When applications open this Fall, all candidates must apply through CertCentral. Please allow four weeks for your application to be reviewed. Learn more and apply now!

Note: Once your application is approved, your will have the ability to schedule your exam later this Fall. Approved applicants will receive an email once the scheduling portal is open later this Fall to schedule your exam date.

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 

• 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 

The CPHN exam will be 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 CPHN 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 

• 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 

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 CPHN Fees & Discounts.

Yes, active duty members may use Military Tuition Assistance benefits to pay for the CPHN 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 CPHN 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 120 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have a three-hour window to complete it. For an overview of the exam topics, see the CPHN Content Outline.

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

Yes! Practice exams and review materials will be available soon. See CPHN 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 CPHN Study Resources page includes tools to help you create and follow that plan, such as study tips, practice exam, and personal action plan. These resources are designed and reviewed by subject matter experts to align directly with the CPHN 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 nursing practice. 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.

Candidates who do not pass the CPHN exam will be limited to one (1) retake in a twelve (12) month period. 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.

All Certified in Public Health Nursing certificants in good standing are listed on the NBPHE Certificant Directory, but exact scores are not specified.

The CPHN exam results uses a scaled scoring. The first cohort of candidates will receive the pass score and exam results once the passing score is determined.

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.

The initial cohort of candidates will need to wait 6-8 weeks after the end of the initial administration to receive their scores. The scores are held to determine the passing score for the CPHN exam. This process is conducted in consultation with public health nursing experts by reviewing the performance of the first wave of exam scores. Once the passing score has been established, NBPHE will release results and CertCentral will automatically update to reflect your score and certification status. After the initial cohort of candidates, instant scoring will be provided for CPHN exam candidates.

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.

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.

Watch the Video Overview of Live Online Proctoring

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:

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

Unlike degrees and certificate programs, certifications must be maintained over time. Maintenance of the CPHN credential ensures that certificants are staying current on emerging trends and best practices in the field of public health nursing and continuing to meet a professional standard. Recertification also contributes to ongoing professional development through lifelong learning.

The recertification period for the CPHN is 3 years. View the Recertification webpage and follow the CPHN Recertification Instructions which shows you how to report credits, view your reported credit history, update your contact information, and apply for recertification.

CPHN certificants must earn a total of 30 credits during the 3-year recertification period. 

There is a fee of $95 due when you submit your recertification application. 

Public health related activities such as conferences, publications, presentations, courses, webinars, workshops, and volunteer activities can count towards recertification. The Recertification Activity Credit Guide has a full list of activities that count towards recertification.

Unlike other professional licenses or credentials, CPHN certificants do not have to attend certain paid trainings or events to recertify. The recertification credits you earn can be from any organization/provider. NBPHE does not have a list of authorized providers for recertification activities. NBPHE accepts any public health nursing related activity for recertification as long as it fits in the categories listed in the Recertification Activity Credit Guide. In fact, many CPHNs earn credits by participating in webinars, conferences, meetings, and events through their job. 

Each hour (60 minutes) spent participating in a recertification activity equals one recertification credit.

If the amount time you spend participating in a recertification activity does not equal a whole number, you can round up to the nearest whole number. For example, a public health nursing related webinar that lasts 1.5 hours can count for 2 credits.

Yes! Your volunteer service such as participating in a community outreach event, joining a public health awareness event, or being a member of a board or committee (e.g., item writer/ reviewer, study guide, passing score study, exam review, job task analysis) will count towards recertification.

It is recommended that each time you participate in a recertification activity you immediately log into CertCentral to report the activity. Follow the CPHN Recertification Instructions which shows you how to report credits. Reporting your recertification activities in real-time will help you track how many credits you have earned and help you avoid trying to remember all of your eligible activities at once when your recertification comes due. 

NBPHE hosts several fun recertification events like Webinar Wednesdays and NBPHE Book Club. Databases like the RECERT Activity Finder, CDC TRAIN, Public Health Learning Navigator, Public Health Training Center Network, and UniversiDI are also great places to start, offering thousands of courses (many are free) that count as credits. 

Qualifying activities for recertification credits include continuing education, professional development opportunities, and research activities that interest you. Join our private CPHN Professionals Group on LinkedIn for peer discussions, join our NBPHE Book Club to discuss public health books, or attend our Webinar Wednesday series. Design a certification and learning process that enriches your path.

Please note that day-to-day work experience/work roles do not count towards recertification. 

If you are not sure whether an activity will count towards recertification, you can email a brief description of the activity to NBPHE staff at [email protected] to request guidance.  

Don’t worry, we know how busy life gets! As long as your CPHN is active and current, you can extend your CPHN recertification cycle by 3 or 6 months. Log into CertCentral to submit a request and you will automatically be granted an extension. To submit a request go to the “Applications” tab and click “My Applications.” Click “Apply Now” and select “Recertification Extension Request Application” from the drop-down menu.

Yes! Lapsed certificants with an expired certification can regain active status.

If your certification has been expired for less than 5 years, you reinstate your CPHN by reporting reporting credits for all missed 3-year cycles, submitting the CPHN Reinstatement Application, and paying the $95 fee. Follow the CPHN Reinstatement Instructions.

If your certification has been expired for 5 years or more, you must retake the CPHN exam. Contact us at [email protected] to request to be re-registered to retake the exam.