Career Guide · Updated September 27, 2026
CPH Certification: Eligibility, Exam, Cost and Renewal
What Is CPH Certification?
CPH certification (Certified in Public Health) is the national credential for public health professionals, awarded by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) to people who pass a 200-question exam. Students and graduates of CEPH-accredited programs qualify directly, and others qualify through work experience. The exam costs $385 and you recertify every two years; start with the MPH programs that open the direct route.
CPH certification, short for Certified in Public Health, is a national credential that tests public health as a whole rather than a single specialty. It’s run by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). You earn it by passing a 200-question exam, and you keep it by logging continuing education every two years.
For MPH students, it’s the most natural credential to add. If your program is accredited by CEPH, you can sit the exam while you’re still enrolled.
What CPH Certification Means
The CPH tells an employer that you’ve shown working knowledge across the whole field: data, communication, leadership, law and ethics, prevention, community work, program planning, management, policy and population health. NBPHE describes it as a credential tied to lifelong learning, which is why it comes with a recertification requirement rather than lasting forever.
CPH vs MPH
The two aren’t alternatives. An MPH is a degree a school awards after you finish its courses. The CPH is a credential you earn from an independent board by passing a standardized exam. A CEPH-accredited MPH is the most direct way to qualify for the CPH, so many people earn the degree and then the credential. Of the 488 MPH programs on this site, 414 sit at CEPH-accredited schools or programs, and the CEPH accreditation guide explains how to check any of them.
CPH Certification Requirements: Who Can Take the Exam
NBPHE offers four routes. The first two come through school; the others through experience.
| Route | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| CEPH student | Students at a CEPH-accredited or CEPH-applicant school or program, as identified by the school |
| CEPH alumni | Graduates who finished a master’s or doctoral degree at such a school or program |
| Public health faculty | A graduate degree plus at least three years teaching or working in public health |
| Work experience | A bachelor’s in any field plus five years of public health work; or a relevant graduate degree plus three years; or a graduate certificate from a CEPH-accredited or applicant program plus three years |
Every route expects foundational public health knowledge, gained either at school or on the job.
Taking the CPH Exam as an MPH Student
The student route is the easiest one to use, and the timing is up to you. Your CEPH-accredited or applicant school or program decides which of its students are eligible, so ask your program office when it considers students ready. Because the exam runs year-round and your eligibility never lapses once approved, you can apply during your program and book the exam for the stretch after your core courses, when the ten domains are still fresh. If you finish your degree first, the alumni route covers you just the same.
If you want the direct route, pick an accredited program. UAB’s Master of Public Health and the University of Arizona’s Online MPH are both CEPH-accredited, and so are many online MPH programs. If you’d rather skip the GRE on the way in, see the no-GRE MPH programs.
The CPH Exam: Format and Content
The CPH exam has 200 multiple-choice questions. You get a four-hour window, and NBPHE says most people finish in under three. The exam runs year-round: you book a slot at a Meazure Learning test center or take it at home with Live Online Proctoring. Once you’re approved, your eligibility doesn’t expire, so you can test when you’re ready. You need a scaled score of 500 to pass.
The questions cover 10 domains, weighted like this:
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Data, Analytics and Informatics | 12% |
| Communication | 12% |
| Disease and Injury Prevention | 11% |
| Program Planning and Evaluation | 11% |
| Community Engagement and Partnerships | 10% |
| Health Outcomes and Population Perspectives | 10% |
| Leadership | 9% |
| Program and Resource Management | 9% |
| Law and Ethics | 8% |
| Policy and Advocacy | 8% |
Is the CPH Exam Hard?
It’s broad more than it’s deep. No domain makes up more than 12% of the exam, so you can’t pass on one strength. If you concentrated in one area during your MPH, say epidemiology, plan extra review for the domains you studied least, such as law and ethics or program management. Use the content outline as your study plan: it lists the specific tasks each domain tests.
For CPH exam sample questions, stick to NBPHE’s own practice material. Its fee bundles include TestRun practice subscriptions, an extra practice exam and the APHA study guide. Flashcard sets on sites like Quizlet are made by other users, so check anything you study there against the current content outline.
CPH Certification Cost
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Regular exam | $385 | One attempt |
| Take Two | $435 | Exam plus a free retake |
| Prepped and Ready | $485 | Exam plus a 3-month TestRun practice subscription |
| All the Goods | $535 | Retake, TestRun, a third practice exam and the APHA study guide |
Partner groups get lower rates, usually $315 or $250; members of the American Public Health Association pay $315. A retake on its own costs $150. Rescheduling is free more than 10 days ahead, $15 between 2 and 10 days, and $150 inside 2 days, so book a date you can keep.
CPH Recertification
Every two years you must report at least 30 recertification credits and pay a $95 fee. Credits come from continuing education and professional development, and you log them in NBPHE’s CertCentral system. Keep your records, because NBPHE may audit them. If you fall behind, you can ask for extensions in three-month steps at no cost. When you recertify, you also agree to follow NBPHE’s Code of Ethics.
What Public Health Roles Pay
The CPH doesn’t come with a set salary, but it’s worth knowing what the jobs it prepares you for pay. Here are Bureau of Labor Statistics figures for May 2025:
| Role | Median pay | Middle half earned | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $71,090 to $112,640 | 12,090 |
| Biostatistician (statisticians) | $105,650 | $82,220 to $141,490 | 29,030 |
| Health education specialist | $64,070 | $50,620 to $87,130 | 65,690 |
| Health services manager | $123,860 | $94,700 to $166,100 | 597,080 |
These are pay figures for everyone in each occupation, with or without a CPH. Treat the credential as one piece of your case to an employer, alongside your degree and experience. The MPH salary page covers more roles.
Is CPH Certification Worth It?
The case for it is strongest early. If you’re in a CEPH-accredited MPH, you can test while the material is fresh, for $385 or less, and your studies line up with the outline. It can also help when your degree alone doesn’t show breadth, for example if you’re moving into a general public health role from a clinical or research job. The ongoing cost is modest: 30 credits and $95 every two years.
It matters less if you’re aiming at a role with its own credential. If you’re heading into health education, CHES certification is the specialty credential to look at. If you’re still choosing a degree, start with what an MPH degree is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Difference Between CPH and MPH?
An MPH is a graduate degree you earn from a school. The CPH is a credential you earn by passing NBPHE's exam, and you keep it by earning recertification credits. Many people hold both, since a CEPH-accredited MPH is the most direct route to CPH eligibility.
Is There a Deadline to Take the CPH Exam After Approval?
No. Once NBPHE approves you as eligible, you stay eligible indefinitely, and the exam is offered year-round whenever a testing site or remote proctor is open.
How Much Does It Cost to Retake the CPH Exam?
A retake costs $150. If you expect you might need one, the Take Two bundle ($435) includes a free retake with the first attempt.
Can I Take the CPH Exam at Home?
Yes. NBPHE offers Live Online Proctoring as well as in-person testing at Meazure Learning test centers.
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Sources
Researched and edited by Taylor Rupe. Figures from official sources are dated where they appear.