Name: _________________________________
Date: _________________________________
Competency Self-Assessment and Professional Development Plan
Competency categories,
integrating both the APIC
and CBIC domains
Identification of
infectious disease
processes (CBIC)
Surveillance and
epidemiologic
investigation (CBIC)
see more details on CBIC
Examination Content Outline
Future-oriented domain
(APIC): Technical
For proficient and advanced infection preventionists.
Rating Scale: 1. Novice knowledge/skills 2. Approaching proficiency 3. Fully proficient
4. Approaching advanced 5. Advanced/expert
Describe how/to
what extent these Assessment of
Professional development
IP practice areas as identified areas are personal
plan to advance
in CBIC practice analysis addressed in competency in
competency in the domain
current IP role (or each practice area
specify N/A)
a. Interpret the relevance of
1 2 3 4 5
diagnostic and laboratory reports
b. Identify appropriate practices
for specimen collection,
1 2 3 4 5
transportation, handling, and
storage
c. Correlate clinical signs and
symptoms with infectious disease 1 2 3 4 5
process
d. Differentiate between
colonization, infection and 1 2 3 4 5
contamination
e. Differentiate between
prophylactic, empiric and 1 2 3 4 5
therapeutic uses of antimicrobials
a. Design of surveillance systems 1 2 3 4 5
b. Collection and compilation of
1 2 3 4 5
surveillance data
c. Interpretation of Surveillance
1 2 3 4 5
Data
d. Outbreak investigation 1 2 3 4 5
Example: electronic
surveillance systems, access If no prior experience, ask: How do I anticipate practicing in the next
to/use of electronic three to five years? What new knowledge/skills will be required?
databases/electronic data
warehouse (EDW), other Competency Domain as Described by APIC and CBIC
related applications, Identification of infectious disease processes (CBIC)
algorithmic detection and Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation (CBIC)
reporting processes, clinical Future oriented domain (APIC): Technical
decision support, infection Preventing/controlling the transmission of infectious agents (CBIC)
prevention within the Future oriented domain (APIC): Infection prevention and control
electronic health record
Management and Communication (leadership) (CBIC)
Future oriented domain (APIC): Leadership and Program Management
Education and research (CBIC)
Future oriented domain (APIC): Performance Improvement and Implementat
Employee/occupational health (CBIC)
 Competency Self-Assessment and Professional Development Plan
For proficient and advanced infection preventionists.
Rating Scale: 1. Novice knowledge/skills 2. Approaching proficiency 3. Fully proficient
4. Approaching advanced 5. Advanced/expert

a. Develop evidence-
based/informed infection
1 2 3 4 5
prevention and control policies
and procedures
b. Collaborate with relevant
groups in planning
community/facility responses to
1 2 3 4 5
biologic threats and disasters
(e.g., public health, anthrax,
influenza)
c. Identify and implement
infection prevention and control
1 2 3 4 5
strategies related to
 Hand hygiene
 Cleaning, disinfection and 1 2 3 4 5
sterilization
 Wherever healthcare is
provided (e.g. patient care
units, operating rooms,
1 2 3 4 5
ambulatory care center,
home health, pre-hospital
care)
Preventing/controlling  Infection risks associated with
the transmission of therapeutic and diagnostic
infectious agents (CBIC) procedures and devices (e.g.,
dialysis, angiography, 1 2 3 4 5
bronchoscopy, endoscopy,
intravascular devices, urinary
drainage catheter)
 Recall of potentially
contaminated equipment,
1 2 3 4 5
food, medications, and
supplies
 Transmission-based
1 2 3 4 5
Precautions
 Appropriate selection, use,
and disposal of Personal 1 2 3 4 5
Protective Equipment
 Patient placement, transfer, 1 2 3 4 5
discharge
 Environmental pathogens 1 2 3 4 5
(e.g., Legionella, Aspergillus)
 Use of patient care products
1 2 3 4 5
and medical equipment
 Immunization programs for
1 2 3 4 5
patients

Copyright © 2017 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) All rights reserved. Intended for personal
use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.
 Competency Self-Assessment and Professional Development Plan
Preventing/controlling
the transmission of
infectious agents (CBIC),
continued
Future-oriented domain
(APIC): Infection
prevention and control
Management and
communication (CBIC)
see more details on CBIC
Examination Content Outline
Future-oriented domain
(APIC): Leadership and
program management
Copyright © 2017 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) All rights reserved. Intended for personal
use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored inFuture
mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.
For proficient and advanced infection preventionists.
Rating Scale: 1. Novice knowledge/skills 2. Approaching proficiency 3. Fully proficient
4. Approaching advanced 5. Advanced/expert
 Influx of patients with
1 2 3 4 5
communicable diseases
 Principles of safe injection
1 2 3 4 5
practices
 Identifying, implementing
and evaluating elements of
1 2 3 4 5
Standard Precautions/
Routine Practices
 Antimicrobial stewardship 1 2 3 4 5
Examples: ability to apply and
If no prior experience, ask: How do I anticipate practicing in the next
use surveillance data and
three to five years? What new knowledge/skills will be required?
reports, advanced statistical
methods and tools, including
Competency Domain as Described by APIC and CBIC
application of the standard
Identification of infectious disease processes (CBIC)
infection ratio, risk
Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation (CBIC)
assessment, hazard
Future oriented domain (APIC): Technical
vulnerability analysis, use and
evaluation of emerging Preventing/controlling the transmission of infectious agents (CBIC)
prevention practices for Future oriented domain (APIC): Infection prevention and control
patient care, diagnostic Management and Communication (leadership) (CBIC)
methods, participation in Future oriented domain (APIC): Leadership and Program Management
antimicrobial stewardship Education and research (CBIC)
programs Future oriented domain (APIC): Performance Improvement and Implementat
Employee/occupational health (CBIC)
a. Planning 1 2 3 4 5
b. Communication and feedback 1 2 3 4 5
c. Quality/performance
1 2 3 4 5
improvement and patient safety
Examples: leads integration of
prevention activities within If no prior experience, ask: How do I anticipate practicing in the next
and across departments, high three to five years? What new knowledge/skills will be required?
level negotiation skills,
financial/value analysis of Competency Domain as Described by APIC and CBIC
Identification of infectious disease processes (CBIC)
programs and related projects,
relationship management, Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation (CBIC)
ability to influence and Future oriented domain (APIC): Technical
persuade up to and includingPreventing/controlling the transmission of infectious agents (CBIC)
executive level, team and Future oriented domain (APIC): Infection prevention and control
consensus building within andManagement and Communication (leadership) (CBIC)
across stakeholder groups Future oriented domain (APIC): Leadership and Program Management
Education and research (CBIC)
a retrievaloriented domain in
system, or transmitted, (APIC):
any formPerformance Improvement and
or by any means, electronic, Implementa
Employee/occupational health (CBIC)
 Competency Self-Assessment and Professional Development Plan
For proficient and advanced infection preventionists.
Rating Scale: 1. Novice knowledge/skills 2. Approaching proficiency 3. Fully proficient
4. Approaching advanced 5. Advanced/expert

Education and research a. Education 1 2 3 4 5

(CBIC)

see more details on CBIC

Examination Content Outline b. Research 1 2 3 4 5

Examples: leads performance

improvement (PI) teams for If no prior experience, ask: How do I anticipate practicing in the next
three to five years? What new knowledge/skills will be required?
institution/system, develops
Future-oriented domain interprofessional
(APIC): Performance Competency Domain as Described by APIC and CBIC
competencies, applies
Improvement and translational research Identification of infectious disease processes (CBIC)
Implementation methods, uses advanced PI Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation (CBIC)
Science tools/methods, focus on Future oriented domain (APIC): Technical
reliability and sustainability Preventing/controlling the transmission of infectious agents (CBIC)
Future oriented domain (APIC): Infection prevention and control
Management and Communication (leadership) (CBIC)
a. Review and/or develop
Future oriented domain (APIC): Leadership and Program Management
screening and immunization 1 2 3 4 5
Education and research (CBIC)
programs
b. Collaborate regarding
Future oriented domain (APIC): Performance Improvement and Implementa
counseling, follow up, and Employee/occupational health (CBIC)
work restriction
1 2 3 4 5
recommendations related to
communicable diseases
and/or exposures
c. Collaborate with
occupational health to
evaluate infection prevention- 1 2 3 4 5
Employee/occupational
related data and provide
health (CBIC) recommendations
d. Collaborate with
occupational health to
recognize healthcare
1 2 3 4 5
personnel who represent a
transmission risk to patients,
coworkers, an communities
e. Assess risk of occupational
exposure to infectious
diseases (e.g., Mycobacterium 1 2 3 4 5
tuberculosis, bloodborne
pathogens)

Copyright © 2017 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) All rights reserved. Intended for personal
use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.
 Competency Self-Assessment and Professional Development Plan
For proficient and advanced infection preventionists.
Rating Scale: 1. Novice knowledge/skills 2. Approaching proficiency 3. Fully proficient
4. Approaching advanced 5. Advanced/expert

a. Recognize and monitor

Environment of Care
(CBIC)
Cleaning, Sterilization,
Disinfection, Asepsis
(CBIC)
Updated August 2017 to align with changes in CBIC Examination Content Outline (2017)
elements important for a safe
care environment (e.g., Heating- 1 2 3 4 5
Ventilation-Air Conditioning,
water standards, construction
b. Assess infection risks of design,
construction, and renovation that 1 2 3 4 5
impact patient care settings
c. Provide recommendations to
reduce the risk of infection as part
1 2 3 4 5
of the design, construction, and
renovation process
d. Collaborate on the evaluation
and monitoring of environmental
1 2 3 4 5
cleaning and disinfection
practices and technologies
e. Collaborate with others to
select and evaluate
1 2 3 4 5
environmental disinfectant
products
a. Identify and evaluate
appropriate cleaning, sterilization 1 2 3 4 5
and disinfection practices
b. Collaborate with others to
assess products under evaluation 1 2 3 4 5
for their ability to be reprocessed
c. Identify and evaluate critical
steps of cleaning, high level 1 2 3 4 5
disinfection, and sterilization

Assumptions:
 Once certification in infection control (CIC) has been achieved, competency is highly individualized and technically complex. It is driven by
multiple factors, including educational opportunities, practice setting, and personal interests. Because competency is highly personalized and
develops across the career span, no infection preventionist (IP) is expected to be “advanced” in most/all areas at any particular time. The
goal is to identify areas for individual improvement so that professional development becomes a lifelong endeavor.
 The core competencies identified by CBIC and the future oriented domains added by APIC are complementary and not mutually exclusive
categories. By integrating them into one comprehensive self-assessment, the IP will be better prepared to address both immediate and
evolving professional demands.
 Core competencies as identified by CBIC remain relevant across the career span but their implementation evolves as proficiency increases.
Therefore, assessment of core competencies for proficient and advanced IPs focuses on how these skills are applied and the extent to which
the IP is able to utilize them to foster program development and to assist others in their prevention efforts.
 The future-oriented domains described by APIC build on the core competencies. The content may at times appear to overlap. However, the
future oriented domains attempt to identify those skills not yet included in the CBIC practice analysis but which, based on observation and
professional consensus, are expected to be essential for IP practice in the next three to five years.

Copyright © 2017 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) All rights reserved. Intended for personal
use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.