Introduction

The Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) exam is a professional milestone — one that requires strong preparation, real-world infection prevention knowledge, and solid analytical skills. Because the exam is comprehensive and competency-based, it’s completely normal for some candidates not to pass on their first try.

So one of the most common questions is:

“If I fail the CIC exam, how many times can I retake it?”

The good news?
CBIC has a generous retake policy.
You can retest multiple times, and there is no lifetime limit on attempts.

But like every certification exam, there are rules, timelines, waiting periods, fees, and strategic considerations you need to understand so you can plan your next steps wisely.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn:

• How many times you can retake the CIC
  
• What happens when you fail
  
• The waiting period between attempts
  
• Whether you must pay the fee again
  
• Whether you must reapply
  
• Whether your Part 1 and Part 2 results carry over
  
• How to interpret your score report
  
• Whether failing affects your job or credentials
  
• How to prepare correctly before retaking
  
• How to build a retake study plan
  

If you’re worried about the retake process, this guide will reassure you. Retaking the CIC is completely normal — and most candidates pass on their second attempt once they refocus their preparation.

👉 Take a breath and let’s go through this step by step. Check out our Certified in Infection Control (CIC) 2024 Exam Practice Questions — designed to strengthen your understanding of infection prevention principles, surveillance, risk assessment, program management, and outbreak control. Every question comes with a clear, straightforward rationale so you can understand the reasoning behind each answer and build steady confidence as you prepare. You’re doing great, and you’re getting closer every day.

1. How Many Times Can You Retake the CIC Exam?

The CIC exam has:

✔️ NO limit on retakes

✔️ NO cap on how many attempts you can make

✔️ NO penalty or waiting “tier” for multiple failures

What that means:
If you don’t pass, you can absolutely try again.
CBIC does not restrict or block candidates after repeated attempts.

The only rules revolve around the waiting period, fees, and reapplication process, which we’ll break down next.

2. What Happens Immediately After You Fail?

If your scaled score is 699 or below, your official result will show:

• Fail
  
• Your scaled score on the 300–900 scale
  
• Domain-level performance indicators:
  
• Above standard
  
• At standard
  
• Below standard
  

CBIC does not reveal exact numbers of questions missed, nor do they tell you exactly which questions you got wrong. But the domain feedback is incredibly helpful — it tells you exactly where to focus before reattempting.

Your exam status resets, but:

✔️ You do NOT lose your eligibility to retest
✔️ You can retake after the waiting period
✔️ You can use your domain feedback to improve your next attempt

Most professionals take the feedback seriously, then create a targeted study plan and pass on attempt #2.

3. The Waiting Period Between Retakes

CBIC requires:

✔️ A 90-day waiting period between exam attempts

This applies to:

• Part 1 (Knowledge)
  
• Part 2 (Skills)
  
• Combined pathways
  
• Any exam format
  

The waiting period exists to protect exam integrity and to give candidates time to study effectively.

Important:

The 90-day timer begins the day you take the exam, not the day you receive your score.

If you took the exam on January 5, you can retest again starting April 5.

4. Do You Need to Pay the Fee Again?

Yes.

Each exam attempt requires paying the full fee again:

✔️ $410 USD per attempt

This applies to:

• First attempt
  
• Second attempt
  
• Third attempt
  
• Tenth attempt
  
• Any future attempts
  

There are no discounts, no partial credits, and no reduced retake fees.

5. Do You Need to Reapply After Failing?

Yes — you must submit a new application for each retake.

CBIC requires:

• A new application submission
  
• Verification of experience
  
• Confirmation that you still meet eligibility criteria
  
• New payment
  

However, because your experience hasn’t changed significantly within 90 days, the reapplication is usually fast.

Most candidates receive reapproval within:

✔️ 7–10 business days

6. Do You Have to Retake Both Part 1 and Part 2?

No — but it depends on which part you failed.

Here’s how it works:

If you pass Part 1 but fail Part 2:

✔️ You do NOT retake Part 1
✔️ You retake only Part 2
✔️ Your Part 1 pass remains valid
✔️ You have a limited window to pass Part 2 (usually 12 months from initial application)

If you pass Part 2 but fail Part 1:

✔️ Same rules — you retake only the failed part
✔️ Your passing score on the other part carries over

This is one of the biggest advantages of the two-part exam structure.

7. What If You Fail Multiple Times — Do Your Passing Scores Expire?

Your passing score is valid only during your eligibility window, which is typically:

✔️ 12 months from your application approval date

Example:

• Application approved: January 1
  
• You pass Part 1: March 10
  
• You fail Part 2 several times
  
• Eligibility window expires: January 1 of next year
  

If the year passes and Part 2 is not passed:

✔️ Both exam parts expire

✔️ You must reapply as a brand-new candidate

✔️ You must retake both Part 1 AND Part 2

So it’s important to manage your timeline.

8. Does Failing the CIC Affect Your Job or License?

Absolutely not.

Failing the CIC:

• Does NOT affect your RN license
  
• Does NOT affect your public health credential
  
• Does NOT appear on your employment record
  
• Does NOT get reported to employers unless you share it
  
• Does NOT disqualify you from infection prevention roles
  
• Does NOT impact your ability to continue working
  

Many infection prevention departments actually expect the first attempt to be a learning step — especially if you’re new to the field.

Employers respect persistence and commitment far more than perfection.

You’re still an Infection Preventionist whether you pass on your first try or your fifth.

9. How Many CIC Candidates Fail on Their First Attempt?

The exact pass rate changes yearly, but CIC has a moderate difficulty level, and many candidates do not pass the first time.

Public data from CBIC and APIC membership surveys show:

Approx. 40–50% of first-time CIC candidates do not pass their first attempt.

This makes retaking extremely common.
There is zero stigma around it.

Most successful candidates pass on their second or third attempt.

10. The Most Common Reasons Candidates Fail the CIC Exam

Understanding why people fail helps you avoid the same pitfalls.

1. Underestimating the Surveillance/Epidemiology Domain

This is the heaviest, most analytical domain — and the one many candidates fear.

2. Not doing enough practice questions

Knowing content is not enough.
You must know how the exam thinks.

3. Weak math foundations

Attack rates, SIRs, incidence, prevalence, and statistical reasoning appear frequently.

4. Lack of familiarity with NHSN definitions

Especially healthcare-associated infection definitions.

5. Struggling with scenario-based logic

Part 2 requires multi-step thinking.

6. Relying on outdated materials

IPC guidelines evolve quickly — outdated content leads to incorrect answers.

11. How to Build a Retake Study Strategy (If You Failed)

Here’s the strategy most successful retakers use:

Step 1 — Review your domain performance feedback

This tells you the EXACT areas that dropped your score.

Step 2 — Create a domain-focused study plan

Spend 60–70% of time on weak domains.
Don’t waste time re-studying areas where you scored high.

Step 3 — Do daily simulation-style practice questions

20–40 questions a day builds exam thinking patterns.

Step 4 — Strengthen your epidemiology and data analysis

Calculate incidence, prevalence, attack rates, and SIRs until you feel comfortable.

Step 5 — Review NHSN protocols closely

Especially for device-associated infections.

Step 6 — Practice clinical judgment scenarios for Part 2

Break them down, reason step-by-step, and check your thinking.

Step 7 — Take one full-length practice test before reapplying

This helps gauge readiness and pacing.

12. How Long Should You Study Before Retaking the CIC Exam?

Ideal timelines:

✔️ If you missed by 1–20 points → 4–6 weeks of targeted study

✔️ If you missed by 21–40 points → 6–8 weeks of structured review

✔️ If you missed by 41+ points → 8–12 weeks, complete domain overhaul

Study time depends on:

• Weak domain analysis
  
• Your job exposure to IPC tasks
  
• Your comfort with epidemiology
  

Rushing into a retake without preparation usually leads to repeated failure.

Slow, targeted preparation leads to long-term success.

13. When Should You Not Retake Immediately?

Do not retake too soon if:

• You feel emotionally overwhelmed
  
• Your domain feedback shows large weaknesses
  
• You struggled heavily with surveillance calculation
  
• You didn’t use exam-style practice questions
  
• You relied on outdated guidelines
  

Take time to strengthen your foundation.

14. When Should You Retake Quickly?

You may retake sooner if:

• You missed passing by fewer than 20–30 points
  
• Your domain feedback shows weakness in only one or two domains
  
• You studied quality materials
  
• You already understand core guidelines well
  
• You’re actively working in infection prevention
  
• A quick turnaround can be effective for borderline failures.

15. How to Stay Motivated After Failing the CIC

Failing the CIC can feel discouraging — but you’re not alone, and it does not define your capabilities.

Here’s what successful candidates remind themselves:

✔️ “I didn’t fail — I learned what the exam expects.”

✔️ “I am closer now than I was before.”

✔️ “Most IPs didn’t pass the first time.”

✔️ “I am doing work that keeps people safe — this exam doesn’t change that.”

✔️ “Every attempt sharpens my expertise.”

Failure is simply data.
It tells you what to refine — not who you are.

You’re growing, not losing.

👉 Take a breath and let’s go through this step by step. Check out our Certified in Infection Control (CIC) 2024 Exam Practice Questions — designed to strengthen your understanding of infection prevention principles, surveillance, risk assessment, program management, and outbreak control. Every question comes with a clear, straightforward rationale so you can understand the reasoning behind each answer and build steady confidence as you prepare. You’re doing great, and you’re getting closer every day.

Final Thoughts

Retaking the CIC exam is common, normal, and often the path toward success. What matters most is not whether you passed the first time, but your commitment to mastering infection prevention and continuing to move forward.

Now you know:

• The CIC exam has no limit on retakes
  
• You must wait 90 days between attempts
  
• Each attempt costs $410
  
• You must reapply each time
  
• You only retake the part you failed
  
• Your passing scores remain valid during your eligibility window
  
• Most people pass on their second try
  
• Smart, targeted studying leads to success
  

You’re capable, you’re building expertise, and you’re moving steadily toward the credential that will elevate your career and impact patient safety in a powerful way.

You’ve got this.