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Abstract #151863

J. Jackson Barnette, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 140J Ryals Public Health Building, 1665 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, 205-934-7781, barnette@uab.edu and Gillian Silver, MPH, Association of Schools of Public Health, 1101 15th Street, NW, Suite 910, washington, DC 20005.

The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) has launched the development of a public health certification exam. Plans are to administer this exam beginning in summer 2008. As a part of assessing interest in taking this exam, a web-based survey, completed by 3080 respondents, was conducted through the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH). Of the respondents, 47% were students and 47% were graduates. Thirty-nine percent of the students and 31% of the graduates indicated they were interested in taking the exam. Forty-seven percent of the students and 51% of the graduates indicated they needed more information about the credential and about seven percent of both groups wanted more information about the exam. The three highest reasons for being interested in taking the exam were: to be more competitive when looking for job (26%), proud to have chosen PH as a profession and this is an important step in development of the field (25%), and periodic recertification as a motivator to stay current and pursue continuing education opportunities (20%). The primary reason cited for not being interested, but cited by only seven-percent, was that they did not see any benefit in getting a credential. The top three things that could help the student or graduate decide on taking the exam were: understanding the benefits of having the credential (36%), cost of taking the exam (23%), and more information about the recertification process (22%). Results on these items, and others from the survey, will be presented and subgroups compared.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn why current students and graduates of public health schools and programs are interested and not interested in taking the NBPHE credentialing exam
• Learn what information current students and graduates of public health schools and programs need to help them decide whether or not they would be interested in taking the NBPHE credentialing exam
• Understand how different groups such as students or graduates and those trained in accredited schools or programs differ in these attitudes

Keywords: Professional Training, Certification

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.