Certifications in Public Health
Two national organizations offer exams and certification in public health for graduates of schools of public health holding a master's or doctoral degreee; and credentialing for healthcare executive professionals holding masters level post-baccalaureate degrees and healthcare management positions.
The two national programs are:- The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE)
- The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
See Disclaimer.
THE NATIONAL BOARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH EXAMINERS (NBPHE)
The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) offers a means to become Certified in Public Health, CPH. The NBPHE was established in September 2005 as an independent organization, the purpose of which is to ensure that students and graduates from schools and programs of public health accredited by the Council on Education of Public Health (CEPH) have mastered the knowledge and skills relevant to contemporary public health. This purpose will be accomplished by developing, preparing, administering and evaluating a voluntary certification exam, according to the NBPHE web site at http://www.publichealthexam.org/about.cfm ).
Advantages of Becolming a Certified Public Health Professional
Becoming a certified public health professional has multiple benefits listed by the NBPHE:
- Sets a standard of knowledge and skills in public health
- Encourages life-long learning
- Adds credibility to public health profession
- Increasing public health awareness
- Fosters environment of a professional community
Endorsement by American Public Health Association (APHA)
"Documenting competency for those academically trained in public health is the focus of this particular exam," said Georges Benjamin, MD, FACP, executive director of APHA, which is represented on the National Board of Public Health Examiners. "Regardless of education, all public health workers should strive to be well-versed in the competencies that are public health's foundation — and this exam is a major step in that direction." (Source: Registration Open for First-Ever Public Health Credentialing Exam, Medscape web site, at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/567708, Posted 01/04/2008)
Content of the NBPHE Exam
The exam is rooted in the five basic core competencies of public health to reflect the nature of the field and the way one area of knowledge blends into another. The certification exam is administered to graduates of CEPH-accredited schools and programs of public health.
The NBPHE Exam is based upon the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) "ASPH Education Committee - Master’s Degree in Public Health Core Competency Development Project" (August 11, 2006) (http://www.asph.org/userfiles/version2.3.pdf ): (
Discipline-specific Competencies
- Biostatistics
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy and Management
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
Interdisciplinary/Cross-cutting Competencies
- Communication and Informatics
- Diversity and Culture
- Leadership
- Public Health Biology
Professionalism- Program Planning
- Systems Thinking
Who Can Take the NBPHE Certification Exam?
To be eligible for the National Board of Public Health Examiners certification exam an applicant must have a graduate level (Masters or Doctoral) degree from a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health. The University of California at Los Angeles School of Public Health is included on the list of CEPH accredited public health schools and programs whose graduates are eligible to qualify as CPH. Those graduating in 2009 must have completed all degree requirements on or before July 31, 2009. Persons who do not meet these criterions are not eligible to take the exam.
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES (ACHE)
Credentialing as a Fellow under the auspices of the ACHE (FACHE) is available for professionals in healthcare management from the American College of Healthcare Executives. http://www.ache.org/mbership/credentialing/credentialing.cfm
Advantages of Becolming a Fellow of the ACHE (FACHE)
There are several advantages of becoming board certified in healthcare management and earning the FACHE credential. Earning the distinction of board certification in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) signifies a professional's expertise, experience and commitment to continuing education and professional development. Just as members of the medical staff are board certified, having the FACHE credential by a healthcare executive's name indicates a level of achievement in the profession. (Source: ACHE at http://www.ache.org/mbership/credentialing/faq.cfm#advantages )
There are three general phases of becoming credentialed as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). (Source: ACHE at http://www.ache.org/mbership/credentialing/requirements.cfm )
(1) Apply to Take the ACHE Board of Governors Credentialing Exam
The eligibility requirements to submit an FACHE application are:
- Master’s or other postbaccalaureate degree
- Current healthcare management position and five years of healthcare management experience
- Three references from current Fellows (one of which must be a "Structured Interview")
(2) Pass the Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management
If the applicagtion is approved, the individual may take the Board of Governors examination. It is given annually at the ACHE Congress; applicants may also take the computer-based exam at a Prometric Testing Center.
There are ten "Knowledge Areas" covered in the exam. (Source: http://www.ache.org/mbership/credentialing/EXAM/EXAM.cfm#overview ):
- Governance and Organizational Structure
- Human Resources
- Finance
- Healthcare Technology and Information Management
- Quality and Performance Improvement
- Laws and Regulations
- Professionalism and Ethics
- Healthcare
- Management
- Business
(3) Additional Requirements After Passing the ACHE Board of Governors Exam
After passing the Board of Governors Exam, the other requirements applicants must meet, if they have not already, include:
- Have three years tenure as an ACHE Member, Faculty Associate or International Associate (ACHE student tenure does not count toward meeting the FACHE requirements)
- Earn 40 hours of continuing education—at least 12 of which are Category I (ACHE education) hours—during the five years before the applicant becomes a Fellow. The remaining 28 hours can be Category I or Category II.
- Participate in two healthcare and two community/civic activities during the three years before the applicant becomes a Fellow.
Disclaimer: Providing this information does not imply nor should it be assumed to be an endorsement or recommendation of any program, and omission of any other program does not imply any lack thereof as to that program. This page is provided for informational purposes only.