Infection control isn't optional. It's the floor, not the ceiling.
CMS requires infection control education for home health staff, many state boards set their own rules, and accreditation bodies add program standards. A single infection control failure can trigger a site inspection, a patient notification incident, and significant regulatory penalties. Your clinical staff needs to know standard precautions, hand hygiene, PPE, and transmission-based precautions - not just once at hire, but annually.
Start your free trialCMS Conditions of Participation: 42 CFR 484.70 (Home Health) | CMS Conditions for Coverage: 42 CFR 416.51 (ASCs) | New York: Education Law 6505-b, Public Health Law 239 | Bloodborne pathogen exposure: 29 CFR 1910.1030 (see the Bloodborne Pathogens course)
Who needs this training?
Infection control training requirements depend on clinical setting and patient contact. Settings with hands-on patient care, invasive procedures, or blood/body fluid exposure face the strictest requirements.
R = Required by federal regulation or state law | S = Strongly recommended (CDC guidelines, accreditation bodies)
| Organization Type | Status | Authority / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Offices | R | State Dental Boards - many state dental boards set infection control training rules, and New York requires approved coursework every four years; bloodborne pathogen exposure falls under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (see the Bloodborne Pathogens course) |
| Urgent Care Centers | S | AAAHC - AAAHC-accredited centers commit to an infection prevention program under their accreditation standards; bloodborne pathogen exposure falls under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (see the Bloodborne Pathogens course) |
| Home Health Agencies | R | CMS CoP 42 CFR 484.70 - CMS requires home health agencies to follow accepted infection control techniques during home visits |
| Ambulatory Surgery Centers | R | CMS CfC 42 CFR 416.51 - CMS requires ASCs to maintain an infection control program directed by a professional trained in infection control |
| Physician Practices | S | Strongly recommended for all clinical staff. Bloodborne pathogen exposure falls under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (see the Bloodborne Pathogens course). |
| Behavioral Health / SUD | S | SUD treatment settings can carry bloodborne pathogen exposure, which falls under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (see the Bloodborne Pathogens course). Strongly recommended for clinical staff. |
| Chiropractic Offices | S | Practices that offer acupuncture, injections, or dry needling have bloodborne pathogen exposure under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (see the Bloodborne Pathogens course). Check your state chiropractic board's rules. |
| Physical Therapy Clinics | S | Wound care and post-surgical rehabilitation can create bloodborne pathogen exposure under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (see the Bloodborne Pathogens course). Check your state PT board's rules. |
| Community Health Centers (FQHCs) | S | Bloodborne pathogen exposure falls under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (see the Bloodborne Pathogens course). HRSA expects health centers to maintain infection prevention programs. |
Settings with no clinical procedures, such as office-based mental health practices, telehealth-only providers, and pharmacies without compounding, should still check their state rules. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to any employee with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, in any setting.
See the training guide for your team: dental offices, home health agencies, eye care practices, physical therapy clinics, primary care practices, urgent care centers.
Common questions about infection control training
Which healthcare settings are required to provide infection control training?
It depends on your setting and your state. Home health agencies must provide infection control education to staff under the CMS Conditions of Participation (42 CFR 484.70). Ambulatory surgery centers must maintain an infection control program under 42 CFR 416.51. Many state dental boards set infection control training rules for dental offices, and New York requires approved infection control coursework every four years for physicians, dentists, nurses, optometrists, and other listed professions. AAAHC-accredited centers commit to an infection prevention program under their accreditation standards. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires training for every employee with occupational exposure to blood, in any setting; EZBunny's Bloodborne Pathogens course covers those topics. Check your state board's rules for your own setting.
What are standard precautions and why do all healthcare workers need to know them?
Standard precautions treat every patient as potentially infectious and apply to all healthcare workers who have any patient contact. They include hand hygiene before and after every patient contact, appropriate PPE selection based on anticipated exposure, safe sharps handling and disposal, proper respiratory hygiene, and environmental cleaning. The CDC developed standard precautions to replace the older 'universal precautions' framework. They apply to blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes - covering the vast majority of infection transmission routes in healthcare settings.
Does New York require infection control training for dental and medical professionals?
Yes. New York requires infection control training every four years for many licensed professionals. Physicians, physician assistants, and specialist assistants fall under Public Health Law Section 239; dentists, dental hygienists, registered and licensed practical nurses, optometrists, podiatrists, and athletic trainers fall under Education Law Section 6505-b. Training must come from a provider approved by NYSED or the Department of Health. A practitioner may request an exemption if the nature of their practice creates no need for the training. This awareness course does not satisfy that continuing-education requirement.
How do AAAHC accreditation standards differ from OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) protects employees: it requires universal precautions, personal protective equipment, and training for every employee with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. It is not a general infection control standard. AAAHC accreditation standards go further, with an infection prevention and control program for the whole care environment that an accredited center maintains as a condition of its accreditation. A center that follows OSHA's standard can still fall short of AAAHC's program standard. EZBunny's Bloodborne Pathogens course covers the OSHA training topics; this course covers the prevention practices.
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Get started freeRegulatory Disclaimer
Training requirements vary by organization type, size, state, payer mix, and accreditation. This guide reflects common federal and state requirements as of April 2026 and is not legal advice. Consult your compliance officer or legal counsel for requirements specific to your organization. EZBunny provides state privacy-law training for California, Texas, and New York. Our state-specific safety and harassment courses are awareness training and may not, on their own, satisfy your state's specific mandate. Other states may have requirements not covered here. Last reviewed: April 2026.