237216 Success of a pilot study of student eligibility for the Certified in Public Health examination

Monday, October 31, 2011: 3:02 PM

Donna Petersen, ScD , School of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Molly Eggleston, MPH, CHES, CPH , National Board of Public Health Examiners, Pittsburgh, PA
Terry Dwelle, MD, MPHTM, CPH , North Dakota Department of Health, Bismark, ND
Jeanne Guernsey, MA , Client Programs, National Board of Medical Examiners, Philadelphia, PA
Irina Grabovsky , National Board of Medical Examiners, Philadelphia, PA
        
     
In August 2010, NBPHE piloted administration of the Certified in Public Health (CPH) examination to advanced public health graduate students. The purpose of the pilot was to compare student and alumni performance and assess the feasibility of student registration and completion.

The pilot was a resounding success! Participants included 37 of the 125 schools and programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. Nearly 300 students registered for the 2010 examination. Student eligibility requirements will be detailed.

The 2010 CPH Examination met all psychometric standards. Students performed well overall, although at a slightly lower level than alumni. Score differences were consistent across content areas. Examinees with more than a year's work experience after graduation performed slightly better than those with no work experience or work experience of less than a year. These facts confirm score validity of the CPH examination.

Overall, 13 institutions provided financial support for their pilot registrants. NBPHE developed new processes for verification and award of the CPH. Based on successful pilot results, the number of institutions extending eligibility to their students has more than doubled for the 2011 CPH examination, including all accredited schools of public health. Student eligibility for the CPH examination will become comprehensive and permanent beginning with the 2012 CPH examination. Beginning in 2011, the CPH Examination will be administered in February to better accommodate students' public health curriculum and the academic calendar.

This session will share samples of performance data provided to examinees, schools, and programs who participated in the pilot test.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Program planning
Public health or related education
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
List the eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot administration of the CPH exam to public health graduate students. Compare extension of student eligibility by schools and programs accredited by CEPH from 2010 to 2011.

Keywords: Certification, Infrastructure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I serve as immediate past Chair of the NBPHE and Testing Materials Development Coordinator for the Certified in Public Health exam.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

See more of: Competency-based public health graduate education
See more of: Academic Public Health Caucus