Certification Portal 
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.
You can also use our Eligibility Checker to if you’d like a quick idea to help you determine if you’re currently eligible, with more comprehensive eligibility information listed below.
NBPHE has launched a time-limited pilot in 2026 that expands eligibility for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam to alumni of graduate-level public health programs located outside the United States that are not accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Learn more about this opportunity on our International Pilot Eligibility page.
Learn more about the eligibility process in the following video.
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.
Apply Now under our Student (CEPH-Accredited) Pathway
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.
Apply Now Alumni (CEPH-Accredited) Pathway
Standard Eligibility Pathway
Applications will be reviewed based on public health work experience, indicating the scope of foundational knowledge acquired based on this definition of Public Health Work Experience. 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
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].
Apply Now under our Standard Eligibility Pathway
What Qualifies as Public Health Work Experience?
What qualifies as public health work experience?
For purposes of eligibility for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) examination, qualifying public health
work experience involves the application of public health knowledge and skills to protect, promote, or
improve the health of populations or communities.
Public health practice focuses on preventing disease and injury, promoting health and well-being,
identifying and addressing health risks and disparities, and improving the conditions that affect health
across populations.
Examples of qualifying public health activities may include:
- Assessing and monitoring population or community health needs.
- Conducting epidemiologic investigations, disease surveillance, or population health research.
- Developing, implementing, or evaluating disease prevention and health promotion programs.
- Identifying and addressing social, environmental, or behavioral factors affecting community health.
- Developing, implementing, or evaluating public health policies, systems, or interventions.
- Conducting public health education, outreach, or community engagement activities.
- Managing, administering, or supporting programs and organizations whose primary functions are
- directed toward improving population health.
What generally does not qualify?
Employment in a healthcare setting, or work that contributes to health outcomes, does not automatically
constitute public health experience.
Responsibilities primarily involving the diagnosis, treatment, or clinical management of individual patients;
routine laboratory testing for clinical purposes; healthcare billing or registration; or administrative support
for individual patient services generally do not qualify unless the applicant can demonstrate that the work
also involved substantive public health functions.
How is experience evaluated?
NBPHE evaluates the actual responsibilities performed rather than relying solely on an applicant’s job title,
employer, professional credentials, or work setting.
Individuals working in clinical, laboratory, healthcare administration, or other health-related positions may
qualify if their responsibilities include substantive public health activities.
Applicants should describe the public health purpose of their work, the populations or communities served,
the public health functions performed, and how their activities contributed to population health objectives.
*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.
