Infection Prevention and Control
Infection Prevention and Control
Enhance your health care training with infection prevention and control coursework offered through our online certificate program. Gain the skills to transition into this dynamic field.
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What you can learn.
Help meet the growing need for Infection Preventionists.
Today, more than ever, health care professionals with infection prevention and control training are in demand. These Infection Preventionists (IPs) are educators whose job it is to proactively address, create awareness around, and work to reduce avoidable germ/disease spread in hospitals and health care facilities.
The UCLA Extension Infection Prevention and Control Certificate program offers nurses, public health practitioners, and other allied health professionals the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills required to become certified in this emerging field.
A collaboration between the top 10-ranked UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and the top five-ranked UCLA Health, the program covers both the academic and practical aspects of an IP career. Instructors are industry experts with invaluable professional and employment insights. All infection prevention and control courses are offered online to accommodate various learning styles. The program can be completed in one year from anywhere.
Preparation for board certification.
The infection prevention and control program consists of six four-unit, post-baccalaureate courses, collectively designed to provide the fundamental knowledge required of candidates seeking jobs in the field. The curriculum aligns with the evidence-based competency model of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and serves as a foundation to prepare for the certification exam administered by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC).
Format: 100% online
Duration: The program can be completed in 4 quarters
Infection Prevention and Control Certificate Information Session
Join us for a free information session about our Infection Prevention and Control Certificate. If you are a career changer or looking to enhance your skills, meet with our staff and instructors during our interactive Q&A session that will also include a brief overview of the certificate.
Cost and Fees
The first two courses in this program are open enrollment. You may take the first two courses without committing to the program. However, the remaining four courses in the certificate are open only to students who have established certificate candidacy. Establishing certificate candidacy provides many benefits exclusive to our certificate students. To establish certificate candidacy, click 'Apply Now' below. Each class is paid for individually.
When enrolling in courses, we recommend taking them in the order listed below.
4 Consecutive Quarters:
- Fall Quarter: 2 Courses - Take PUB HLT X 410 & PUB HLT X 411
- Winter Quarter: 2 Courses - Take PUB HLT X 412 & PUB HLT X 413
- Spring Quarter: 1 Course - Take PUB HLT X 414
- Summer Quarter: 1 Course - Take PUB HLT X 415
Courses are X 400 level, post-baccalaureate offerings in the online asynchronous format. All six courses are required to complete the certificate.
This scholarship supports students enrolled in the Infection Prevention and Control Certificate. The scholarship recipients can utilize their award for course registration fees in the Infection Prevention and Control Certificate beginning in Fall Quarter 2025 and have one year from the date of their award to utilize the scholarship amount.
Scholarship Award Conditions
Please note the following stipulations:
- Awardees must follow the four-quarter schedule and complete the certificate in one year.
- Awardees must apply and pay the candidacy fee for the certificate before registration fees are covered.
- Awardees must attain a letter grade of “B” or higher in each course to maintain eligibility for the scholarship.
- Scholarships are nontransferable and will expire within one year of the award date.
Eligibility Criteria
The following eligibility criteria will be checked and confirmed for all final candidates by UCLA Extension.
- Candidates must be a new student to the program registering in Fall 2025.
- Candidates must submit their application by 11:59pm (PT) on the deadline of August 15, 2025. Applications will be accepted starting March 1, 2025, at 8:00am to August 15, 2025, at 11:59pm (PT). Only complete applications will be considered.
How to Apply
Complete the following steps before the deadline of August 15, 2025 at 11:59pm PT.
- If you do not have a UCLA Extension student account, please create one. Under ‘I’m a New Student,’ enter your email address to get started.
- Next, click the 'Apply Today' button below. Enter your student account username and password and click ‘start application’.
- Under ‘My Applications’ you will see ‘AP0667 Infection Prevention & Control.’ Please click ‘Start.’
- Answer all questions in the application.
- Lastly, click ‘Submit Application’
- Submission of applications that are incomplete, late or from students who are not eligible will not be considered. UCLA Extension reserves the right to request additional documentation.
2025-2026 Scholarship Timeline
- Application acceptance period: March 1, 2025 -– August 15, 2025 at 11:59pm PT
- Application review period and final decision made for scholarship recipients: August 18, 2025 – August 22, 2025
- Notification of scholarship winners: The week of August 25, 2025
- Fall Quarter 2025 classes start: September 22, 2025
Required Courses
Introduction to Hospital Infection Prevention and Control
Applied Epidemiology for Infection Prevention and Control Professionals
Infectious Disease Epidemiology in Health Care Settings
Prevention and Control of Infectious Agents
Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigations for Infection Prevention and Control Professionals
Instructors have a range of experiences, including public health, epidemiology, and medicine. They hold leadership positions at reputable institutions, including, but not limited to, UCLA Health, Kaiser Permanente, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Program faculty hold advanced degrees in subjects including medicine, public health, and epidemiology; guest lecturers will include infectious disease physicians and former Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) officers from the Centers for Disease Control.
The advisory board includes licensed, practicing health care professionals representing the field of infection prevention and control. Members participated in the development and review of the curriculum, identified instructors, and provided guidance on program admission requirements. They include:
- Zachary Rubin MD, Chief Medical Epidemiologist, LA County Department of Public Health
- Daniel Uslan MD, Co-Chief Infection Prevention Officer, UCLA Health
- Shira Shafir PhD, Associate Professor, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
- Kyle McJunkin PhD, Assistant Dean for Academic Programs, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
- Shaunté Walton, MS, CIC, System Director, Clinical Epidemiology & Infection Prevention, UCLA Health
- Sherry Watson-Lawler, BSN, MBA, CPHQ, Hospital Surveyor, Division of Accreditation & Certification Operations, The Joint Commission
- David Sampson, Director, Media Relations, UCLA Health
Interested in additional infection prevention courses?
We offer additional courses that can expand your infection prevention knowledge and skills. Please note, these courses do not apply toward the Infection Prevention and Control Certificate.
- Introduction to Microbiology for Infection Prevention - PUB HLT X 420
- The Art of Psychological Influence for the Infection Prevention Professional - PUB HLT X 421
- Infection Prevention Practices for Dialysis Settings - PUB HLT X 422
- Clinical Practice for the Non-Clinical Infection Prevention Professional - PUB HLT X 423
- Infection Risks in Surgical Environment - PUB HLT X 424
- Introduction to Design and Construction Management for Infection Prevention - PUB HLT X 425
- High-level Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care Setting - PUB HLT X 426
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