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The UBC Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) Certificate Program is a professional development course for current healthcare professionals or those considering a career in IPAC. This practical course is designed by experienced IPAC professionals and physicians.
Program at a Glance
Register NowDuration: 25 weeksDelivery: Online, mostly asynchronousStart Date: January 5th, 2026Application Deadline: December 19th, 2025Tuition: • Canadian/PR: $2,000 CAD
• International: $3,500 CADContent aligns with
CBIC Exam topicsEndorsed by
IPAC CanadaCBIC Infection Prevention
Units (IPUs) provider
The Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Certificate is a professional development certificate designed for individuals with experience in the healthcare field and interest in expanding their knowledge in infection prevention and control. It is practically oriented and relies heavily on the individual having background knowledge in healthcare. Those without this background are not excluded but may have a much more difficult time with the courses if they are unfamiliar with basic healthcare practices, equipment and terminology.
The 25-week program will be delivered part-time and asynchronously online through Canvas, utilizing a problem-based learning format. The course content includes, but is not limited to:
- Video lectures
- Reading material
- Instructor-facilitated online discussions
- Virtual lab tours
- Interviews with infection prevention and control professionals
Upon completion of the revised Infection Prevention and Control Certificate, participants should be able to:
- Identify the core competencies of an infection prevention and control professional and the continuous lifelong learning process.
- Understand and apply the core principles of infection prevention and control including epidemiology, microbiology, antimicrobial stewardship, common pathogens of concern, cleaning and disinfection and sterilization basics.
- Define how the infection prevention and control professional works alongside and communicates effectively with essential partners in promoting safe care and continuous quality improvement across all healthcare service settings.
- Describe quality improvement concepts and actively participate and work in partnership with front-line staff and clinicians to identify and support quality improvement initiatives.
- Critically appraise the validity and reliability of research and other resources.
- Mitigate the risk of the transmission of infections in healthcare service settings by:
- Effectively sharing knowledge and rationale about infection prevention and control best practices based on interrupting the chain of infection and application of routine practices (including hand hygiene and point of care risk assessment).
- Applying transmission based additional precautions using on a syndromic approach.
- Using critical thinking to apply the principles of infection prevention and control and epidemiology to conduct surveillance, identify healthcare associated infections, and manage outbreak situations.
- Applying knowledge of infection prevention and control to collaborate with essential partners in creating and/or maintaining safe care spaces during construction, renovation and facility design.
Program Costs:
- Canadians and permanent residents: 2000 CAD
- International students: 3500 CAD
Registration Deadlines
Date Deadlines and Important Information September 26th, 2025 Registration for January 2026 intake opens October 14th, 2025 Information session #1 October 21st, 2025 Information session #2 December 19th, 2025 Registration for January 2026 intake closes Course Schedule
Module # Topic Dates - Getting Started January 2nd, 2026 1 Week 1: Introduction to Infection Prevention and Control January 5th – 11th, 2026 2 Weeks 2 & 3: Basic Microbiology for Infection Prevention and Control January 12th – 25th, 2026 3 Weeks 4 & 5: Infection Prevention and Control Basics January 26th – February 8th, 2026 4 Weeks 6, 7 & 8: Basic Epidemiology and Critical Appraisal February 9th – March 1st, 2026 5 Weeks 9 & 10: Surveillance of Healthcare-Associated Infections March 2nd – 15th, 2026 - SPRING BREAK March 16th – 22nd, 2026 6 Weeks 11 & 12: Outbreaks March 23rd – April 5th, 2026 7 Weeks 13 & 14: Emerging Pathogens April 6th – 19th, 2026 8 Weeks 15 & 16: Occupational Health and Safety and Public Health April 20th – May 3rd, 2026 9 Weeks 17 & 18: Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) and Environmental Services (EVS) May 4th – 17th, 2026 10 Weeks 19 & 20: Facilities, Construction, and Renovation May 18th – 31st, 2026 11 Week 21: Quality Improvement and Communication June 1st – 7th, 2026 12 Week 22: Teaching and Learning June 8th – 14th, 2026 13 Weeks 23 & 24: Specialized Settings June 15th – 28th, 2026 14 Week 25: Final Exam June 29th – July 5th, 2026 To stay informed and be the first to receive updates, we encourage you to join our mailing list.
To stay informed and be the first to receive updates, we encourage you to join our mailing list.
Our team is committed to providing guidance and support throughout your journey in the Infection Prevention and Control Certificate program.
👥 Course Leadership and Support Team - Meet Our Leaders
Dr. Ghada Al-Rawahi
MD, DTM&H (London), D(ABMM), FRCPC
Medical Microbiologist, Infection Prevention and Control Physician
Dr. Elisa Lloyd-Smith
PhD
Senior Epidemiologist, Quality, Patient Safety and Infection Prevention and Control
Dr. Aleksandra Stefanovic
MD, FRCPC
Medical Microbiologist, Infectious Disease Specialist, Infection Prevention and Control Physician
Dr. Titus Wong
MD, MHSc, FRCPC
Infection Prevention and Control Physician, Medical Microbiologist
Genevieve MacMillan
Director, Human Resources and Administration
Annie Lin
Sr. Program Assistant, Infection Prevention and Control Program👨🏫 Course Instructors Click to view all instructorsDr. Ghada Al-Rawahi
MD, DTM&H (London), D(ABMM), FRCPC
Medical Microbiologist, Infection Prevention and Control Physician
Dr. Amir Hadzic
MD, MSc, CIC, FRCPC
Infection Prevention and Control Physician, Medical Microbiologist
Dr. Miguel Imperial
MD MHSc FRCPC
Medical Microbiologist and Infection Prevention and Control Physician
Dr. Elisa Lloyd-Smith
PhD
Senior Epidemiologist, Quality, Patient Safety and Infection Prevention and Control
Dr. Shazia Masud
MD, FRCPC, D(ABMM)
Infection Prevention and Control Physician, Medical Microbiologist
Dr. Nancy Matic
MD, FRCPC, D(ABMM)
Medical Microbiologist, Infection Prevention and Control Physician
Angeli Mitra
Course Instructor
Dr. Michael Payne
MD, CIC, FRCPC
Medical Microbiologist, Infection Prevention and Control Physician
Kelsi Rivers
BNSc, MPH, RN, CIC©
Infection Prevention and Control Professional
Dr. Inna Sekirov
MD, PhD, D(ABMM), FRCPC
Medical Microbiologist, Infection Prevention and Control PhysicianDr. Aleksandra Stefanovic
MD, FRCPC
Medical Microbiologist, Infectious Disease Specialist, Infection Prevention and Control Physician
Dr. Diana Whellams
MD, MPH
Infection Prevention and Control Physician, Medical MicrobiologistDr. Titus Wong
MD, MHSc, FRCPC
Infection Prevention and Control Physician, Medical Microbiologist
If we didn't answer your question, please email us at infectioncontrol@pathology.ubc.ca
Can anyone take the course?The online course is designed for individuals with experience in the health care field and interested in the area of infection control. The course is practically oriented and relies heavily on the individual having knowledge of how a hospital operates. Those without this background are not excluded but may find the course more challenging if they are unfamiliar with basic nursing practices, hospital equipment, and terminology.
Does completing the UBC IPAC Certificate lead to certification as an Infection Control Practitioner?Completion of the UBC IPAC Certificate is not certification as an Infection Control Practitioner and does not guarantee employment in the field of Infection Control. It does not confer CBIC certification.
How do I qualify to receive the UBC IPAC Certificate?To qualify to receive the IPAC Certificate, a student must complete the program with a minimum average of 60%.
How does a person become certified in Infection Control?Visit the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology or the Infection Prevention and Control Canada for information on certification as an Infection Control Practitioner.
What is the refund policy?Students can withdraw from the course within 14 days of the course start date. Course fees will be refunded (less a $300 library and administration fee). If cancellation occurs prior to the start of the program, only the administration fee (~$50) will be retained.
This is an online course offered through Canvas. To take this course, you will need:
- Access to a laptop or desktop computer
- A video camera and microphone
Visit the UBC Student’s Guide to Canvas webpage for more information.
To help you learn your responsibilities as a UBC student, please refer to the following links for UBC’s expectations for academic honesty:
Additional resources for learning with integrity can be found on the UBC Academic Integrity website .
Learners who wish to appeal a grade or program standing should first discuss their concerns with the instructor(s) of the relevant course module(s) and program coordinator and provide any supporting documents and information. If the issue is not resolved, the appeal will be reviewed by the clinical faculty leads. A final decision will be communicated within 20 business days.
If you have read the website information and still have not found the answer to your question, please contact us using the form below or email us at infectioncontrol@pathology.ubc.ca.
IPAC Course
