The document provides information about the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. The 3-sentence summary is: The CPH exam ensures that graduates from Council on Education for Public Health accredited schools have mastered relevant public health knowledge and skills. Passing the exam sets a standard for educational competence, encourages continuing education, and brings added credibility. Studying for and passing the exam is an investment in one's career that can lead to opportunities in professional activities and organizations that recognize and support the CPH credential.

1. Help Set Professional
Standards in Public Health -
Get Certified in Public Health
Fall 2010

2. About the NBPHE
 independent non-profit organization
 includes representatives from a broad range
of partner organizations
 Staff:
Deputy Executive Director, Molly Eggleston, CPH
Outreach Coordinator, Laura Biesiadecki, CPH

3. Purpose of the Certified in Public
Health exam
To ensure that students and graduates
from schools and programs of public
health accredited by the Council on
Education for Public Health (CEPH)
have mastered the knowledge and
skills relevant to contemporary public
health practice

4. 2011 eligibility criteria
 Alumni from CEPH-  Student at CEPH-
accredited school or accredited school or
program; completed a program
all degree participating in the
requirements by NBPHE early exam
December 31, 2010. administration;
completed or
concurrently
enrolled in 21
credits by 12/31/10.

5. Benefits of Certification
 Sets a standard for educational competence in the field of public
health
 Encourages continuing education among public health professionals
 Fosters environment of a professional community
 Demonstrates personal competence and assurance of professional
currency
 Brings added credibility amongst one‟s peers and with colleagues in
other fields
 Is an investment in one‟s career, livelihood, and future

6. End-of-Exam Survey Comparison
• The following comparison graphs are based
on responses to the 2008 and 2009 NBPHE
Certification Examination Surveys.
• Survey data is based on examinees who took
the voluntary post-test survey.
•n = 1,059

7. What was/were your motivation(s)
to take this exam?

8. If you earn the Certificate associated with this exam,
what outcomes for yourself or for your employer
do you expect to result?

9. Encourages continuing education
among public health professionals
Maintenance of
Certification =
50 hours of Continuing
Education / 2 years
Re-assessment /10 years

10. Opens doors for participation in
professional activities - The field
supports CPH

11. Fosters environment of a
professional community

12. Brings added credibility amongst
one’s peers in other fields
“I knew that I would be working with people from
outside of the public health community, primarily
emergency response professionals for whom the
„Certified Emergency Manager‟ credential is very
valuable. I wanted a similarly recognizable credential
that I could use… It has been very valuable as I moved
from a local health department
to FEMA and worked on pandemic
planning with the leadership of two
separate FEMA Regions.”
-Joel Palmer, MPH, CPH

13. Is an investment in one’s career,
livelihood, and future

14. Employer support for CPH
process
 Allegheny County HD  Cherokee Nation
 American Legacy Healthy Nation
Foundation
 National Nursing Centers
 American Public Health Consortium
Association
 Nebraska Dept. Of Health
 Association of Schools of
Public Health & Human Services
 Association of State &  Public Health
Territorial Health Officials Management Corporation
 California State University,  Richmond Behavioral
East Bay Health Authority
 Centers for Disease Control  U.S. Department of
and Prevention Veteran’s Affairs

15. About the CPH exam: What,
Where, How long, and How much?
 200 multiple-choice questions
 Offered at proctored computer testing
centers across the world
 Approximately 4½ hours to complete
 No calculator needed
 Offered annually
 Register by November 26 at
www.publichealthexam.org

16. What does the exam cover?
Core & Cross-cutting
domains
1. Biostatistics
2. Environmental
Health Sciences
3. Epidemiology
4. Health Policy and
Management
5. Social and
Behavioral Sciences
6. …

17. What study resources are
available from NBPHE?
1. Sample tutorial
2. 18 sample questions
3. ASPH MPH competency set
www.publichealthexam.org FREE

18. Where do I find study resources?
FAQ of www.publichealthexam.org
Study Guide
CPH Study Guides
Sample Exam / Exam Software Tutorial Module

19. The CPH Exam is graded pass/fail

20. Exam Development
NBPHE contracted with the National Board
of Medical Examiners® to develop the
exam, including:
 Workshop to train test-item writers
 Workshop to review and validate pool of items
 Editing and validation of items to assure
high quality
 Various approaches to develop metrics
that permit a valid and fair examination

21. Strong General Psychometric
Properties
2008 2009 •2010
 KR20 = 0.91  KR20 = 0.93 •KR20 = 0.90
 Mean Item  Mean Item •Mean Item
Discrimination= Discrimination Discrimination
0.31 = 0.34 =0.30
 19 items •9 items
 15 items
deleted and this deleted and
varied by deleted and
this varied by this varied by
content area
content area content area

22. When is the exam offered in my
area?
 any day 2/4 – 26/11
 use Prometric
 book your choice
with the Scheduling
Permit
 appointments on a
first-come, first-
served basis.

23. Register by this Thanksgiving
Registration dates Alumni Student fees
fees
Today –October 15, 2010 $400 $400
Oct 16 – Nov 14, 2010 $475 $425
Nov 15 – Nov 26, 2010 $550 $450

24. Why certify now?
 Evolution from public health solely being a supplementary
degree for physicians and other health professionals
 Increase in geographical diversity of CEPH-accredited
schools and programs
 Increase in number of graduates from CEPH-
accredited institutions
 Heightened societal requirements for professional
accountability
 Further development of core public health curriculum
 Greater responsiveness of academic public health to
public health practice
 Marketing efforts and national attention to prevention

25. Increase in geographical diversity
of CEPH-accredited institutions

26. Increase in number of graduates
from CEPH-accredited institutions
Public Health Education Growth
110
100
90
80
70
60
Number
50
40
30
20
10
0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Year
Accredited Public Health Schools Accredited Public Health Programs Public Health Schools and Programs Combined

27. Heightened societal requirements
for professional accountability

28. CPH compliments Public Health
Branding and Marketing efforts

29. National attention to prevention

30. Greater responsiveness of
academic public health to practice
• Tobacco regulation • C-diff
• Cancer prevention • Global climate change
• Cancer screening • Threat of bioterrorism
• Obesity prevention
Public health preparedness & response is
today’s challenge to public health, and
Certified in Public Health professionals
stand ready to face tomorrow’s challenges,
too.

31. Overview of registration process
Scheduling Primary Get Score or
Register Exam or Secondary Alumni Get
Permit Eligibility provisional
online Defer Verification Score
Available Verified score
for Students
Today – Nov - Feb
Mid-April ASAP Monthly after
Nov 26, Dec Late Jan 4 – 26,
2011 graduation
2010 2010 2011 2011
verified

32. Terry L. Dwelle, MD, MPHTM, CPH
mms://video.ndhealth.
gov/health/previewfil
es/NBPHE.wmv

33. Debbie Shelmire, MPH, CPH
National Brd. Medical Examiners
I took the CPH exam because I
felt that there was a need for
this type of certification in
public health, and I was sure
that others (including
employers) would see it as
valuable. ... I believe the
field was ready for this type
of generalized certification…
it will help ensure that those
who have it possess a
certain distinct body of
knowledge.

34. Richard J. Cohen, PhD
President, Public Health
Management Corporation (PHMC)
The PHMC, as a public health
institute, supports the exam
and maintenance fees of all
eligible employees. Our CPH
professionals demonstrate
their leadership and provide
essential and effective
services to our community.

35. Bruce Dixon, MD, Director,
Allegheny County Health Dept.
In pursuit of our mission to assure quality public
health services in an urban county, the
Allegheny County Health Department will
provide the initial registration fee for any
employee to become Certified in Public
Health. A well-trained and up-to-date
workforce, such as CPH professionals, is
essential to the effective delivery of public
health services.

36. 1st Lt. Andrew B. Wallace, CPH,
U.S. Air Force
I am happy to say I am recently CPH certified! I
enjoyed studying for the test and have
encouraged many of my peers to sit for the
exam.

37. David J. Hintz, CPH
I am promoting this exam and I am involved in the
teaching of public health at a college level. I feel that
the CPH is something that will validate public health
as a clear set of disciplines and adds to the expertise
that one brings to the table with issues concerning all
aspects of public health. My own public health
background emphasized economics and the built
environment and the CPH has been invaluable as a
tool of credibility. I want to see the CPH become as
valuable as the CPA.

38. Sean Kaufman, CPH
Being certified in Public Health is a demonstration of your
commitment to the profession of public health. It is not
the only way someone can demonstrate their
commitment – but to stay certified – you commit yourself
to a continuation of training in public health – something
which individuals have to volunteer to do. A CPH means
you have been trained by an institution which is
accredited at the highest standards of public health, you
understand the complexities of the public specialties, and
you commit yourself to a process which prevents rust and
keeps you operating as a current public health
professional.

39. Harrison Spencer, MD, MPH, CPH
President and CEO, Association of
Schools of Public Health
Joining the ranks of CPH certified
professionals is an important step in
the evolution of our profession. As
a board certified physician in
internal and preventive medicine,
taking the exam was a personal
choice and an easy one to
make. It is important all of us as
committed public health
professionals demonstrate support
for the future of our profession and
demonstrate a commitment to
continuing education. At ASPH, we
will fully support staff with a CPH
obtaining the continuing education
credits needed to maintain their
credential.

40. Wei Wang, CPH
It was an exciting experience in preparing the
CPH examination. I will share this
experience and encourage my colleagues to
join the ranks of CPH.

41. Adewale Troutman, MD, MPH, MA,
CPH, Director of Health, Louisville
Public health is critically
important in the protection
and promotion of health and
the prevention of
disease. The CPH provides
evidence that we as public
health professionals have
attained a nationally
recognized level of expertise
to assure the conditions in
which people can be
healthy. I believe that
everyone eligible who is in the
field should take the exam.

42. Got CPH?
Register now for first dibs on
exam appointments
www.publichealthexam.org
Alumni Fees ($400- $475 - $550)
Student Fees ($400- $425 - $450)