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CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Certification Committee is multidisci­plinary, national in scope, and comprised of thefollowing members: Maureen Connor, R.N.,B.S., chairperson; Robert Shannon, M.S.P.H.,vice-chairperson; Carlene Boyle, R.N., B.S.;Monique Crowley, R.N.; Priscilla Dasse, R.N.,B.S.; Donald Goldmann, M.D.; Patricia S.Schlegel, R.N.; Sherri E. Schleich, B.S., M.T.(ASCP); Maureen Tsinzo, R.N.; Marjorie Un­derwood, R.N., B.S.; and Steven Weinstein,B.S., M.T. (ASCP). Liaisons include JuliaGarner, R.N., M.S.N., Center for Disease Con­trol; and Joseph Klimek, M.D., APIC Board ofDirectors. Members of the Committee reside inMassachusetts, Georgia, North Carolina, Con­necticut, Ohio, and California.

Goal and objectives. The overall goal of theCommittee is to establish a certification pro­gram that will ensure a minimum level ofknowledge for all ICPs. A program must be de­veloped commensurate with the significanthealth care responsibilities associated with thepractice of infection control. To achieve thisend, the Committee has established the follow­ing objectives:

1. Define educational standards for the certified ICP.2. Develop eligibility requirements for taking the

certifying examination, including:(a) Establishing a minimum level of education(b) Defining necessary licensure requirements(c) Identifying a minimum length of time in in-

fection con trol3. Establish a core educational program for cer­

tification, including:(a) Assisting the Certification Subcommittee of

the National Education Committee with de­velopment of the core curriculum

(b) Investigating the feasibility of an apprentice­ship/internship program

(c) Establishing formal course requirements4. Provide information on the operational certifica­

tion process, including:(a) Test development(b) Certification Board composition(c) Record keeping(d) Renewal of certificate

Operational process. The Certification Com-

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mittee is primarily responsible for investigat­ing the many facets of the certification process.The Committee's investigation to date hasconsisted of consulting other professional as­sociations with certifyingllicensing programsthat reflect APIC's diverse membership, con­ducting an opinion poll on certification at theannual APIC conference in Boston (see APICJ 6(3):50, 1978), consulting legal counsel, anddetermining the functions of the National Com­mission for Health Certifying Agencies (anagency endorsed by HEW that has developedstandards for certification programs). In addi­tion, a liaison relationship has been developedbetween this Committee and the Center forDisease Control. Information derived fromthese and similar resources is assessed thor­oughly and serves as the basis for the Commit­tee's proposals to the APIC Board of Directorsand the membership.

Development of educational standards. The Com­mittee's primary objective for 1979 was todefine educational standards for the certifiedICP. Once developed, the standards were for­warded to the Certification Subcommittee aswell as to Committee liaisons for their recom­mendations. The revised draft was presented tothe APIC Board of Directors at their January1980 meeting.

The standards encompass those areas of in­fection control in which an ICP should attain aminimum level of knowledge. Standards weredeveloped in the following areas: epidemiologyand statistics; microbiology; employee health;sterilization, disinfection, and sanitation; in­fectious diseases; education (i.e., knowledgeneeded to develop, implement, and evaluateeducational programs relevant to infection con­trol; administrative and communication skills(i.e., knowledge of those skills necessary for de­veloping, implementing, and coordinating aneffective infection control program); and pa­tient care practices (i.e., knowledge of the ther­apeutic and diagnostic measures, equipment,and procedures used in patient care as relatedto infection control).

Volume 8 Number 2

May, 1980

The Certification Subcommittee will utilizethe standards in developing a core curriculumdesigned to provide the theoretical backgroundnecessary for both those individuals enteringand those currently working in this field ofpractice. The mechanism for administering thecore curriculum has not been developed butmight take the form of a correspondence course.The curriculum will provide the practitionerwith all the necessary reference information fortaking a certifying examination.

Initial certifying examination. The CertificationCommittee recommends the following criteria:(1) All APIC members licensed in a health­related field (as determined by the CertificationBoard) who have been practicing infection con­trol for a minimum of 1 year will be eligible totake the initial certifying examination. (TheCertification Board will be the official govern­ing body for the APIC certification program.) (2)All eligible members applying for certificationmust take an examination.

Future ICPs: Areas for consideration. There are anumber of issues relevant to those individualscertified at a future date. Included among theseare certain educational prerequisites that areas yet undefined.

Criteria for certifying future ICPs could in­clude the following requirements: (1) Minimumeducational requirements that include a bac­calaureate degree in a health-related field-thecontroversial issue of degree vs. no degree re­lates primarily to nursing. Foresight would dic­tate that current nursing trends be assessedcarefully in order to incorporate them into theplanning process. (2) A mandatory number ofyears of experience in one's related healthfield.

Training in practical aspects of infection con­trol through the development of an apprentice­ship is also being investigated. This would ena­ble a learner to acquire the practical skillsnecessary for developing an infection controlprogram. Local chapter involvement regardingthe feasibility of an apprenticeship is impera­tive. Such training programs could be con­ducted by the local chapters under the guid-

Committee reports 65A

ance of the Certification Board and graduallyevolve into something more formal (i.e., an in­ternship program). The Certification Commit­tee has proposed to the Board of Directors thata pilot program for an internship be conductedthat would be a highly structured practicumoffered in regional areas. The apprenticeshipcould serve as an interim step toward provid­ing the new practitioner with the skills neces­sary to assure a practical working knowledge ofinfection control. Once a candidate for cer­tification has completed the core curriculumand apprenticeship, he! she would then be eli­gible to take the certifying examination.

Recertification. Certifying current and futurepractitioners necessitates that the issue of re­certification be addressed. A mechanism mustbe established to recertify ICPs periodically.The recertification process would assure thatpractitioners maintain a continued level ofknowledge in infection control.

Certification Board. A Certification Board willbe established once a certification program forthe Association has been developed. Functionsmight include such areas as reviewing and ap­proving applicants and revising and updatingthe certification process (i.e., undertaking pilotprogram studies).

Summary. Certification is a complex issue oftremendous importance to all involved.

For the program to successfully achieve itsaims, the full support of individual members,local chapters, and the national APIC Boardand committees is required. The CertificationCommittee will be conducting an open forumwith the membership at APIC '80 in San Fran­cisco on Monday evening, June 23, 1980. Pleaseconsult your program for the location of themeeting or check with the registration desk. Itis hoped that the membership will participateactively in shaping the course of the certifica­tion process.

The Certification Committee welcomes com­ments from the membership. Please forwardresponses to Ms. Maureen Connor, Chairperson,Certification Committee, 2 Claremont Court,Arlington, MA 02174.