Oral

Public health remains the only professional health field without a credentialing mechanism. For several years there have been discussions in academic and practitioner public health circles about establishing a credential for those in the public health field. In 2005 the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) was initiated by the Association of Schools of Public Health. The NBPHE is fully independent with board members nominated by APHA, ASTHO, NACCHO and APTR, as well as ASPH. This Board has developed an examination-based public health credential for MPH graduates of accredited public health schools or programs. The multiple-choice exam is based on core educational competencies relevant to contemporary public health practice taught during their degree studies. The development of this credential has led to discussion at APHA about how the organization should support this credential. Should non-MPH public health practitioners have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in public health by sitting for the examination? Although this examination is currently voluntary and only for graduates of CEPH accredited schools and programs, the possibility of it becoming mandatory in the future looms in the minds of many practitioners. It is unclear what this could mean for the recruitment and retention of the public health workforce, especially a diverse workforce. Should the exam be mandatory for all public health graduates? This session will explore the practitioner perspective on the benefit of this credentialing process and what it could mean for public health workforce development in the long term.

Session Objectives: Explain the current public health credentialing process and its possible relation to the public health workforce. Identify three issues that need to be considered by practitioners when considering whether to seek this credential.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing