Final answer:
An IP must be qualified by education, training, experience, or certification. Additional factors that can contribute to an IP's qualifications include volunteer work, work experience, and joining professional associations and organizations.
Step-by-step explanation:
An IP (Infection Preventionist) must be qualified by education, training, experience, or certification. Certification represents a formal recognition of an individual's expertise in a particular field. In the case of an IP, certification demonstrates that the individual has met certain standards of knowledge and competency in infection prevention and control.
In addition to certification, other factors that can contribute to an IP's qualifications include volunteer work (which can provide practical experience and demonstrate dedication to the field), work experience (such as job shadowing or informational interviews), and joining professional associations and organizations (which can provide networking opportunities and access to professional development resources).