Take the Exam - Get Certified in Public Health
After graduating from the MPH program, you will be eligible to sit for the exam to become Certified in Public Health (CPH).
Please note: Completing the Graduate Certificate in Public Health program does not confer eligibility to sit for the exam. You must have a graduate-level degree, such as the MPH.
Next Exam Dates: Aug. 6 - 28, 2010
The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) website contains information about the purpose, benefits, criteria, and process of taking the exam. It answers the questions MPH graduates often ask:
Why should I get certified?
Public Health professionals assure healthy communities. Becoming Certified in Public Health helps the public health profession by setting standards consistent with the expectations of the public. Becoming a Certified in Public Health professional is an investment in your career, livelihood, and future. It also:
• Sets a standard of excellence in the field of public health.
• Improves the quality of public health service for communities and the nation.
• Fosters an environment of life-long learning.
• Encourages the recognition of a professional community.
• Opens doors for participation in workshops, conferences and other professional activities.
What do I need to know?
The exam consists of 200 questions that will test a candidate’s knowledge of the five core areas of public health and seven cross-cutting competencies in public health.
Five Core Areas:
• Biostatistics
• Environmental Health Science
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy and Management
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
Seven Cross-Cutting Competencies:
• Communication and Informatics
• Diversity and Culture
• Leadership
• Public Health Biology
• Professionalism
• Program Planning
• Systems Thinking
How do I get certified?
Register online at www.publichealthexam.org, and take the exam at one of the 300 test centers across the U.S. or at a site oversees.
Next Exam Dates: August 6-28, 2010
To be eligible for the CPH exam, students must have completed all degree requirements on or before July 31, 2010.
Registration Fee Schedule
| US$350 |
Early Registration |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 22, 2009 |
| US$400 |
Regular Registration |
Nov. 23, 2009 - Apr. 30, 2010 |
NBPHE Webinar - Past and Future Perspectives on Certified in Public Health
In April, NBPHE hosted a webinar that described the population that registered for the first exam, held in 2008, and provided personal stories. A PDF of the PowerPoint presentation is available for download.
Past and Future Perspectives on Certified in Public Health (PDF)