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What is an infection control practitioner and how to become one
An infection control practitioner is a nurse, physician, medical technologist, or physician who helps prevent the spread of healthcare-acquired infections in a hospital or healthcare facility. This role involves isolating sources of infection, collecting and analyzing relevant health data for program planning, and training staff on infection control and prevention practices.
The duties of an infection control practitioner include conducting rounds in the facility and collecting infection information from different departments. They also investigate infection incidences and formulate programs to prevent the spread of infection in the facility based on collected data.
To become an infection control practitioner, one must be registered in the professions mentioned above. Some employers also require candidates to have a diploma in infection control and at least two years of experience in a hospital setting. A master's degree in epidemiology, public health, or another relevant field can also be advantageous.
The role of an infection control practitioner is mission-critical, often helping minimize preventable infection-related deaths in a hospital. As such, the compensation is high at $89,000 a year or roughly $45 an hour.
Avg. Salary $73,111
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%
Asian 8.93%
Black or African American 11.66%
Hispanic or Latino 8.91%
Unknown 4.25%
White 65.80%
Genderfemale 85.89%
male 14.11%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Infection control practitioner career paths
Key steps to become an infection control practitioner
Explore infection control practitioner education requirements
Start to develop specific infection control practitioner skills
Skills Percentages Patients 18.00% Infection Prevention 8.39% Infection Control 6.84% Public Health 6.30% Infection Control Policies 5.57% Complete relevant infection control practitioner training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New infection control practitioners learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an infection control practitioner based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real infection control practitioner resumes.Research infection control practitioner duties and responsibilities
- Treat acute illnesses and manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic pain, and diabetes.
- Manage team of medical support personnel, orient new clinical employees and develop new guidelines for chemotherapy administration.
- Provision of care includes health maintenance, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment with specialty consultations as indicated.
- Develop IC plans, ICRA, performing CDC NHSN surveillance.
Prepare your infection control practitioner resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your infection control practitioner resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an infection control practitioner resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable infection control practitioner resume templates
Build a professional infection control practitioner resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your infection control practitioner resume.
Apply for infection control practitioner jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an infection control practitioner job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first infection control practitioner job
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Average infection control practitioner salary
The average infection control practitioner salary in the United States is $73,111 per year or $35 per hour. Infection control practitioner salaries range between $50,000 and $106,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
