Introduction

If you’re preparing for the Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) exam, one of the most important parts of your study plan is understanding exactly what content areas the exam covers — and how much each section counts toward your final score.

The CIC exam isn’t random, and it isn’t based on surface-level memorization. It follows a precise, competency-based content outline created by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC), reflecting the essential skills and knowledge every Infection Preventionist (IP) must have to protect patients, staff, and healthcare environments.

This long-form guide walks you through:

• All eight CIC content domains
• The weight of each domain
• What topics appear in each section
• Why each domain matters in real practice
• How to strategically study based on exam weight
• How to use the content outline to build your study plan
• Which domains trip up candidates the most
• How to prepare confidently for each topic

By the end, you’ll have a crystal-clear map of everything tested on the CIC exam — and you’ll be ready to build a focused, efficient, and high-impact study plan.

👉 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. Overview of the CIC Exam Content Domains

The CIC exam blueprint includes eight major content areas, each representing a core competency of infection prevention practice. CBIC periodically updates these domains to reflect:

• New pathogens
• Updated regulatory requirements
• Current guidelines (CDC, OSHA, CMS, APIC, SHEA)
• Innovations in surveillance systems
• Advances in sterilization and reprocessing
• Environmental safety concerns

Understanding the domains means understanding what the field expects from a competent Infection Preventionist.

Here is the complete domain list with weights:

Domain 1 — Identification of Infectious Disease Processes

17–19% of the exam

Domain 2 — Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation

22–26% of the exam (largest domain)

Domain 3 — Preventing and Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents

17–19% of the exam

Domain 4 — Employee/Occupational Health

10–13% of the exam

Domain 5 — Management and Communication

10–13% of the exam

Domain 6 — Education and Training

6–9% of the exam

Domain 7 — Environment of Care

10–13% of the exam

Domain 8 — Cleaning, Sterilization & Disinfection

10–13% of the exam

These eight domains form the backbone of the exam, and each one aligns with daily responsibilities of Infection Preventionists across inpatient and outpatient settings.

Throughout this guide, you'll see exactly what each domain includes — and how to study smartly for all of them.

2. Domain 1 — Identification of Infectious Disease Processes (17–19%)

This domain focuses on the fundamental mechanisms of infectious disease, including:

• Microbiology principles
• Virology, bacteriology, parasitology, mycology
• Pathogen characteristics and virulence
• Modes of transmission
• Reservoirs and hosts
• Infectious dose
• Incubation and communicability periods
• Clinical manifestations of infectious diseases
• Emerging pathogens

You may be given:

• Organism descriptions
• Clinical symptoms
• Laboratory indicators
• Transmission scenarios

…and must identify the likely pathogen or best action.

What this domain really tests:

✔️ Understanding organisms and how they spread
✔️ Distinguishing relevant clinical patterns
✔️ Choosing correct prevention and control measures
✔️ Applying epidemiology to identify root causes

Because this domain supports everything else, mastering it builds confidence for the entire exam.

3. Domain 2 — Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation (22–26%)

This is the largest and most heavily weighted domain — and often the most challenging.

Topics include:

Surveillance Systems

• NHSN requirements
• Device-associated infections (CLABSI, CAUTI, VAE, SSI)
• Process surveillance
• Outcome surveillance
• Validation steps

Epidemiologic Investigation

• Outbreak detection
• Case definitions
• Line listings
• Root cause analysis
• Hypothesis testing
• Exposure mapping
• Contact tracing
• Sampling methods

Data Analysis

• Incidence and prevalence calculations
• Attack rates
• SIR (Standardized Infection Ratio)
• Confidence intervals
• Trend analysis

Why this domain matters:

Infection Preventionists spend a significant portion of their work analyzing data and responding to trends. The exam reflects that reality — and expects strong competency.

If there is one domain to over-study, it is this one.

4. Domain 3 — Preventing & Controlling Transmission of Infectious Agents (17–19%)

This domain focuses on breaking the chain of infection through:

Fundamental Principles

• Standard precautions
• Transmission-based precautions
• PPE
• Hand hygiene
• Respiratory hygiene

Facility-Wide Controls

• Isolation requirements
• Cohorting patients
• Transport precautions
• Source control

Environmental Measures

• Ventilation
• Filtration
• Airborne isolation rooms
• Droplet vs airborne distinctions

Practical Applications

• Managing suspected TB cases
• Handling C. difficile precautions
• Preventing MDRO transmission
• Managing norovirus outbreaks

This is one of the most straightforward domains if you are comfortable with IPC basics.

5. Domain 4 — Employee/Occupational Health (10–13%)

This domain covers the intersection between infection prevention and workplace safety.

Topics include:

• Immunization requirements
• TB screening
• Respiratory protection (N95 fit testing)
• Exposure control plans
• Needlestick and bloodborne pathogen exposure
• Reporting occupational infections
• Return-to-work policies
• PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)
• OSHA standards

Why it matters:

This domain requires understanding both clinical risk and regulatory expectations — especially in high-risk exposures.

6. Domain 5 — Management and Communication (10–13%)

This domain tests your ability to manage and communicate IPC responsibilities at both organizational and interpersonal levels.

Key areas:

• Developing policies and procedures
• Leadership skills
• Program planning
• Budget considerations
• Committee participation
• Reporting infections
• Working with administrators
• Communication with frontline staff
• Regulatory compliance (Joint Commission, CMS)

Why it matters:

Infection Preventionists must be both leaders and educators — this domain measures those skills.

7. Domain 6 — Education and Training (6–9%)

This domain focuses on your ability to train, educate, and develop competency among healthcare staff.

Topics include:

• Orientation training
• Ongoing education
• Audits and competency assessments
• Performance feedback
• Hand hygiene education strategies
• Fit testing instruction
• Addressing staff knowledge gaps

Though smaller in weight, the questions require thought, especially around adult-learning principles and behavior change.

8. Domain 7 — Environment of Care (10–13%)

This domain covers infrastructure and environmental safety, an increasingly important focus area.

Topics include:

• Heating, ventilation, and cooling systems
• Water management
• Legionella prevention
• Construction and renovation protocols (ICRA)
• Laundry and waste handling
• Environmental monitoring
• Cleaning expectations
• Food service risk management
• Pest control

Why it matters:

This domain bridges public health principles with facility engineering — and it frequently appears in scenario-based questions involving construction or waterborne pathogens.

9. Domain 8 — Cleaning, Sterilization & Disinfection (10–13%)

This domain focuses on sterile processing and medical equipment safety.

Topics include:

• Spaulding classification
• High-level disinfection
• Low-level disinfection
• Sterilization (steam, ethylene oxide, H2O2 plasma)
• Monitoring sterilization cycles
• Instrument storage
• Reprocessing responsibilities
• Endoscope reprocessing
• Waste handling

Why it matters:

This domain frequently trips up candidates — not because it’s inherently difficult, but because some Infection Preventionists do not interact with sterile processing daily.

Investing time here builds exam confidence.

10. How Domain Weight Should Shape Your Study Plan

Understanding weight percentages helps you build a smart, efficient study plan.

Here’s the most effective approach:

Study Priority #1: Surveillance & Epidemiology (22–26%)

This domain alone can make or break your score.

Study Priority #2: Transmission Prevention + Infectious Disease Processes (34–38% combined)

These two domains create the foundation of safe practice.

Study Priority #3: Cleaning/Sterilization + Environment of Care + Occupational Health (30–39% combined)

These domains are often under-studied but heavily represented.

Study Priority #4: Management + Education (low weight, easy-to-gain points)

Don’t ignore them.
They provide easy scoring opportunities.

11. Realistic Study Strategy Based on Domain Weight

Here’s a high-impact study structure:

Step 1 — Master the basics (Domains 1 & 3)

These are the core of IPC practice.

Step 2 — Deep-dive into surveillance & data (Domain 2)

This is the most analytical part of the exam — and the most heavily weighted.

Step 3 — Learn occupational health and environmental systems (Domains 4 & 7)

These are scenario-heavy and require regulatory knowledge.

Step 4 — Review sterilization and disinfection (Domain 8)

Spaulding classification appears frequently.

Step 5 — Polish policy, leadership, and training concepts (Domains 5 & 6)

These are straightforward once understood.

Step 6 — Do practice questions across all domains

This reinforces learning and exposes weak areas early.

12. Why the CIC Exam Blueprint Gives You an Advantage

Many people feel overwhelmed by the CIC exam — until they realize how valuable the content outline is.

Knowing the domain percentages helps you:

• Focus efficiently
• Avoid overstudying low-yield areas
• Strengthen core skills
• Build domain-balanced confidence
• Mimic exam emphasis with practice questions
• Prevent burnout

The exam blueprint is a roadmap — and using it strategically sets you up for success.

👉 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

Understanding the CIC exam content domains is one of the most important steps in your exam preparation. When you know what’s tested — and how much it counts — you can create a study plan that’s organized, strategic, and stress-free.

Now you know:

• The CIC exam is based on eight major domains
• Surveillance & epidemiology is the largest domain
• Transmission prevention and infectious disease processes form the clinical foundation
• Sterilization, environmental care, and occupational health represent core operational competencies
• Management and education reflect the IPC leadership role
• Domain weight percentages provide a smart way to structure your study plan

You’re building serious momentum — keep going. Every domain you master brings you closer to becoming a certified Infection Preventionist who plays a vital role in protecting healthcare environments.