At a Glance
Who must complete it: Specified nursing, dental, medical, athletic-training, and other healthcare professionals practicing in New York.
How often: Generally at initial licensure or registration and every four years thereafter.
Approved provider required: Yes. Training must be completed through a provider approved by NYSED or NYSDOH and must be appropriate for the professional’s practice.
Documentation: Obtain and retain the Certification of Completion. Reporting and submission procedures differ by profession.
Course availability: NYRequirements.com does not currently offer this training or issue certificates.
Who Must Complete Infection-Control Training?
New York requires the following professionals to complete infection-control and barrier-precautions training appropriate to their practice:
- Athletic trainers.
- Dentists.
- Dental hygienists.
- Licensed practical nurses.
- Optometrists.
- Podiatrists.
- Registered professional nurses.
The requirement for athletic trainers became effective December 22, 2025.
New York also requires the following professionals to complete infection-control training under the Public Health Law:
- Physicians.
- Physician assistants.
- Specialist assistants.
Professionals should confirm that the training they select is approved and appropriate for their profession. Some approved providers offer training only to particular professional groups.
How Often Is Training Required?
Covered professionals generally must complete the training:
- As part of their initial New York licensure or registration requirements; and
- Every four years thereafter while practicing in New York.
Athletic trainers, dentists, dental hygienists, LPNs, optometrists, podiatrists, and RNs attest to completion on their initial licensure or registration application and during subsequent registrations.
Physicians, physician assistants, and specialist assistants must complete training at initial licensure or registration and every four years afterward.
A professional who holds an active New York license but is not currently practicing in New York may not be required to complete the training while out of practice. For the professions administered by NYSED under this requirement, the professional generally has 90 days to complete training after resuming practice in New York.
What Must the Training Cover?
Approved providers must follow a prescribed New York curriculum and cover core infection-control and barrier-precautions principles.
The training must be appropriate to the professional’s practice and includes the use of engineering controls and work-practice controls intended to prevent occupational transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including HIV and hepatitis B.
Because approved offerings can be limited to particular professional groups, verify that the provider’s course is accepted for your profession before enrolling.
How Do I Find an Approved Provider?
Training may be completed through a provider approved by either:
- The New York State Education Department; or
- The New York State Department of Health.
NYSED maintains a searchable list of approved infection-control training providers. Providers with an online offering are identified in the state’s provider directory.
NYSDOH also approves programs offered by certain healthcare facilities and physician or physician-assistant organizations.
Course format, length, availability, and fees can vary. An online course may be acceptable when it is offered by an approved provider and is appropriate for your profession.
What Documentation Should I Keep?
Athletic Trainers, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, LPNs, Optometrists, Podiatrists, and RNs
After completing approved training, you should receive a Certification of Completion.
Keep the certificate in your records. NYSED instructs these professionals not to routinely submit the certificate unless it is later requested. Instead, they attest to completion during the applicable licensure or registration process.
Physicians, Physician Assistants, and Specialist Assistants
Professionals affiliated with a hospital should retain the Certification of Completion and may also need to provide a copy to the hospital’s personnel or credentialing office.
Hospitals are responsible for verifying completion before credentialing affiliated physicians.
A covered professional who is not affiliated with a hospital may be required to submit the Certification of Completion to NYSDOH. Retain a copy for your own records.
Are Exemptions Available?
A limited exemption may be available when a professional can demonstrate to the responsible state agency that training is unnecessary because of the nature of the professional’s practice.
For athletic trainers, dentists, dental hygienists, LPNs, optometrists, podiatrists, and RNs, an exemption may also be considered when the professional can document equivalent infection-control coursework completed during the preceding four years that covered the minimum New York curriculum.
An exemption is not automatic. The professional must apply through the appropriate state process and receive approval.
Physicians, physician assistants, and specialist assistants should contact NYSDOH regarding an exemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q Is infection-control training the same as my general continuing education requirement? ▶
Not necessarily. Infection-control training is a separate mandated requirement. A provider may award continuing education credit, but you should verify that the credit is accepted for your profession and intended purpose.
Q Can I take the training online? ▶
Yes, when the online program is offered by an approved provider and is appropriate for your profession.
Q Can I use training completed in another state? ▶
Do not assume that general infection-control training completed elsewhere will satisfy New York’s requirement. The course must meet New York’s curriculum and approval requirements unless the state grants an exemption based on equivalent prior training.
Q Do I send my certificate to NYSED? ▶
Most athletic trainers, dentists, dental hygienists, LPNs, optometrists, podiatrists, and RNs should retain the certificate and attest to completion rather than routinely submitting it. Submission requirements differ for physicians, physician assistants, and specialist assistants.