Basic Pathway: What You Need to Complete

The Basic Pathway includes 61 learning objectives across nine areas of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Healthcare Epidemiology (HE). The objectives are divided into Core objectives and additional Basic objectives.

To earn the Basic Pathway Certificate, you must complete 31 of the 61 Basic Pathway objectives (50%), as outlined below:

1. Complete All 20 Core Objectives
   • 20 Core objectives are required for all participants and represent the foundational IPC/HE knowledge and experiences identified for Infectious Diseases fellows.
   • You must successfully complete and submit the required activity or assessment for each of the 20 Core objectives.
2. Complete 11 Additional Basic Objectives
   • In addition to the 20 Core objectives, you must complete at least 11 of the 41 additional Basic objectives.
   • You may select the additional objectives that are most relevant to your interests, training experiences, and opportunities available at your institution.

How Do I Demonstrate Completion of an Objective?

Each learning objective has a designated submission or assessment requirement that allows you to demonstrate that you have met the objective. Depending on the objective, you may be asked to complete one or more of the following:

• Knowledge Check – Complete a quiz or scenario-based assessment demonstrating your understanding of the topic.
• Attestation with Reflection – Confirm that you completed the required learning experience and, when applicable, provide a brief reflection on what you learned.
• Evaluation Question – Submit a short written response demonstrating how you have applied or considered the learning objective.
• Verification/Sign-Off – Upload documentation signed by a supervisor, Infection Preventionist, or other appropriate individual confirming completion of the required experience.
• Documentation Upload – Submit documentation demonstrating completion of an activity, project, presentation, or other applicable experience.

The specific requirement for each objective will be provided within the course. An objective will only count toward your pathway requirements once its required assessment or documentation has been successfully completed and submitted.

Choosing Your Additional Basic Objectives

You do NOT need to complete all 41 additional Basic objectives. Review the available objectives and select at least 11 that align with your fellowship experiences and areas in which you would like to expand your IPC/HE knowledge.

You may complete more than 11 additional objectives if desired; however, only 31 total Basic objectives, including all 20 Core objectives, are required to satisfy the learning objective requirement for the Basic Pathway Certificate.

Track Your Basic Pathway Progress

Use the Basic Pathway Progress Tracker to help you stay organized as you work through the Basic Course requirements. The tracker provides a complete list of the Basic Learning Objectives by category and allows you to monitor which objectives you have completed and what remains.

To use the tracker:

• Download the Basic Pathway Progress Tracker located under the attachment section of the overview page. 
• Review the Basic Learning Objectives within each category.
• As you complete activities that meet an objective, update the tracker to record your progress.
• Use the Basic Pathway Progress section to see your overall completion percentage.
• Return to the applicable sections of this course to complete the required activities and submit the appropriate documentation for each objective.
• Continue updating your tracker throughout the program until you have completed all requirements for the Basic Pathway.

Please note: This tracker is for your personal use to help you monitor your progress. Your official completion status is based on the activities and documentation submitted through this course.