Help Set Professional Standards in Public Health -Get Certified in Public Health

Fall 2010

About the NBPHE

independent non-profit organization

includes representatives from a broad range

of partner organizations

Staff:

Deputy Executive Director, Molly Eggleston, CPH

Outreach Coordinator, Laura Biesiadecki, CPH

Purpose of the Certified in Public Health exam

To ensure that students and graduates

from schools and programs of public

health accredited by the Council on

Education for Public Health (CEPH)

have mastered the knowledge and

skills relevant to contemporary public

health practice

2011 eligibility criteria

Alumni from CEPH-

accredited school or

program; completed

all degree

requirements by

December 31, 2010.

Student at CEPH-

accredited school or

a program

participating in the

NBPHE early exam

administration;

completed or

concurrently

enrolled in 21

credits by 12/31/10.

Benefits of Certification

Sets a standard for educational competence in the field of public health

Encourages continuing education among public health professionals

Fosters environment of a professional community

Demonstrates personal competence and assurance of professional currency

Brings added credibility amongst one‟s peers and with colleagues in

other fields

Is an investment in one‟s career, livelihood, and future

End-of-Exam Survey Comparison

• The following comparison graphs are based

on responses to the 2008 and 2009 NBPHE Certification Examination Surveys.

• Survey data is based on examinees who took the voluntary post-test survey.

•n = 1,059

What was/were your motivation(s) to take this exam?

If you earn the Certificate associated with this exam, what outcomes for yourself or for your employer

do you expect to result?

Encourages continuing education among public health professionals

Maintenance of

Certification =

50 hours of Continuing

Education / 2 years

Re-assessment /10 years

Opens doors for participation in

professional activities - The field

supports CPH

Fosters environment of a professional community

Brings added credibility amongst one’s peers in other fields

“I knew that I would be working with people from

outside of the public health community, primarily

emergency response professionals for whom the

„Certified Emergency Manager‟ credential is very

valuable. I wanted a similarly recognizable credential

that I could use… It has been very valuable as I moved

from a local health department

to FEMA and worked on pandemic

planning with the leadership of two

separate FEMA Regions.”

-Joel Palmer, MPH, CPH

Is an investment in one’s career, livelihood, and future

Employer support for CPH process

Allegheny County HD

American Legacy

Foundation

American Public Health

Association

Association of Schools of

Public Health

Association of State &

Territorial Health Officials

California State University,

East Bay

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention

Cherokee Nation

Healthy Nation

National Nursing Centers

Consortium

Nebraska Dept. Of Health

& Human Services

Public Health

Management Corporation

Richmond Behavioral

Health Authority

U.S. Department of

Veteran’s Affairs

About the CPH exam: What, Where, How long, and How much?

200 multiple-choice questions

Offered at proctored computer testing

centers across the world

Approximately 4½ hours to complete

No calculator needed

Offered annually

Register by November 26 at

www.publichealthexam.org

What does the exam cover?

Core & Cross-cutting domains

1. Biostatistics

2. Environmental Health Sciences

3. Epidemiology

4. Health Policy and Management

5. Social and Behavioral Sciences

6. …

What study resources are available from NBPHE?

1. Sample tutorial

2. 18 sample questions

3. ASPH MPH competency set

www.publichealthexam.org FREE

Where do I find study resources?FAQ of www.publichealthexam.org

Study Guide

CPH Study Guides

Sample Exam / Exam Software Tutorial Module

The CPH Exam is graded pass/fail

Exam Development

NBPHE contracted with the National Board of Medical Examiners® to develop the exam, including:

Workshop to train test-item writers Workshop to review and validate pool of items

Editing and validation of items to assure high quality

Various approaches to develop metrics that permit a valid and fair examination

Strong General Psychometric Properties

2008

KR20 = 0.91

Mean Item Discrimination= 0.31

19 items deleted and this varied by content area

2009

KR20 = 0.93

Mean Item

Discrimination

= 0.34

15 items

deleted and

this varied by

content area

•2010

•KR20 = 0.90

•Mean Item

Discrimination

=0.30

•9 items

deleted and

this varied by

content area

When is the exam offered in my area?

any day 2/4 – 26/11

use Prometric

book your choice

with the Scheduling

Permit

appointments on a

first-come, first-

served basis.

Register by this Thanksgiving

Registration dates Alumni

fees

Student fees

Today –October 15, 2010 $400 $400

Oct 16 – Nov 14, 2010 $475 $425

Nov 15 – Nov 26, 2010 $550 $450

Why certify now?

Evolution from public health solely being a supplementary degree for physicians and other health professionals

Increase in geographical diversity of CEPH-accredited schools and programs

Increase in number of graduates from CEPH-accredited institutions

Heightened societal requirements for professional accountability

Further development of core public health curriculum

Greater responsiveness of academic public health to public health practice

Marketing efforts and national attention to prevention

Increase in geographical diversity of CEPH-accredited institutions

Public Health Education Growth

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Year

Nu

mb

er

Accredited Public Health Schools Accredited Public Health Programs Public Health Schools and Programs Combined

Increase in number of graduates from CEPH-accredited institutions

Heightened societal requirements for professional accountability

CPH compliments Public Health Branding and Marketing efforts

National attention to prevention

Greater responsiveness of academic public health to practice

Public health preparedness & response is

today’s challenge to public health, and

Certified in Public Health professionals

stand ready to face tomorrow’s challenges,

too.

• Tobacco regulation

• Cancer prevention

• Cancer screening

• Obesity prevention

• C-diff

• Global climate change

• Threat of bioterrorism

Overview of registration process

Register online

Scheduling Permit

Available

Primary Eligibility Verified

Exam or Defer

Get Score or provisional

score

Secondary Verification for Students

Alumni Get Score

Today –

Nov 26,

2010

Late Jan

2011

Feb

4 – 26,

2011

Mid-April

2011

Nov -

Dec

2010

ASAP Monthly after

graduation

verified

Terry L. Dwelle, MD, MPHTM, CPH

mms://video.ndhealth.

gov/health/previewfil

es/NBPHE.wmv

Debbie Shelmire, MPH, CPHNational Brd. Medical Examiners

I took the CPH exam because I

felt that there was a need for

this type of certification in

public health, and I was sure

that others (including

employers) would see it as

valuable. ... I believe the

field was ready for this type

of generalized certification…

it will help ensure that those

who have it possess a

certain distinct body of

knowledge.

Richard J. Cohen, PhD President, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC)

The PHMC, as a public health

institute, supports the exam

and maintenance fees of all

eligible employees. Our CPH

professionals demonstrate

their leadership and provide

essential and effective

services to our community.

Bruce Dixon, MD, Director, Allegheny County Health Dept.

In pursuit of our mission to assure quality public

health services in an urban county, the

Allegheny County Health Department will

provide the initial registration fee for any

employee to become Certified in Public

Health. A well-trained and up-to-date

workforce, such as CPH professionals, is

essential to the effective delivery of public

health services.

1st Lt. Andrew B. Wallace, CPH, U.S. Air Force

I am happy to say I am recently CPH certified! I

enjoyed studying for the test and have

encouraged many of my peers to sit for the

exam.

David J. Hintz, CPH

I am promoting this exam and I am involved in the

teaching of public health at a college level. I feel that

the CPH is something that will validate public health

as a clear set of disciplines and adds to the expertise

that one brings to the table with issues concerning all

aspects of public health. My own public health

background emphasized economics and the built

environment and the CPH has been invaluable as a

tool of credibility. I want to see the CPH become as

valuable as the CPA.

Sean Kaufman, CPH

Being certified in Public Health is a demonstration of your

commitment to the profession of public health. It is not

the only way someone can demonstrate their

commitment – but to stay certified – you commit yourself

to a continuation of training in public health – something

which individuals have to volunteer to do. A CPH means

you have been trained by an institution which is

accredited at the highest standards of public health, you

understand the complexities of the public specialties, and

you commit yourself to a process which prevents rust and

keeps you operating as a current public health

professional.

Harrison Spencer, MD, MPH, CPHPresident and CEO, Association of Schools of Public Health

Joining the ranks of CPH certified

professionals is an important step in

the evolution of our profession. As

a board certified physician in

internal and preventive medicine,

taking the exam was a personal

choice and an easy one to

make. It is important all of us as

committed public health

professionals demonstrate support

for the future of our profession and

demonstrate a commitment to

continuing education. At ASPH, we

will fully support staff with a CPH

obtaining the continuing education

credits needed to maintain their

credential.

Wei Wang, CPH

It was an exciting experience in preparing the

CPH examination. I will share this

experience and encourage my colleagues to

join the ranks of CPH.

Adewale Troutman, MD, MPH, MA, CPH, Director of Health, Louisville

Public health is critically

important in the protection

and promotion of health and

the prevention of

disease. The CPH provides

evidence that we as public

health professionals have

attained a nationally

recognized level of expertise

to assure the conditions in

which people can be

healthy. I believe that

everyone eligible who is in the

field should take the exam.

Got CPH?

Register now for first dibs on

exam appointments

www.publichealthexam.org

Alumni Fees ($400- $475 - $550)

Student Fees ($400- $425 - $450)