LTC-CIP Practice Test 2026: 25 Free Questions + Answers
Published 2026-10-23 · Facts and text checked 2026-10-16 · Questions from our LTC-CIP study guide · Reviewed by Hana N., Quality Reviewer
This free LTC-CIP practice test for 2026 has 25 questions from our LTC-CIP study guide, each with the answer explained, and no signup. The real Long-Term Care Certification in Infection Prevention exam, from CBIC, has 150 multiple-choice questions (135 scored) in two 90-minute sections, and you pass with a scaled score of 700.
The questions mix the LTC-CIP content areas and three levels (easy, medium, hard). Answer first, then open the explanation; use the topic pages to drill the areas where you miss the most. Since 2025 the real exam is forward-only, so practice committing to an answer before you move on.
| Fact | Value and source |
|---|---|
| Exam body | Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC)Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC): official LTC-CIP page · checked 2026-10-10 |
| Number of questions | 150 questions (135 scored)Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC): official LTC-CIP page · checked 2026-10-10 |
| Exam time | 3 hours (two 90-minute sections with an optional break)Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC): official LTC-CIP page · checked 2026-10-10 |
| Passing score | Scaled score of 700 (scale 300-900)Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC): official LTC-CIP page · checked 2026-10-10 |
Want a verdict instead of a practice set? Take the free "Am I ready?" quiz: 25 different questions, your score and the topics to study next.
25 free LTC-CIP practice questions
Question 1Easy
A reusable laryngoscope blade is used to intubate a resident with suspected respiratory failure. The blade contacts the resident's oral mucous membranes. According to the Spaulding classification, what is the minimum reprocessing level for this device before it is used on another resident?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. It is a semi-critical item and requires high-level disinfection.
Laryngoscope blades contact mucous membranes, which places them in the semi-critical category under the Spaulding classification, so high-level disinfection is required. Sterilization is reserved for critical items that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system.
From practice test 8 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 77). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 2Easy
For most uncomplicated infections in long-term care residents, what duration of antibiotic therapy is generally recommended?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. 5 to 7 days
Standard guidance for uncomplicated infections is a 5 to 7 day course. Longer durations increase adverse effects and resistance without improving outcomes.
From practice test 6 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 90). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 3Easy
A resident has had a tracheostomy tube in place for 18 hours. Which statement best reflects current understanding of biofilm on this device?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Biofilm has likely already begun to form and can shelter bacteria from antibiotics and immune defenses
Biofilm starts forming within about 24 hours of tracheostomy tube insertion and protects bacteria from antibiotics and immune defenses. It develops without visible mucus and in non-ventilated residents as well.
From practice test 3 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 48). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 4Easy
Before writing an influenza pandemic plan, a facility's risk assessment should answer three specific questions. Which set of three questions is the core of that assessment?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. How vulnerable is our resident population, what is our staffing model, and what are our physical limitations?
The core risk assessment questions concern resident vulnerability, staffing model, and physical plant limitations because these determine whether cohorting and isolation can work. The other options list operational details or external resources, not the three foundational questions.
From practice test 2 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 46). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 5Easy
During an outbreak on the west wing, the nurse manager proposes rotating staff between the affected wing and the east wing to maintain coverage. Which staffing strategy is the most effective outbreak control measure?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Assign dedicated staff to the affected unit and keep those staff on that unit for the duration of the outbreak
Dedicated staffing keeps the pathogen from being carried to clean units, which is the single most effective control measure. Rotating staff, floating, or administrative-only assignments allow movement that can transmit infection.
From practice test 2 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 59). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 6Medium
A state regulation requires long-term care facilities to report influenza-like illness clusters within 48 hours. The local health department requires reporting within 24 hours. Which reporting timeline must the facility follow?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. 24 hours, because the strictest applicable standard applies
When federal, state, and local requirements differ, the facility must satisfy the strictest applicable requirement. Since the local standard is 24 hours, the facility must report within that window, not the 48-hour state standard.
From practice test 7 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 45). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 7Medium
Over a 12-hour period, a resident passes two loose stools but has no vomiting or abdominal cramping. Which additional event would cause this episode to meet the NHSN gastroenteritis case definition?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. A third loose stool within 24 hours
The NHSN gastroenteritis definition is three or more loose stools in 24 hours, or two loose stools plus either vomiting, abdominal cramping, or a positive stool test. A third loose stool within the same 24-hour period meets the threshold.
From practice test 10 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 114). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 8Medium
A nurse sustains a needlestick injury while drawing blood from a resident. Which immediate action is correct?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water
The initial first aid for a percutaneous exposure is to wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Squeezing, bleach, and alcohol wipes are not recommended and may increase tissue damage.
From practice test 6 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 71). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 9Medium
According to ACIP recommendations, which vaccine is considered a core immunization for healthcare personnel?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)
ACIP core immunizations for healthcare personnel include hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella, and Tdap. Pneumococcal, HPV, and herpes zoster vaccines are not core occupational requirements for all healthcare personnel.
From practice test 2 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 122). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 10Medium
A long-term care resident has new redness, warmth, and tenderness around a chronic leg wound, but there is no purulent drainage. Which statement about applying the McGeer criteria is correct?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. The infection is not present because purulent drainage must be present to anchor the definition
The McGeer skin and soft tissue infection definition requires purulent drainage plus at least one clinical sign such as fever, redness, tenderness, warmth, or swelling. Without pus, the definition is not met even if local signs or fever are present.
From practice test 3 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 110). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 11Medium
As part of a microlearning sequence on UTI signs, staff answer three case-based questions, each presenting a resident scenario and asking whether the McGeer criteria are met. What is the main instructional purpose of these questions?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. To force active retrieval and application of the criteria, which strengthens memory and exposes gaps.
Case-based questions require staff to retrieve and apply the criteria rather than passively review them, and they reveal misunderstandings in real time. This active retrieval strengthens memory more than rereading a handout.
From practice test 8 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 107). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 12Medium
During a nursing in-service, the infection preventionist wants to focus on the floor nurse's role in antimicrobial stewardship. Which topic is most directly relevant to that role?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Collecting accurate urine specimens and precisely documenting signs and symptoms
The nurse's daily contributions are accurate specimen collection and precise symptom documentation, which shape whether an antibiotic order is appropriate. Susceptibility interpretation and drug selection belong to the prescriber and pharmacist.
From practice test 7 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 117). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 13Medium
A newly hired licensed practical nurse will be fitted with an N95 respirator. Per the OSHA respiratory protection standard, when must fit testing occur?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Before first use and at least annually thereafter
OSHA requires fit testing before initial use, at least annually, and when changes to the facepiece or user conditions may affect fit. The other options omit the annual requirement or impose an unnecessary medical trigger.
From practice test 5 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 45). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 14Medium
A temporary shelter is receiving its water from a portable tanker during a boil-water advisory. Which action best protects residents from waterborne illness?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Use bottled water for drinking and food preparation until the water supply is confirmed safe
When water safety is uncertain, bottled water must be used for drinking and food preparation. Relying on taste or odor is not a reliable indicator, and withholding fluids is dangerous.
From practice test 3 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 90). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 15Medium
Which change should trigger a review and update of the facility's exposure control plan?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. A new medication requiring injection is added to the formulary
The exposure control plan must be updated when job duties or procedures change, such as when an injectable medication is added. A change in housekeeping vendor alone does not automatically change exposure factors.
From practice test 4 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 129). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 16Medium
The infection preventionist for a 40-bed long-term care unit reviews surveillance logs on Wednesday morning. Resident A had documented fever of 100.8°F, cough, and sore throat on Monday at 8:00 AM. Resident B had fever of 101.1°F, cough, and sore throat on Tuesday at 2:00 PM. Resident C had fever of 100.6°F and nonproductive cough on Wednesday at 6:00 AM; no sore throat was reported. Which set of facts triggers the respiratory outbreak response plan?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Three residents with influenza-like illness in one unit within 72 hours
Three cases of influenza-like illness in one unit within 72 hours is the respiratory outbreak threshold in long-term care. Each of the three residents had fever plus cough, so all meet the ILI definition. Two linked cases are the gastrointestinal trigger, not the respiratory trigger.
From practice test 5 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 61). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 17Medium
A facility's UTI rate is 1.2 per 1,000 resident-days over the previous 6 months. This month the rate is 2.4 per 1,000 resident-days, while the national benchmark is 3.0. How should the infection preventionist interpret this monthly rate?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. The rate is double the facility's own baseline, so it should trigger an investigation.
The baseline for action is the facility's own rolling average over the previous 6 to 12 months, not a national number. Doubling from 1.2 to 2.4 per 1,000 resident-days is the signal to investigate.
From practice test 7 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 132). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 18Medium
A facility identifies three residents with acute gastroenteritis in one unit. The state administrative code requires notification of a suspected norovirus outbreak to the state health department within 24 hours; no federal rule specifies this timeline. The infection preventionist should:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Call the state health department within 24 hours because the state rule applies
A state-mandated 24-hour reporting timeline is the strictest applicable requirement and must be followed even when federal rules do not specify a deadline. Waiting for laboratory confirmation or delaying to a monthly submission would violate the state rule.
From practice test 4 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 120). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 19Medium
A long-term care resident has received four courses of different antibiotics over the past six months for suspected urinary tract infections. Which outcome is the most direct consequence of repeated antibiotic use at the facility level?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Selection of antibiotic-resistant organisms that can spread within the facility
Antibiotic pressure selects for resistant organisms, and in a facility those organisms can circulate among residents, promoting colonization and infection with resistant pathogens.
From practice test 6 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 64). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 20Medium
A resident has a PICC with a continuous infusion running. The facility follows standard manufacturer guidance. How often should the needleless connector be changed?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Every 96 hours with the administration set.
Needleless connectors are changed with the administration set, typically every 96 hours for continuous infusions. More frequent changes add infection risk, and changing only with the dressing is too infrequent.
From practice test 10 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 149). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 21Hard
Which statement best describes COVID-19 vaccination requirements for long-term care staff in the United States?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Requirements vary by state and facility policy
No federal law mandates COVID-19 vaccination for all long-term care staff; requirements are set by individual states and facility policies. Claims of a universal federal mandate or prohibition are incorrect.
From practice test 10 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 143). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 22Hard
A new infection preventionist is setting up a line list for a norovirus outbreak. Which three data elements are essential to include for each case from the first entry onward?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Date of symptom onset, location in the facility, and relevant exposures
The line list must include date of symptom onset, location, and relevant exposures to drive the epidemic curve and exposure analysis. Testing dates and administrative data are not substitutes for the core epidemiological fields.
From practice test 2 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 144). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 23Hard
A resident has a new cough, increased sputum, and a temperature of 38.1 degrees Celsius. The nurse documents no crackles or wheezing, and no chest X-ray is ordered. Which statement best reflects the McGeer respiratory infection surveillance definition?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. The resident does not meet the full definition because a new crackle, wheeze, or infiltrate is required.
The McGeer definition requires the respiratory and constitutional criteria plus at least one physical exam finding of new or increased crackles or wheezing, or a chest X-ray with a new or worsening infiltrate, consolidation, or effusion. Two symptoms plus fever alone are insufficient, and a positive culture is not part of this case definition.
From practice test 2 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 1). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 24Hard
An infection preventionist needs the most reliable evidence that a nursing assistant can correctly doff PPE without contaminating themselves. Which method provides that evidence?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. A directly observed return demonstration in a supervised setting
Direct observation of a return demonstration is the most reliable evidence of psychomotor competency because it exposes errors in actual performance. Written tests, verbal teach-back, and attestations do not verify that the hands can perform the skill.
From practice test 4 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 79). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 25Hard
During a prolonged respiratory virus outbreak, the local public health department directs a skilled nursing facility to stop admitting residents to the affected wing until transmission has ended. The state's infection control regulations do not mention admission restrictions, and the medical director states that the facility may continue admissions because the state has not prohibited them. Which principle applies?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The facility must comply with the local directive because local health departments have legal authority to restrict admissions during a public health emergency.
Local health departments derive their authority from state statutes and may impose admission restrictions or closure orders during a public health emergency even when state regulations are silent. The medical director's opinion does not override that legal authority, and a court order is not required for a local health department to act.
From practice test 8 of our LTC-CIP study guide (question 69). Original question, not an official exam item.
0 of 25 answered. Your result shows each area against our study target.
Practice by topic
- Infectious Diseases and Pathogens: The pathogens and infections that matter most in long-term care.
- Surveillance and Case Definitions: Surveillance methods, case definitions and infection rate calculations.
- Outbreak Detection and Investigation: Recognizing, investigating and controlling outbreaks in a facility.
- Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection: Cleaning, disinfection and the built environment in long-term care.
- Antimicrobial and Diagnostic Stewardship: Core elements of stewardship and appropriate testing in long-term care.
- Regulations and the IP Program: Regulatory requirements and running the infection prevention program.
- High-Risk Care Processes and Devices: Preventing infections linked to devices and high-risk procedures.
Want the full LTC-CIP preparation?
These questions come from our LTC-CIP study guide: full-length practice tests with every answer explained, flashcards, an AI study tutor and the audiobook.
Quick answers
How many questions are on the LTC-CIP?
The LTC-CIP exam has 150 multiple-choice questions, and 135 of them count toward your score (CBIC).
How long is the LTC-CIP exam?
3 hours in two 90-minute sections, with an optional 16-minute break after the first 75 questions (CBIC).
What is the LTC-CIP passing score?
A scaled score of at least 700 on a scale from 300 to 900. A scaled score is not the number or percentage of correct answers.
How much does the LTC-CIP cost?
The LTC-CIP examination application fee is $445, according to CBIC (checked October 2026).
Can I go back to earlier questions?
No. Since January 2, 2025 the exam is forward-only: you cannot skip, flag or return to questions.
What does the LTC-CIP cover?
Nine areas from CBIC's 2021 practice analysis; the largest are surveillance and epidemiologic investigation and prevention and control of infectious diseases (22 items each).