The American Council for Accredited Certification offers the Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisor (CEICS) to individuals with expertise in the fundamental principles of environmental infection control.

1. To raise the standards of those engaged in infection control remediation in healthcare and other environmental settings.

2. To identify persons with acceptable knowledge of environmental infection control and the standards and regulations affecting Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisors.

3. To award special recognition to those environmental infection control professionals who have demonstrated verifiable field experience.

Applicants must possess one of the following combinations of eight (8) years education and relevant field experience:

• A 4-year post-secondary degree or its equivalent (30 credit hours) in engineering, science, architecture, industrial hygiene or related field of science with a minimum of four (4) years of documented field experience in environmental infection control remediation.

• A 2-year post-secondary degree or its equivalent (15 credit hours) in engineering, science, architecture, industrial hygiene or related field of science with a minimum of six (6) years of documented field experience in environmental infection control remediation.

• No degree, with at least eight (8) years of documented field experience in environmental infection control remediation. (High school diploma or GED required.)

Applicants must demonstrate experience in environmental infection control, which addresses factors related to the spread of infectious diseases in commercial, institutional, governmental, and other public or private buildings. “Infectious diseases” refers to illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, prions, or other microbiological pathogens. Experience must be demonstrated in a collection of dissimilar project sheets included with the application packet.

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

The effective practice of environmental infection control remediation requires specialized knowledge of a variety of subjects, including current standards and best practices. For certification purposes, the candidate for the CEICS designation must demonstrate familiarity with the basic concepts and reference materials of the industry, such as those summarized in the following list.

CDC, Guideline for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (2003)

AIA, Guidelines for Design and Construction of Healthcare Facilities (2006)

ASHRAE, Standard 170-2008: Ventilation of Healthcare Facilities (2008)

NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic (2004)

The Required Skills:

A Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisor (CEICS) has demonstrated the following skills through a combination of documented experience, documented education and training and the successful completion of an examination process.

Infectious Diseases and Their Modes of Transmission in the Healthcare Setting

• Apply scientific knowledge of infectious diseases and their modes of transmission to infection control activities in healthcare and other institutional settings.

Principles of Infection Control During Construction, Demolition and Renovation

• Understand the impact of HVAC systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the impact of filtration systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the impact of UV air cleaning systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the behavior of conditioned air in occupied spaces and its impact on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the impact of water systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

Effective Infection Control Practices

• Conduct appropriate and effective containment engineering during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Implement appropriate infection control practices for air handling systems during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Conduct appropriate and effective environmental sampling during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Implement appropriate infection control practices in Protective Environment (PE) rooms, Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) rooms and Operating Rooms (OR) rooms during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Employ effective cleaning procedures for environmental surfaces during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Implement effective infection control practices for water handling systems during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

To prepare for the CEICS exam, first read the reference books listed above. Then review the following sections from each text in more detail:

WARNING: Limiting your study to only the following pages will put you in danger of failing the exam. The exam assumes a comprehensive knowledge of each reference text. Each of the following references provides ONE example of a place where exam topics may be discussed.

CDC, Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (2003 - updated 2019)

Pages 20, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 38, 37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 54, 55, 61, 56, 63, 64, 65, 73, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 148, 152 and 224

Tables 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 and 10

ASHRAE, Standard 170-2008: Ventilation of Healthcare Facilities (2008)

Sections 1, 2.3, 3, 5, 6.3.1, 6.4.1, 6.6, 7.2.1.b, 7.2.1.f, 7.2.2.d, 7.4.1.a and 8.6.a Tables 6-1 and 7-1

NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic (2004)

Pages 1, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20 and 22

1. ACAC certification should not be confused with state licensing. State license candidates should read the following section, The State Licensing Process.

2. ACAC certification candidates complete and forward the notarized application form, employer affidavits, project sheets and a copy of diploma or transcripts.

3. ACAC certification candidates pass the closed-book examination. If the examination is not successfully passed, a re-examination fee is required before retaking the examination.

4. ACAC certification candidates have up to 90 days from the date of application to complete the application process. Applications left incomplete after 90 days will be considered null and void.

5. ACAC certification candidates wait for the awarding of the certification. The Certification Board meets approximately every four (4) weeks to review the examination results and supporting materials before voting to award the certification.

1. State licensing should not be confused with ACAC certification. ACAC certification candidates should read the previous section, The ACAC Certification Process.

2. State license applicants complete and forward the notarized application form to the ACAC office.

3. ACAC does not require state license applicants to provide documentation of education or field experience in order to sit for the CEICS examination. State licensing agencies may require such documentation as part of the license application process.

4. State license applicants pass the closed book examination. ACAC reports exam scores directly to the appropriate state licensing agencies.

5. State license applicants follow individual state guidelines for completion of the license application.

1. The applicant must complete a 3-hour, closed-book, written examination. The examination questions are based on the listed core skills and required body of knowledge.

2. The examination is closed-book! It is strongly recommended that candidates read the reference materials listed above before taking the examination.

3. There are 120 questions on the examination. Each question is multiple-choice with at least four (4) possible answers. Exam items are drawn from the required body of knowledge according to a blueprint prescribed by the certification board.

4. Passing Score: The passing score for the CEICS examination is set by the CEICS certification board using the Modified Angoff Method. A score of 75% must be achieved to pass this examination.

5. The examination is delivered electronically at an authorized testing center operated by Kryterion, Inc. There are no paper exams. Once a complete application packet is on file in the Council office, the candidate may register for the examination by calling the office at (888) 808-8381.

6. Candidates should arrive 30 minutes before the testing appointment.

7. Candidates must present two forms of government-issued identification at the testing center, one of which must be picture ID.

8. Candidates must follow proctor instructions with regard to conduct, behavior, and the use of personal belongings and test materials, including submitting eyeglasses for inspection and turning out exterior pockets.

9. Candidates failing to abide by these rules will not be permitted to sit for the exam, and a re-examination fee will be required.

10. All examinations contain the same questions; however, the examination questions are presented to each candidate in random order and the examination answers are presented to the candidate in random order.

11. Examinations are graded electronically at the testing facility, and scores are available to candidates immediately. An email is sent to the candidate’s email address confirming test results. In the case of state license applicants, exam scores are also reported directly to the appropriate state licensing agency.

Fees are posed on the ACAC website.

Certification fees are for a two-year certification, and include a non-refundable processing fee.

Examination fees are required prior to taking examinations.

Recertification fees are for a two-year period and require documentation of continuing education. Recertification fees include a non-refundable processing fee.

Re-examination fees apply to those retaking a failed exam.

Penalties for late recertification may be waived in case of documented active military duty or medical issues.

1. The American Council for Accredited Certification is the certifying body for this certification program.

2. All decisions regarding application materials, examinations and the awarding of certifications are made by the CEICS Certification Board, which functions as part of the ACAC.

3. The certifying body’s responsibility to applicants is to provide a credible certification. Operation of the certification program is closely monitored to ensure that reference materials remain current with the industry guidelines and standards and the eligibility requirements for certification are at appropriate levels. Examination questions are developed by certified personnel who are currently active in the field of environmental infection control remediation. Pass/fail scores are set by the CEICS Certification Board using the modified Angoff method. The Board authorizes a periodic statistical review of examination item performance and test reliability and updates the examination to reflect the latest changes in our rapidly evolving field.

4. Certification Board members are required to abstain from voting on any applicant’s completed file that may present a conflict of interest, either personally or professionally.

ACAC certifications are current for two years from the date of issue. The certificate holder must accumulate forty (40) Re-certification Credits (RCs) prior to the certificate’s expiration date. Each RC represents one (1) hour of continuing education or professional development. The certificate holder may accumulate the required hours at any time during the two-year certification period. An updated list of typical recertification activities is available on the Council website.

Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisors who do not acquire sufficient CEICS Re-certification Credits by their recertification date will be notified in writing to cease using the CEICS designation. They will be listed as expired on the Council website and will no longer be listed as a CEICS in any ACAC publication until such time as they resubmit to the certification process and successfully meet the current criteria for certification. Appropriate fees will apply.

1. The CEICS Certification Board is responsible for all facets of the certification program, including the review and evaluation of applications, the development and administration of examinations, the granting and reissuing of certificates and the adjudication of complaints against certificants.

2. Suspensions: If a Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisor does not accumulate the required re-certification credits, certification shall terminate unless, in the judgment of the Certification Board, extenuating circumstances exist and the deficiency can be readily overcome. Examples of extenuating circumstances include documentation of active military service or documentation of a serious medical condition.

3. Complaints: If a Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisor fails to abide by the ACAC Code of Conduct or is formally accused of gross negligence in the performance of his or her professional duties, the Certification Board may vote to refuse re-certification.

4. Appeals: Any holder of a valid Council certification or applicant for such a certification may appeal the decisions of the Certification Board.

5. Complaints or appeals shall be made in writing via certified mail to the Certification Administrator.

6. In the case of complaints, the Certification Administrator shall forward the complaint to the accused certificant and allow him or her ample time to respond.

7. The Certification Administrator, at the direction of the Executive Committee, may forward complaints or appeals to the appropriate Certification Board.

8. The Certification Board shall rule on all complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

9. Complaints or appeals may be continued in writing via certified mail to the National Advisory Board.

10. The National Advisory Board shall be the final court of appeal and will rule on complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

11. In resolving complaints or appeals, ACAC may rule only on its own decisions to grant or deny certification and recertification.

1. Retired Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisors may be granted emeritus status in their designation as long as they are retired from professional practice as a CEICS. Such persons will be granted the title “Emeritus.”

2. Re-certification Fees for Emeritus (Retired) Status: $100 USD for each two-year certification.

3. Continuing education is not required,

4. To return to active status, emeritus certificants must notify the Council in writing and pay a fee for a two-year active certification. At the end of the two-year period, all normal re-certification policies will apply.

1. A CEICS may use the designation name on organization letterheads, business cards and all forms of address. When using the CEICS designation, we encourage the spelling out of the designation fully in smaller print immediately below the signature block, as in the following example:

   John Doe, CEICS
   Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisor
   Board-awarded by the American Council for Accredited Certification

2. Certification is for individuals only. The CEICS designation may not be used to imply that an organization or firm is certified.

3. The CEICS designation may NOT be used by individuals who pass the CEICS examination in order to obtain a state license, unless those individuals also complete the ACAC certification process as described in this handbook.

The ACAC code of conduct applies to all certificants, staff and volunteers of the organization.

The American Council for Accredited Certification offers the Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediator (CEICR) to individuals with expertise in the fundamental principles of environmental infection control.

1. To raise the standards of those engaged in infection control remediation in healthcare and other environmental settings.

2. To identify persons with acceptable knowledge of environmental infection control and the standards and regulations affecting Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediators.

3. To award special recognition to those environmental infection control professionals who have demonstrated verifiable field experience.

Applicants must possess one of the following combinations of two (2) years education and relevant field experience:

• A 2-year post-secondary degree or its equivalent (15 credit hours) in engineering, science, architecture, industrial hygiene or related field of science with a minimum of one (1) year of documented field experience in environmental infection control remediation.

• No degree, with at least two (2) years of documented field experience in environmental infection control remediation. (High school diploma or GED required.)

Applicants must demonstrate experience in environmental infection control, which addresses factors related to the spread of infectious diseases in commercial, institutional, governmental, and other public or private buildings. “Infectious diseases” refers to illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, prions, or other microbiological pathogens. Experience must be demonstrated in a collection of dissimilar project sheets included with the application packet.

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

The effective practice of environmental infection control remediation requires specialized knowledge of a variety of subjects, including current standards and best practices. For certification purposes, the candidate for the CEICR designation must demonstrate familiarity with the basic concepts and reference materials of the industry, such as those summarized in the following list.

CDC, Guideline for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (2003)

AIA, Guidelines for Design and Construction of Healthcare Facilities (2006)

ASHRAE, Standard 170-2008: Ventilation of Healthcare Facilities (2008)

NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic (2004)

The Required Skills:

A Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediator (CEICR) has demonstrated the following skills through a combination of documented experience, documented education and training and the successful completion of an examination process.

Infectious Diseases and Their Modes of Transmission in the Healthcare Setting

• Apply scientific knowledge of infectious diseases and their modes of transmission to infection control activities in healthcare and other institutional settings.

Principles of Infection Control During Construction, Demolition and Renovation

• Understand the impact of HVAC systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the impact of filtration systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the impact of UV air cleaning systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the behavior of conditioned air in occupied spaces and its impact on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the impact of water systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

Effective Infection Control Practices

• Conduct appropriate and effective containment engineering during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Implement appropriate infection control practices for air handling systems during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Conduct appropriate and effective environmental sampling during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Implement appropriate infection control practices in Protective Environment (PE) rooms, Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) rooms and Operating Rooms (OR) rooms during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Employ effective cleaning procedures for environmental surfaces during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Implement effective infection control practices for water handling systems during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

To prepare for the CEICR exam, first read the reference books listed above. Then review the following sections from each text in more detail:

WARNING: Limiting your study to only the following pages will put you in danger of failing the exam. The exam assumes a comprehensive knowledge of each reference text. Each of the following references provides ONE example of a place where exam topics may be discussed.

CDC, Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (2003 - updated 2019)

Pages 20, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 38, 37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 54, 55, 61, 56, 63, 64, 65, 73, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 148, 152 and 224

Tables 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 and 10

ASHRAE, Standard 170-2008: Ventilation of Healthcare Facilities (2008)

Sections 1, 2.3, 3, 5, 6.3.1, 6.4.1, 6.6, 7.2.1.b, 7.2.1.f, 7.2.2.d, 7.4.1.a and 8.6.a Tables 6-1 and 7-1

NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic (2004)

Pages 1, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20 and 22

1. ACAC certification should not be confused with state licensing. State license candidates should read the following section, The State Licensing Process.

2. ACAC certification candidates complete and forward the notarized application form, employer affidavits, project sheets and a copy of diploma or transcripts.

3. ACAC certification candidates pass the closed-book examination. If the examination is not successfully passed, a re-examination fee is required before retaking the examination.

4. ACAC certification candidates have up to 90 days from the date of application to complete the application process. Applications left incomplete after 90 days will be considered null and void.

5. ACAC certification candidates wait for the awarding of the certification. The Certification Board meets approximately every four (4) weeks to review the examination results and supporting materials before voting to award the certification.

1. State licensing should not be confused with ACAC certification. ACAC certification candidates should read the previous section, The ACAC Certification Process.

2. State license applicants complete and forward the notarized application form to the ACAC office.

3. ACAC does not require state license applicants to provide documentation of education or field experience in order to sit for the CEICR examination. State licensing agencies may require such documentation as part of the license application process.

4. State license applicants pass the closed book examination. ACAC reports exam scores directly to the appropriate state licensing agencies.

5. State license applicants follow individual state guidelines for completion of the license application.

1. The applicant must complete a 3-hour, closed-book, written examination. The examination questions are based on the listed core skills and required body of knowledge.

2. The examination is closed-book! It is strongly recommended that candidates read the reference materials listed above before taking the examination.

3. There are 100 questions on the examination. Each question is multiple-choice with at least four (4) possible answers. Exam items are drawn from the required body of knowledge according to a blueprint prescribed by the certification board.

4. Passing Score: The passing score for the CEICR examination is set by the CEICR certification board using the Modified Angoff Method. A score of 75% must be achieved to pass this examination.

5. The examination is delivered electronically at an authorized testing center operated by Kryterion, Inc. There are no paper exams. Once a complete application packet is on file in the Council office, the candidate may register for the examination by calling the office at (888) 808-8381.

6. Candidates should arrive 30 minutes before the testing appointment.

7. Candidates must present two forms of government-issued identification at the testing center, one of which must be picture ID.

8. Candidates must follow proctor instructions with regard to conduct, behavior, and the use of personal belongings and test materials, including submitting eyeglasses for inspection and turning out exterior pockets.

9. Candidates failing to abide by these rules will not be permitted to sit for the exam, and a re-examination fee will be required.

10. All examinations contain the same questions; however, the examination questions are presented to each candidate in random order and the examination answers are presented to the candidate in random order.

11. Examinations are graded electronically at the testing facility, and scores are available to candidates immediately. An email is sent to the candidate’s email address confirming test results. In the case of state license applicants, exam scores are also reported directly to the appropriate state licensing agency.

Fees are posed on the ACAC website.

Certification fees are for a two-year certification, and include a non-refundable processing fee.

Examination fees are required prior to taking examinations.

Recertification fees are for a two-year period and require documentation of continuing education. Recertification fees include a non-refundable processing fee.

Re-examination fees apply to those retaking a failed exam.

Penalties for late recertification may be waived in case of documented active military duty or medical issues.

1. The American Council for Accredited Certification is the certifying body for this certification program.

2. All decisions regarding application materials, examinations and the awarding of certifications are made by the CEICR Certification Board, which functions as part of the ACAC.

3. The certifying body’s responsibility to applicants is to provide a credible certification. Operation of the certification program is closely monitored to ensure that reference materials remain current with the industry guidelines and standards and the eligibility requirements for certification are at appropriate levels. Examination questions are developed by certified personnel who are currently active in the field of environmental infection control remediation. Pass/fail scores are set by the CEICR Certification Board using the modified Angoff method. The Board authorizes a periodic statistical review of examination item performance and test reliability and updates the examination to reflect the latest changes in our rapidly evolving field.

4. Certification Board members are required to abstain from voting on any applicant’s completed file that may present a conflict of interest, either personally or professionally.

ACAC certifications are current for two years from the date of issue. The certificate holder must accumulate forty (40) Re-certification Credits (RCs) prior to the certificate’s expiration date. Each RC represents one (1) hour of continuing education or professional development. The certificate holder may accumulate the required hours at any time during the two-year certification period. An updated list of typical recertification activities is available on the Council website.

Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediators who do not acquire sufficient CEICR Re-certification Credits by their recertification date will be notified in writing to cease using the CEICR designation. They will be listed as expired on the Council website and will no longer be listed as a CEICR in any ACAC publication until such time as they resubmit to the certification process and successfully meet the current criteria for certification. Appropriate fees will apply.

1. The CEICR Certification Board is responsible for all facets of the certification program, including the review and evaluation of applications, the development and administration of examinations, the granting and reissuing of certificates and the adjudication of complaints against certificants.

2. Suspensions: If a Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediator does not accumulate the required re-certification credits, certification shall terminate unless, in the judgment of the Certification Board, extenuating circumstances exist and the deficiency can be readily overcome. Examples of extenuating circumstances include documentation of active military service or documentation of a serious medical condition.

3. Complaints: If a Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediator fails to abide by the ACAC Code of Conduct or is formally accused of gross negligence in the performance of his or her professional duties, the Certification Board may vote to refuse re-certification.

4. Appeals: Any holder of a valid Council certification or applicant for such a certification may appeal the decisions of the Certification Board.

5. Complaints or appeals shall be made in writing via certified mail to the Certification Administrator.

6. In the case of complaints, the Certification Administrator shall forward the complaint to the accused certificant and allow him or her ample time to respond.

7. The Certification Administrator, at the direction of the Executive Committee, may forward complaints or appeals to the appropriate Certification Board.

8. The Certification Board shall rule on all complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

9. Complaints or appeals may be continued in writing via certified mail to the National Advisory Board.

10. The National Advisory Board shall be the final court of appeal and will rule on complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

11. In resolving complaints or appeals, ACAC may rule only on its own decisions to grant or deny certification and recertification.

1. Retired Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediators may be granted emeritus status in their designation as long as they are retired from professional practice as a CEICR. Such persons will be granted the title “Emeritus.”

2. Re-certification Fees for Emeritus (Retired) Status: $100 USD for each two-year certification.

3. Continuing education is not required,

4. To return to active status, emeritus certificants must notify the Council in writing and pay a fee for a two-year active certification. At the end of the two-year period, all normal re-certification policies will apply.

1. A CEICR may use the designation name on organization letterheads, business cards and all forms of address. When using the CEICR designation, we encourage the spelling out of the designation fully in smaller print immediately below the signature block, as in the following example:

   John Doe, CEICR
   Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediator
   Board-awarded by the American Council for Accredited Certification

2. Certification is for individuals only. The CEICR designation may not be used to imply that an organization or firm is certified.

3. The CEICR designation may NOT be used by individuals who pass the CEICR examination in order to obtain a state license, unless those individuals also complete the ACAC certification process as described in this handbook.

The ACAC code of conduct applies to all certificants, staff and volunteers of the organization.

The American Council for Accredited Certification offers the Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediation Assistant (CEICRA) to individuals whose knowledge of infection control warrants professional recognition.

• To raise the standards of those engaged in the execution of infection control projects.

• To identify persons with acceptable knowledge of indoor air quality and the standards and regulations affecting Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediation Assistants.

• To qualify applicants for certain state licenses.

Individuals are eligible for the CEICRA certification who can attest to their employment in the field of infection control. Applicants for licenses where the CEICRA is required must meet the eligibility requirements published by each state.

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

The effective practice of environmental infection control remediation requires specialized knowledge of a variety of subjects, including current standards and best practices. For certification purposes, the candidate for the CEICRA designation must demonstrate familiarity with the basic concepts and reference materials of the industry, such as those summarized in the following list.

CDC, Guideline for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (2003)

American Council for Accredited Certification, Code of Conduct

The Required Skills:

A Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediation Assistant (CEICRA) has demonstrated the following skills through the successful completion of an independent examination and board review process:

Infectious Diseases and Their Modes of Transmission in the Healthcare Setting

• Apply scientific knowledge of infectious diseases and their modes of transmission to infection control activities in healthcare and other institutional settings.

Principles of Infection Control During Construction, Demolition and Renovation

• Understand the impact of HVAC systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the impact of filtration systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the impact of UV air cleaning systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the behavior of conditioned air in occupied spaces and its impact on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

• Understand the impact of water systems on infection control during construction, demolition and renovation activities.

Effective Infection Control Practices

• Conduct appropriate and effective containment engineering during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Implement appropriate infection control practices for air handling systems during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Conduct appropriate and effective environmental sampling during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Implement appropriate infection control practices in Protective Environment (PE) rooms, Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) rooms and Operating Rooms (OR) rooms during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Employ effective cleaning procedures for environmental surfaces during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

• Implement effective infection control practices for water handling systems during construction, renovation and demolition activities.

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

To prepare for the CEICRA exam, first read the reference books listed above. Then review the following sections from each text in more detail:

WARNING: Limiting your study to only the following pages will put you in danger of failing the exam. The exam assumes a comprehensive knowledge of each reference text. Each of the following references provides ONE example of a place where exam topics may be discussed.

CDC, Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (2003 - updated 2019)

Pages 20, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 38, 37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 54, 55, 61, 56, 63, 64, 65, 73, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 148, 152 and 224

Tables 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 and 10

1. ACAC certification should not be confused with state licensing. State license candidates should read the following section, The State Licensing Process.

2. ACAC certification candidates complete and forward the notarized application form, employer affidavits, project sheets and a copy of diploma or transcripts.

3. ACAC certification candidates pass the closed-book examination. If the examination is not successfully passed, a re-examination fee is required before retaking the examination.

4. ACAC certification candidates have up to 90 days from the date of application to complete the application process. Applications left incomplete after 90 days will be considered null and void.

5. ACAC certification candidates wait for the awarding of the certification. The Certification Board meets approximately every four (4) weeks to review the examination results and supporting materials before voting to award the certification.

1. State licensing should not be confused with ACAC certification. ACAC certification candidates should read the previous section, The ACAC Certification Process.

2. State license applicants complete and forward the notarized application form to the ACAC office.

3. ACAC does not require state license applicants to provide documentation of education or field experience in order to sit for the CEICRA examination. State licensing agencies may require such documentation as part of the license application process.

4. State license applicants pass the closed book examination. ACAC reports exam scores directly to the appropriate state licensing agencies.

5. State license applicants follow individual state guidelines for completion of the license application.

1. The applicant must complete a 2-hour, closed-book, written examination. The examination questions are based on the listed core skills and required body of knowledge.

2. The examination is closed-book! It is strongly recommended that candidates read the reference materials listed above before taking the examination.

3. There are 50 questions on the examination. Each question is multiple-choice with at least four (4) possible answers. Exam items are drawn from the required body of knowledge according to a blueprint prescribed by the certification board.

4. Passing Score: The passing score for the CEICRA examination is set by the CEICRA certification board using the Modified Angoff Method. A score of 70% must be achieved to pass this examination.

5. The examination is delivered electronically at an authorized testing center operated by Kryterion, Inc. There are no paper exams. Once a complete application packet is on file in the Council office, the candidate may register for the examination by calling the office at (888) 808-8381.

6. Candidates should arrive 30 minutes before the testing appointment.

7. Candidates must present two forms of government-issued identification at the testing center, one of which must be picture ID.

8. Candidates must follow proctor instructions with regard to conduct, behavior, and the use of personal belongings and test materials, including submitting eyeglasses for inspection and turning out exterior pockets.

9. Candidates failing to abide by these rules will not be permitted to sit for the exam, and a re-examination fee will be required.

10. All examinations contain the same questions; however, the examination questions are presented to each candidate in random order and the examination answers are presented to the candidate in random order.

11. Examinations are graded electronically at the testing facility, and scores are available to candidates immediately. An email is sent to the candidate’s email address confirming test results. In the case of state license applicants, exam scores are also reported directly to the appropriate state licensing agency.

Fees are posed on the ACAC website.

Certification fees are for a two-year certification, and include a non-refundable processing fee.

Examination fees are required prior to taking examinations.

Recertification fees are for a two-year period and require documentation of continuing education. Recertification fees include a non-refundable processing fee.

Re-examination fees apply to those retaking a failed exam.

Penalties for late recertification may be waived in case of documented active military duty or medical issues.

1. The American Council for Accredited Certification is the certifying body for this certification program.

2. All decisions regarding application materials, examinations and the awarding of certifications are made by the CEICRA Certification Board, which functions as part of the ACAC.

3. The certifying body’s responsibility to applicants is to provide a credible certification. Operation of the certification program is closely monitored to ensure that reference materials remain current with the industry guidelines and standards and the eligibility requirements for certification are at appropriate levels. Examination questions are developed by certified personnel who are currently active in the field of environmental infection control remediation. Pass/fail scores are set by the CEICRA Certification Board using the modified Angoff method. The Board authorizes a periodic statistical review of examination item performance and test reliability and updates the examination to reflect the latest changes in our rapidly evolving field.

4. Certification Board members are required to abstain from voting on any applicant’s completed file that may present a conflict of interest, either personally or professionally.

ACAC certifications are current for two years from the date of issue. The certificate holder must accumulate forty (40) Re-certification Credits (RCs) prior to the certificate’s expiration date. Each RC represents one (1) hour of continuing education or professional development. The certificate holder may accumulate the required hours at any time during the two-year certification period. An updated list of typical recertification activities is available on the Council website.

Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediation Assistants who do not acquire sufficient CEICRA Re-certification Credits by their recertification date will be notified in writing to cease using the CEICRA designation. They will be listed as expired on the Council website and will no longer be listed as a CEICRA in any ACAC publication until such time as they resubmit to the certification process and successfully meet the current criteria for certification. Appropriate fees will apply.

1. The CEICRA Certification Board is responsible for all facets of the certification program, including the review and evaluation of applications, the development and administration of examinations, the granting and reissuing of certificates and the adjudication of complaints against certificants.

2. Suspensions: If a Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediation Assistant does not accumulate the required re-certification credits, certification shall terminate unless, in the judgment of the Certification Board, extenuating circumstances exist and the deficiency can be readily overcome. Examples of extenuating circumstances include documentation of active military service or documentation of a serious medical condition.

3. Complaints: If a Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediation Assistant fails to abide by the ACAC Code of Conduct or is formally accused of gross negligence in the performance of his or her professional duties, the Certification Board may vote to refuse re-certification.

4. Appeals: Any holder of a valid Council certification or applicant for such a certification may appeal the decisions of the Certification Board.

5. Complaints or appeals shall be made in writing via certified mail to the Certification Administrator.

6. In the case of complaints, the Certification Administrator shall forward the complaint to the accused certificant and allow him or her ample time to respond.

7. The Certification Administrator, at the direction of the Executive Committee, may forward complaints or appeals to the appropriate Certification Board.

8. The Certification Board shall rule on all complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

9. Complaints or appeals may be continued in writing via certified mail to the National Advisory Board.

10. The National Advisory Board shall be the final court of appeal and will rule on complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

11. In resolving complaints or appeals, ACAC may rule only on its own decisions to grant or deny certification and recertification.

1. Retired Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediation Assistants may be granted emeritus status in their designation as long as they are retired from professional practice as a CEICRA . Such persons will be granted the title “Emeritus.”

2. Re-certification Fees for Emeritus (Retired) Status: $100 USD for each two-year certification.

3. Continuing education is not required,

4. To return to active status, emeritus certificants must notify the Council in writing and pay a fee for a two-year active certification. At the end of the two-year period, all normal re-certification policies will apply.

1. A CEICRA may use the designation name on organization letterheads, business cards and all forms of address. When using the CEICRA designation, we encourage the spelling out of the designation fully in smaller print immediately below the signature block, as in the following example:

   John Doe, CEICRA
   Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediation Assistant
   Board-awarded by the American Council for Accredited Certification

2. Certification is for individuals only. The CEICRA designation may not be used to imply that an organization or firm is certified.

3. The CEICRA designation may NOT be used by individuals who pass the CEICRA examination in order to obtain a state license, unless those individuals also complete the ACAC certification process as described in this handbook.

The ACAC code of conduct applies to all certificants, staff and volunteers of the organization.