Council-certified Microbial Consultant (CMC) examination — Information & Free Practice

About Council-certified Microbial Consultant (CMC) examination

Council-certified Microbial Consultant (CMC) examination · US

Key exam facts

Provider

American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC), through its CMC Certification Board: examination development and control; Kryterion, Inc.: electronic delivery.

Format

Closed-book, electronically delivered multiple-choice examination with at least four possible answers per question; secure testing-center or secure online-video proctoring.

Exam questions

Total questions: 120.

Time limit

3-hour written knowledge examination; arrival time is separate from examination time.

Passing score

75% required to pass; the CMC Certification Board sets the criterion-referenced passing standard using the Modified Angoff Method.

Exam fee

USD 100 examination fee; initial CMC examination and certification package USD 500 for US/Canada applicants, USD 525 outside the US/Canada; USD 100 re-examination fee after a failed examination.

Topics covered

• Scientific knowledge of biological agents

  • Bacteria
  • Fungi
  • Amebae
  • Viruses
  • Allergens
  • Endotoxin
  • mVOCs
  • Dust Mites
  • Fungal Toxins
  • ß-(1-3)-D-Glucans
  • Antigens

• Potential health effects and risks associated with exposure

  • Bacteria
  • Fungi
  • Amebae
  • Viruses
  • Allergens
  • Endotoxin
  • mVOCs

• Principles of Microbial Investigation

  • Guidelines, Regulations and Standards related to microbial investigations
  • Pathways and driving forces for microbial contaminants in the built environment
  • Principles for evaluating the role of HVAC systems in microbial issues
  • Building systems and construction methodologies relevant to microbial investigation
  • Building materials and furnishings relevant to microbial investigation
  • Techniques for walk-through investigations in the indoor environment
  • Proper use and limitation of monitoring devices in microbial investigations

• Principles of Microbial Sampling

  • Limitations and proper use of microbial sampling
  • Principles for designing a sampling regimen
  • Proper use of current sampling technologies
  • Calibration and limitations of sampling equipment
  • Protocols for executing an effective sampling regimen
  • Analysis of sampling data
  • Evaluation and interpretation of sampling data

• Principles of Microbial Remediation

  • Project documentation
  • Selection and use of personal protective equipment
  • Principles of containment engineering and construction
  • Microbial remediation techniques
  • Non-microbial remediation techniques
  • Proper use and limitations of chemicals in microbial remediation
  • Techniques for post-remediation verification

• Health & Safety

  • Guidelines, standards and regulations related to health and safety
  • Selection and calibration of respiratory protection equipment
  • Procedures for proper use of respiratory protection equipment
  • Hazard & Risk Assessments
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Hazard communication

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and references

• CMC Candidate Handbook

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• CMC Candidate Handbook

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• CMC Candidate Handbook

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• CMC and CMI Examinations content domains

  p. 1, title and approval; full Domains/Subdomains table, rows A–F

• CMC Candidate Handbook

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• CMC Candidate Handbook

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• CMC Candidate Handbook

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• CMC Candidate Handbook

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• Official CMC Application

  EXAMINATION PREFERENCE, opening paragraph

• ACAC Fees and Payments

  Fees and Payments — fee breakdown

• ACAC Fees and Payments

  Fees and Payments — Re-examination Fee

• Official CMC Application

  Introduction, item 1 — CMC certification applicants

• CMC Candidate Handbook

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