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CPH Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
The first step in preparing for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam is to determine your eligibility. Read and understand the CPH Candidate Handbook to learn about eligibility, exam content, study materials, exam schedule and locations, and post-exam expectations, including requirements for CPH recertification.
To be eligible for the CPH exam, candidates must meet one of the following criteria:
Students of a CEPH-Accredited School or Program of Public Health
Each CEPH-accredited or CEPH-applicant graduate school or program will identify students eligible to take the certification exam. Candidates who pass the exam under this criteria will be provisionally certified until graduation. After confirmation of their graduation, they will be fully Certified in Public Health.
*Students in non-degree certificate programs should contact NBPHE staff at [email protected] for application instructions.
**Students attending schools and programs in CEPH-applicant status will remain provisionally certified until graduation and the program receives full CEPH accreditation.
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Alumni of a CEPH-Accredited School or Program of Public Health
Alumni who have completed all degree requirements for a Master’s or Doctoral level degree are eligible. Alumni who attended a school or program in CEPH-applicant status will remain provisionally certified until the program is fully accredited by CEPH. To become fully certified, the alumni graduation date must not precede the date of accreditation.
Public Health Faculty
Faculty with a graduate-level degree and at least three years of experience teaching or working in public health qualify. Teaching experience can be at the undergraduate or graduate level. Faculty do not need a primary appointment in a school or program of public health, but courses taught must directly relate to public health. Application fees for ineligible applicants will be refunded in full.
Public Health Work Experience
Applications will be reviewed based on public health work experience, indicating the scope of foundational knowledge acquired based on the Ten Essential Public Health Services. Application fees for ineligible applicants will be refunded in full.
Individuals must meet one of the following criteria:
- A bachelor’s degree in any concentration and at least five years of public health work experience
- A relevant graduate-level degree and at least three years of public health work experience
- At the graduate level, a certificate from a CEPH-accredited or applicant program and at least three years of public health work experience
An application review committee will determine what qualifies as public health work experience, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and other core public health functions. Public health roles vary widely, so we provide the following examples of relevant work settings:
- Local or state health departments
- Health system units performing public health functions
- Non-profit organizations focused on public health
- College or university teaching or research in public health (faculty & staff)
- U.S. Public Health Service or other federal agencies with a public health mission
- Military public health units or functions
This list is not exhaustive and does not guarantee CPH eligibility. Work experience in any part of the world may qualify. Candidates with questions about their specific experience should contact [email protected].
*The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency that accredits schools and programs of public health offered in various settings. See the list of schools and programs accredited by CEPH.
