All candidates must apply through CertCentral. Please allow two weeks for your application to be reviewed. Learn more and apply now!

At least 48 hours after your eligibility is verified and application is approved, you will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) email from our testing partner, Meazure Learning, with scheduling instructions. If you do not receive the NTS email please contact Meazure Learning:

Candidates Testing Center In-Person Support Monday to Friday 8 am to 7 pm ET 

• Email: [email protected] 
• Phone: 1-888-900-0005, Option 1 

Candidates Testing via Live Online Proctoring (LOP) 24/7 Support 

• Phone: 1-855-772-8678, Option 1 
• Real-Time Chat: https://support.meazurelearning.com/hc/p/chat  
• Ticket support (for non-urgent matters): https://support.meazurelearning.com/hc/requests/new?ticket_form_id=38032314304781 

The CPH exam is offered year-round. As long as a computer-based testing facility and/or proctor is available, you can schedule your exam anytime.

There is no deadline to take the CPH exam. Once approved as eligible, you remain eligible indefinitely.

NBPHE ensures that no individual with a disability is deprived of the opportunity to take the examination. Meazure Learning facilities provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities.

• Wheelchair access is available at all established Assessment Centers. Candidates must advise Meazure Learning at the time of registration if wheelchair access is necessary.
• Candidates with visual, sensory or physical disabilities that would prevent them from taking the examination under standard conditions or candidates who request special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should complete the appropriate Special Examination Accommodations form and submit to [email protected]. Accommodations must be approved before scheduling the CDI exam.
• Once you receive approval for testing accommodations, you may proceed with scheduling your exam. The time needed to arrange accommodations may vary. When selecting your exam date, please take the following general guidance into account:
  
  • Standard accommodations (e.g., extended testing time, additional breaks, or permission to bring approved items) typically require 5–10 days’ advance scheduling to ensure availability.
  • Enhanced accommodations (e.g., private testing room, reader or scribe assistance, specialized equipment) may require up to 30 days’ advance scheduling to coordinate.

Note that accommodated testing appointments are limited and availability can vary by location. You are encouraged to schedule as early as possible to secure your preferred date.

If you encounter issues scheduling your exam or do not see available appointments that meet your needs, please contact Meazure Learning’s customer support for assistance:

Candidates Testing Center In-Person Support Monday to Friday 8 am to 7 pm ET 

• Email: [email protected] 
• Phone: 1-888-900-0005, Option 1 

Candidates Testing via Live Online Proctoring (LOP) 24/7 Support

• Phone: 1-855-772-8678, Option 1 
• Real-Time Chat: https://support.meazurelearning.com/hc/p/chat  
• Ticket support (for non-urgent matters): https://support.meazurelearning.com/hc/requests/new?ticket_form_id=38032314304781    

Please notify NBPHE after booking your exam to ensure accommodation arrangements are completed. Contact NBPHE at [email protected]. 

Your email address is your username in CertCentral. To change it, submit the request at [email protected]. To update your name or other contact information, log in to CertCentral, click your initials on the top right, select ‘Account’, then click on the ‘NBPHE Connect Portal Account’ link. If you are prompted to login, use the same username and password.

Yes, you can cancel or reschedule your exam.

Testing Center Policy: Candidates taking the exam at a testing center may reschedule or cancel the exam up to 48 hours before their scheduled appointment date. Depending on when the request is made, Meazure Learning may charge a non-refundable fee for rescheduling or cancellation.

Exams rescheduled or cancelled:

• More than 10 days prior to the scheduled appointment time incur no rescheduling fee.
• Between 2 and 10 days prior to the scheduled appointment time incur a $15 non-refundable rescheduling fee due at the time the request is submitted.

Requests made less than 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time are not eligible for rescheduling or cancellation. Candidates will need to re-register for the exam and incur a $150 fee.

Live Online Proctoring (LOP) Policy: Candidates taking the exam via LOP may reschedule or cancel the exam up to 24 hours before their scheduled appointment time. Requests made less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time are not eligible for rescheduling or cancellation. Candidates will need to re-register for the exam and incur a $150 fee.

Standard registration is $385. For available discounts, see CPH Fees & Discounts.

Yes, active duty members may use Military Tuition Assistance benefits to pay for the CPH exam fee. For more information, click here or call 800-342-9647.

Once approved, the fee is not refundable.

NBPHE is approved to offer the CPH exam through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans, their eligible dependents, and reservists may qualify for reimbursement of the exam costs through veteran’s education benefits. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits website.

The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have a four-hour window to complete it, with most finishing in under three hours. For an overview of the exam topics, see the CPH Content Outline.

Refer to the CPH Candidate Handbook for detailed information about the scheduling and examination process.

Yes! Sample questions, practice exams, and review materials are available. Several partner organizations offer study guides and review materials as well. See CPH Study Resources.

Preparation time varies depending on your background and experience. On average, candidates spend between 1 and 6 months studying, devoting a few hours each week. If you’re newer to the field, you may want to give yourself more time to review key concepts. If you have several years of experience, you may need less time, but you should still plan for focused review sessions to refresh your knowledge and skills with the exam format.

Feeling nervous is completely normal. A structured and consistent study plan can help reduce anxiety by building familiarity with the content and exam format. The CPH Study Resources page includes tools to help you create and follow that plan, such as study tips, sample questions, practice exams, personal action plan, review webinars and the study guides. These resources are designed and reviewed by subject matter experts to align directly with the CPH exam.

Practice questions are especially helpful for reducing uncertainty about what to expect. Be sure to take regular breaks during study sessions to avoid burnout, and use stress-management techniques such as deep breathing, stretching, or short walks. On exam day, aim for a good night’s sleep, eat a balanced meal, and arrive early to your exam session so you feel calm and prepared.

Yes. While professional experience provides a strong foundation, the exam is designed to assess knowledge and skills across the full scope of public health principles. Studying ensures you refresh less familiar topics, understand how material is presented in a testing environment, and build confidence with the exam format. Even seasoned professionals benefit from a structured review to perform at their best on test day.

There is a maximum of six (6) attempts to take the CPH exam. You may reapply via CertCentral the day after your exam or if you were absent on your scheduled date. The retake fee is $150. After payment, you will receive an email from Meazure Learning with scheduling instructions.

Candidates who take the exam under the student eligibility criteria are not fully certified until they complete their degree. Your CPH status is pending until your academic institution verifies your graduation requirements. Once verified, you will receive a certificate, and your CPH status will be active.

Student and alumni scores are shared only with the academic institution that conferred or will confer your degree. All Certified in Public Health certificants in good standing are listed on the NBPHE Certificant Directory, but exact scores are not specified.

The CPH exam results uses a scaled scoring. Candidates can score between 200 and 800. A score of 500 is needed to pass the exam.

A scaled score is a representation of a candidate’s total number of right answers (raw score) transformed to a uniform and standardized scale. Scaled scoring is a certification industry best practice for reporting high stakes exam scores. It provides a consistent scale of measurement from one exam session to the next; the same scaled score signifies the same degree of knowledge. This means that scores from different versions of the exam indicate the same level of performance regardless of which exam form a candidate has received. This will consider the potential difference in difficulty between exam forms.

Meazure Learning testing centers are the best option for taking the exam! Testing centers are located throughout the US and in over 100 other countries. Exams can be scheduled Monday-Friday and on some weekends.

Search for testing centers

Testing Center In-Person Support Monday to Friday 8 am to 7 pm ET 

• Email: [email protected] 
• Phone: 1-888-900-0005, Option 1 

If a testing center is not near your area, testing via live online proctoring (LOP) is available. LOP testing is available 24/7 year-round. During your LOP exam session, the proctor will log in remotely to your computer.

Watch the Video Overview of Live Online Proctoring

Second Camera Requirement: LOP candidates must have a mobile device or portable tablet equipped with a front-facing camera and stable internet connectivity during the exam session. Candidates must also have a charger within reach of their workspace, as mobile device’s camera usage will drain its battery. Review the Second Camera Requirements and Tutorial prior to your test date.

For Exam Day Live Online Proctoring (LOP) 24/7 Support:

• Real-Time Chat: https://support.meazurelearning.com/hc/p/chat
• Ticket support (for non-urgent matters): https://support.meazurelearning.com/hc/requests/new?ticket_form_id=38032314304781  
• Phone: 1-855-772-8678, Option 1

Review the LOP Fact Sheet at least 24 hours before your exam for technical requirements and additional details. Confirm the following before your exam:

• Private room with a clean desk surface, free of people, paper, and disruptions.
• Use a computer with admin access.
• Download the ProctorU Extension for your browser in advance.