rate

    The CLABSI rate is a patient or organisational outcome, corresponding to level 4 results.

  2. BA post-session survey on trainer and venue satisfaction

    Satisfaction with the session reflects level 1 reaction, not transfer to practice.

  3. CObserving checklist use during actual line insertions ✓ Correct answer

    Direct observation during real procedures assesses whether the learned behaviours are used at work.

  4. DKnowledge test

    A knowledge test assesses level 2 learning rather than actual workplace behaviour.

Reference: Kirkpatrick Partners, The Kirkpatrick Model, Level 3 Behaviour; https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/the-kirkpatrick-model/

09What is a disinfectant's contact time?

Practice question Unit: Environment of Care

  1. AThe storage shelf life of the product

    Shelf life concerns how long the unopened or stored product remains usable, not surface exposure time.

  2. BThe label-required period of wet contact on the surface ✓ Correct answer

    The surface needs the label-specified wet exposure to achieve the claimed disinfection performance.

  3. CThe usable life of a prepared working solution

    The in-use life of a prepared solution is different from the contact time for each application.

  4. DThe time needed to mix concentrate with diluent

    Mixing time concerns preparation and does not substitute for the required wet surface exposure.

Reference: CDC, Disinfection and Sterilization Recommendations, 4.b and 5.k (follow label contact time); https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/disinfection-sterilization/summary-recommendations.html

10Under Spaulding, what do critical items entering sterile tissue require?

Practice question Unit: Cleaning, Disinfection, Sterilization of Medical Devices and Equipment

  1. ACleaning alone

    Cleaning removes soil and is essential before further processing, but does not establish sterility.

  2. BLow-level disinfection

    Low-level disinfection is for suitable noncritical items touching intact skin, not critical instruments.

  3. CHigh-level disinfection

    High-level disinfection is the minimum for suitable semicritical items; it is not a substitute for sterilising critical instruments.

  4. DSterilisation ✓ Correct answer

    Critical instruments entering sterile tissue require sterilisation before use, following compatible validated instructions.

Reference: CDC, Disinfection and Sterilization Recommendations, 3.a–3.c; https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/disinfection-sterilization/summary-recommendations.html

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