In order to be eligible to sit for the National Board of Public Health Examiners Certified in Public Health exam, all candidates must have a graduate level degree (Masters or Doctoral) from a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health or be enrolled at a CEPH-accredited school or program participating in the NBPHE pilot administration. Those graduating the same year as their exam date must have completed all degree requirements, including, but not limited to, coursework, internships, and thesis, by July 31 of the year of the exam. Walking in a graduation ceremony or receipt of a diploma is not necessary, so long as all degree requirements have been met and verified by the accredited institution. Students enrolled at a CEPH-accredited school or program participating in the NBPHE pilot administration must have completed 21 credit hours towards their public health degree. The 21 hours must include completion of or concurrent enrollment in applicable core courses in Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Services/Policy Management, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. NBPHE will verify every candidate’s eligibility with their alma mater or academic institution.

Persons who do not meet these criterions are not eligible to take the exam.

IMPORTANT: Please check here for your school or program´s eligibility date.

Please check here for a list of schools and programs participating in the August 2010 pilot administration.

Testing location is selected after registering and paying online for the exam. You do not need to choose an exam location when you sign up for the exam.

You can only schedule your testing date, time, and location AFTER YOU HAVE RECEIVED your Scheduling Permit. Scheduling Permits will be issued to candidates that have completed their applications in the preceding months.

The exam is offered at testing centers across the world. To find your preferred location, please click here. NOTE: This link is only to help you determine the most convenient location to take the exam – the other options are not active at this time.

United States, Canada and Puerto Rico
Computer–based delivery of the exam is provided by Prometric at approximately 300 testing centers located in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Please visit Prometric´s website to help you determine the most convenient location to take the exam.
Countries other than U.S./Canada.
When you register to take the exam, you will have the option to choose an exam location other than the U.S./Canada. Fees to take the exam in countries other than U.S./Canada will be displayed and charged accordingly.

1. Request Special Test Accommodations on your registration form.
2. Complete, sign and submit originals of the Request for Testing Accommodations Form. Click here.
3. Document your need for accommodations. Click here for Guidelines for Disabilities
4. Submit the professional evaluator´s report. If required, An original, on the evaluator´s & letterhead, signed by the evaluator is required. Copies are not accepted. Please refer to the link above for the Guidelines for Disabilities.

The registration fee is not refundable but it is deferrable. The international exam fee is not refundable.

Increasingly employers are supporting their employees who become CPH by paying or reimbursing for CPH fees. For example, these agencies support their CPH employees:

NBPHE encourages all candidates to discuss support o f their voluntary certification in the core sciences of public health with their employers. NBPHE can accept payments via employer credit card or check.

Report to the test center 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. You must sign in and your photograph will be taken. If you arrive later than your scheduled appointment, you may not be admitted. If you arrive more than 30 minutes after your scheduled appointment, you will not be admitted to the testing center.

The Test Center Administrator (TCA) will instruct you to write your name and CIN listed above on the laminated writing surface provided for making notes. The TCA will then collect the permit and escort you to the testing room. You will enter your CIN into the computer at your workstation to initiate your exam and to resume testing after breaks. Do not erase your name and CIN from the laminated writing surface until the end of your test day.

You must place all of your personal items, including cell phones, pagers, PDAs, watches, wallets, purses, outerwear, written materials, scratch paper, food, and beverages in a small locker outside of the testing room. Pagers and cell phones must be turned off.

Please visit http://www.prometric.com/TestTakers/FAQs/Test+Center.htm and http://www.prometric.com/TestTakers/FAQs/Regulations.htm for more FAQs on the Prometric test Experience.

The total amount of time at the testing center is 4.5 hours. This time is comprised of:

• 15 minutes – Tutorial* (see also http://www.nbphe.org/FAQs.cfm#SampleQs)
• Four 1 hour Exam Sections (with approximately 50 questions in each section)
• 15 minutes of break time – To be taken between exam sections

Each of the one hour exam sections is exactly that – one hour. Once you begin an exam section you have one hour to answer questions in that section and then the section will time out and you will no longer be able to answer questions in that section. Once you move to the next section, you will not be able to return to the previous section. While completing each exam section you may skip and later return to a question. The exam is well marked to show which questions you have skipped. When you get to the end of a section, if you have not answered all questions, you will receive a warning that all questions have not been answered. Unanswered questions will be easy to identify as they have identifying marks next to them.

• Total score for the entire exam;
• Separate scores for each of the 5 core competencies;
• Separate score for all cross–cutting competencies combined; and
• Whether the examinee´s score is sufficient for certification

Yes, CPH exam scores can be rechecked for a fee of $95.00. However, those requesting rechecks should know that due to the rigor of the scoring methodology, it is highly unlikely that rechecking a score will result in a change. Requests are limited to one per candidate, per exam cycle. Payment for a request must be received by the NBPHE no later than 6 months after the release of scores for an exam administration. Score recheck results will be reported to the requestor within fifteen (15) business days of the request.

NBPHE will refund the fee only if the recheck finds an error that results in a change of score. Otherwise, the score recheck fee is not refundable.

Requests should be made in writing (electronic or hard copy) to:
National Board of Public Health Examiners
One Oxford Centre
301 Grant Street, Ste: 4300
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(Fax) 412-255-3701

Request must include date of request, name of examinee, NBPHE ID#, testing location.

Make payment in the form of check or money order payable to: National Board of Public Health Examiners. Total is $95.00 USD

The exam software tutorial module includes eighteen sample exam questions. These 18 sample questions are embedded in a software tutorial module you can download from the link below. This tutorial allows candidates to become familiar with the functionality of the test software used for the CPH exam. This tutorial is almost identical to the first 15 minute module that precedes the exam at the testing center on exam day. Becoming familiar with this tutorial may save you time and increase your comfort level on exam day.

To download the Sample Exam and software tutorial module click here. Follow the directions in the dialog box that appears on your screen, or click here for instructions in advance.

NOTE about Tutorial: This software is not compatible with Apple or Windows Vista operating platforms. For those with these platforms we provide a PDF of the sample exam questions click here. NBPHE strongly advises, if at all possible, to download the software tutorial module rather than simply viewing the PDF of the sample questions. We encourage this so you may experience the software that will be at the testing center when you take the exam.

NBPHE is aware of a number of organizations who have expressed interest in producing a study guide for the certification exam. NBPHE is not involved in the development of these products and has not shared the contents of the examination with any organizations. Click here to find other study guides.

NBPHE WILL NOT GIVE OUT SCHEDULING NUMBERS or CANDIDATE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS OVER THE TELEPHONE.

You will not be admitted to the testing room without the Scheduling Permit and an unexpired, government-issued form of identification that includes both your photograph and signature. If your name is misspelled on your Scheduling Permit or differs from your name as it appears on your identification, contact the NBPHE immediately. Name changes or corrections must be made prior to 7 business days of your scheduled testing date.

You should verify the information on your Scheduling Permit before scheduling your appointment. Your Scheduling Permit includes the following:

• your name,
• the examination for which you registered,
• your Scheduling Number,
• Your Candidate Identification Number (CIN).

Note: Your Scheduling Number is needed when you contact Prometric to schedule a test appointment. It differs from your Candidate Identification Number (CIN), which is your private key, and is needed to test. Prometric does not have access to your CIN.

Provide a valid telephone number and email address when scheduling so Prometric can email you a Confirmation Notice and contact you in the unlikely event that your appointment must be rescheduled.

When you schedule your appointment, you will receive the following specific information:

• the confirmed test date and time;
• the address and telephone number of the Prometric Test Center where you will test; and
• your Prometric Confirmation Number(s).

It is highly recommended to confirm your testing appointment information one week before your test date.

You MUST have your Scheduling Permit to schedule your exam date, time, or location. The Scheduling Permit contains information you need to schedule your exam. Scheduling numbers will not be given over the telephone.

You may reschedule your appointment only within the annual testing window. To avoid a Prometric rescheduling fee, you must reschedule your appointment by 12PM local time at least 2 business days before your appointment. Note: If you do not appear on your test date, you must contact Prometric to pay a Prometric rescheduling fee and wait 48 hours before rescheduling your appointment within the testing period noted above.

Go to the testing centers´ website www.prometric.com. When a candidate first logs on to Prometric´s website, they are prompted to select their testing program from an alphabetized drop down list. The program name on Prometric´s website is listed in alphabetical order under "National Board of Public Health Examiners.” Please see screen shot below:

You must bring:

1. Your Scheduling Permit which has your CIN (Candidate Identification Number) printed on it, and
2. One form of unexpired, government–issued identification that includes both your photograph and signature. Your name as it appears on your Scheduling Permit must EXACTLY match your name as it appears on the identification you present at the testing center.

Acceptable forms of identification include the following forms of unexpired identification:

• passport,
• driver's license with photograph,
• national identity card,
• other form of unexpired, government-issued identification.

Your identification must contain both your signature and photograph. If it contains your photograph but not your signature, you can use another form of unexpired identification that contains your signature, such as an employee identification card or a credit card, to supplement your photo-bearing, government-issued identification.

Note: If you do not bring your Scheduling Permit and acceptable identification, you will not be admitted to the test.

NOTE: You should arrive at the Prometric Testing Center 30 minutes before your scheduled testing time on your scheduled exam date. If you arrive late, you may not be admitted. If you arrive more than 30 minutes after your scheduled testing time, you will not be admitted.

ALL of your personal belongings, food, and beverages must be placed in a small, designated locker outside the testing room. Pagers and cellular telephones must be turned off before placing them in the locker.

Soft foam earplugs and clear eyeglasses are allowed.

Test center staff monitor all testing sessions. You must follow instructions of test center staff throughout the examination. Failure to do so may result in a determination of irregular behavior.

Test center staff is not authorized to answer questions from examinees regarding examination content, testing software, or scoring. Test center staff is also not authorized to answer inquiries with regard to registration or retesting.

For the 2010 exam cycle, the deadline for regular deferral is August 5, 2010 at midnight, EST.

Deferred registrations will be marked as “deferred” until registration opens the following exam cycle. When this next exam cycle´s registration opens, you must login in and update your application.

If you do not show up for your testing appointment or do not make a testing appointment and have not made request for a deferral, you forfeit your exam fee. Registration fees are not refundable. International exam fees may not be deferred and are not refundable.

• As of summer 2009, candidates will be permitted to wear medical face masks during their exams if they choose, after inspection and a photograph of the candidate is taken without the mask. Prometric states, "Although the Centers for Disease Control have communicated that the wearing of masks is only minimally effective in virus prevention, wearing them does seem to be providing peace of mind to some people. We have therefore decided to allow candidates to wear medical face masks during their exams if they choose. Please note that Prometric reserves the right to require every candidate wearing a mask to temporarily remove it for inspection prior to being allowed in the testing room. Candidates will also be required to remove it to have their photograph taken. Only then will they be allowed in the test room. Prometric will not provide masks to candidates who request them." When the state of public health emergency is lifted, Prometric will resume their standard operating procedure and not allow an examinee to wear a mask in the testing room without prior approval from the test-sponsoring organization and NBME.
• a. As an added precautionary measure, Prometric Test Center Administrators have been instructed to clean and disinfect workstations/keyboards/mice after each administration. If desired, a candidate could ask the Prometric Test Center Administrator to wipe the keyboard clean at the start of the exam. Please note that such a request could only be accommodated after all other candidates are checked- in, so as to not delay other candidates.

Being a part of a profession implies commitment to ongoing professional development, and public health is a rapidly changing field. The NBPHE´s MOC process is consistent with what other professions do to maintain their licenses, certifications, or credentials. The NBPHE will meet the industry standards for maintaining a voluntary certification. The NBPHE is working towards the ultimate goal of achieving accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). NCCA accredited certifications include a variety of medical, nursing, counseling, and physical training professions.

The NCCA´s standards on recertification state that "The certification program must require periodic recertification" and "The certification program must demonstrate that its recertification requirements measure or enhance the continued competence of certificants."

The NBPHE’s five member organizations are pioneering the first “pre-approved” CPHCE. They are listed at http://www.nbphe.org/relatedLinks.cfm

To nominate another organization to be a provider of CPHCE, please Contact Us at http://www.nbphe.org/contact.cfm and provide a contact person or website for the organization.