NYS WRITTEN INFECTION CONTROL EXAM (PDF) | 2026
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. Which piece of New York State legislation originally established the requirement for
infection control training for healthcare professionals?
A) Public Health Law § 239
B) Chapter 786 of the Laws of 1992
C) Education Law § 6505-b
D) Title 10 NYCRR Part 92
Correct Answer: B) Chapter 786 of the Laws of 1992
Rationale: Chapter 786 of the New York State Laws of 1992 originally mandated infection
control and barrier precautions training for certain healthcare professionals . Public Health Law §
239 codified the requirement for physicians and physician assistants, while Education Law §
6505-b applies to nurses, dentists, and other licensed professionals .
2. Under New York State law, how often must most licensed healthcare professionals
complete infection control training?
A) Every 2 years
B) Every 3 years
C) Every 4 years
D) Every 5 years
Correct Answer: C) Every 4 years
Rationale: Under Education Law § 6505-b and Public Health Law § 239, licensed healthcare
professionals must complete infection control course work or training every four years . This
applies to physicians, nurses, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, physician assistants, and other
licensed professionals.
3. In what year was sepsis awareness and education added as a required element of the New
York State infection control curriculum?
A) 1992
B) 2008
C) 2014
D) 2018
Correct Answer: D) 2018
Rationale: The New York State infection control curriculum originally consisted of six core
elements. In 2018, the legislature added a seventh element—sepsis awareness and education—to
the mandated training requirements .
4. How many core elements make up the New York State infection control training
curriculum?
, A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
Correct Answer: C) 7
Rationale: The New York State infection control training curriculum consists of seven core
elements . Originally six elements were identified in 1992, with sepsis awareness added as the
seventh element in 2018.
5. Which New York State agency is responsible for approving infection control training for
most licensed professionals?
A) New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) only
B) New York State Education Department (NYSED) only
C) Both NYSDOH and NYSED
D) New York State Department of Labor
Correct Answer: C) Both NYSDOH and NYSED
Rationale: Course work or training in infection control must be approved by either the State
Education Department or the Department of Health . Both agencies must use the prescribed
syllabus jointly approved by NYSED and DOH .
6. Element I of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Modes of transmission of pathogenic organisms
B) The professional's responsibility to adhere to infection control principles
C) Selection and use of personal protective equipment
D) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
Correct Answer: B) The professional's responsibility to adhere to infection control principles
Rationale: Element I states that healthcare professionals have the responsibility to adhere to
scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control and to monitor the
performance of those for whom they are responsible .
7. Element II of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) The professional's responsibility to adhere to infection control principles
B) Modes and mechanisms of transmission of pathogenic organisms
C) Use of engineering and work practice controls
D) Sepsis awareness and education
Correct Answer: B) Modes and mechanisms of transmission of pathogenic organisms
Rationale: Element II covers the modes and mechanisms of transmission of pathogenic
organisms in the healthcare setting and strategies for prevention and control .
8. Element III of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Selection and use of barriers and personal protective equipment
, B) Creation and maintenance of a safe environment
C) Use of engineering and work practice controls
D) Prevention and management of infectious diseases in healthcare workers
Correct Answer: C) Use of engineering and work practice controls
Rationale: Element III covers the use of engineering and work practice controls to reduce the
opportunity for patient and healthcare worker exposure to potentially infectious material in all
healthcare settings .
9. Element IV of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Modes of transmission of pathogenic organisms
B) The professional's responsibility to adhere to infection control principles
C) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
D) Selection and use of barriers and personal protective equipment
Correct Answer: D) Selection and use of barriers and personal protective equipment
Rationale: Element IV covers the selection and use of barriers and/or personal protective
equipment for preventing patient and healthcare worker contact with potentially infectious
material .
10. Element V of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Engineering and work practice controls
B) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
C) Sepsis awareness and education
D) Personal protective equipment
Correct Answer: B) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
Rationale: Element V covers the creation and maintenance of a safe environment through
application of infection control principles and practices for cleaning, disinfection, and
sterilization .
11. Element VI of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Prevention and control of infectious diseases in healthcare workers
B) Sepsis awareness and education
C) Modes of transmission of pathogenic organisms
D) Engineering and work practice controls
Correct Answer: A) Prevention and control of infectious diseases in healthcare workers
Rationale: Element VI covers the prevention and management of infectious or communicable
diseases in healthcare workers .
12. Element VII of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
B) Prevention and control of infectious diseases in healthcare workers
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. Which piece of New York State legislation originally established the requirement for
infection control training for healthcare professionals?
A) Public Health Law § 239
B) Chapter 786 of the Laws of 1992
C) Education Law § 6505-b
D) Title 10 NYCRR Part 92
Correct Answer: B) Chapter 786 of the Laws of 1992
Rationale: Chapter 786 of the New York State Laws of 1992 originally mandated infection
control and barrier precautions training for certain healthcare professionals . Public Health Law §
239 codified the requirement for physicians and physician assistants, while Education Law §
6505-b applies to nurses, dentists, and other licensed professionals .
2. Under New York State law, how often must most licensed healthcare professionals
complete infection control training?
A) Every 2 years
B) Every 3 years
C) Every 4 years
D) Every 5 years
Correct Answer: C) Every 4 years
Rationale: Under Education Law § 6505-b and Public Health Law § 239, licensed healthcare
professionals must complete infection control course work or training every four years . This
applies to physicians, nurses, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, physician assistants, and other
licensed professionals.
3. In what year was sepsis awareness and education added as a required element of the New
York State infection control curriculum?
A) 1992
B) 2008
C) 2014
D) 2018
Correct Answer: D) 2018
Rationale: The New York State infection control curriculum originally consisted of six core
elements. In 2018, the legislature added a seventh element—sepsis awareness and education—to
the mandated training requirements .
4. How many core elements make up the New York State infection control training
curriculum?
, A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
Correct Answer: C) 7
Rationale: The New York State infection control training curriculum consists of seven core
elements . Originally six elements were identified in 1992, with sepsis awareness added as the
seventh element in 2018.
5. Which New York State agency is responsible for approving infection control training for
most licensed professionals?
A) New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) only
B) New York State Education Department (NYSED) only
C) Both NYSDOH and NYSED
D) New York State Department of Labor
Correct Answer: C) Both NYSDOH and NYSED
Rationale: Course work or training in infection control must be approved by either the State
Education Department or the Department of Health . Both agencies must use the prescribed
syllabus jointly approved by NYSED and DOH .
6. Element I of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Modes of transmission of pathogenic organisms
B) The professional's responsibility to adhere to infection control principles
C) Selection and use of personal protective equipment
D) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
Correct Answer: B) The professional's responsibility to adhere to infection control principles
Rationale: Element I states that healthcare professionals have the responsibility to adhere to
scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control and to monitor the
performance of those for whom they are responsible .
7. Element II of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) The professional's responsibility to adhere to infection control principles
B) Modes and mechanisms of transmission of pathogenic organisms
C) Use of engineering and work practice controls
D) Sepsis awareness and education
Correct Answer: B) Modes and mechanisms of transmission of pathogenic organisms
Rationale: Element II covers the modes and mechanisms of transmission of pathogenic
organisms in the healthcare setting and strategies for prevention and control .
8. Element III of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Selection and use of barriers and personal protective equipment
, B) Creation and maintenance of a safe environment
C) Use of engineering and work practice controls
D) Prevention and management of infectious diseases in healthcare workers
Correct Answer: C) Use of engineering and work practice controls
Rationale: Element III covers the use of engineering and work practice controls to reduce the
opportunity for patient and healthcare worker exposure to potentially infectious material in all
healthcare settings .
9. Element IV of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Modes of transmission of pathogenic organisms
B) The professional's responsibility to adhere to infection control principles
C) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
D) Selection and use of barriers and personal protective equipment
Correct Answer: D) Selection and use of barriers and personal protective equipment
Rationale: Element IV covers the selection and use of barriers and/or personal protective
equipment for preventing patient and healthcare worker contact with potentially infectious
material .
10. Element V of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Engineering and work practice controls
B) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
C) Sepsis awareness and education
D) Personal protective equipment
Correct Answer: B) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
Rationale: Element V covers the creation and maintenance of a safe environment through
application of infection control principles and practices for cleaning, disinfection, and
sterilization .
11. Element VI of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Prevention and control of infectious diseases in healthcare workers
B) Sepsis awareness and education
C) Modes of transmission of pathogenic organisms
D) Engineering and work practice controls
Correct Answer: A) Prevention and control of infectious diseases in healthcare workers
Rationale: Element VI covers the prevention and management of infectious or communicable
diseases in healthcare workers .
12. Element VII of the New York State infection control curriculum addresses:
A) Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
B) Prevention and control of infectious diseases in healthcare workers
