Public Health · Independent exam preparation

Certified in Public Health (CPH) Study Guide

Prepare for the NBPHE CPH examination with a current outline, an evidence-interpretation checklist and worked epidemiology practice.

By CertMedbry · Exam facts checked against the linked sources on 6 September 2026

Try 6 free practice questions

Exam facts and requirements

Certification body
National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) Source
Exam length
200 multiple-choice questions Source
Time allowed
4 hours Source
Content outline
NBPHE’s revised outline took effect on August 1, 2024. Use the current outline linked below. Source

The CPH examination assesses public-health knowledge and practice. A clinical question bank for a medical licence is not a substitute for its public-health outline.

What to focus on during revision

The following are CertMedbry study suggestions. Use the official outline to check the full scope of your examination.

  • Identify the population, denominator and time period before calculating a rate or proportion.
  • Separate evidence about an association from evidence supporting a causal conclusion.
  • For programme questions, distinguish what the programme delivers from the health change it is intended to produce.

A practical preparation plan

1. Build a domain checklist

Use the NBPHE content outline as your organising document. Mark areas covered by your degree or work experience and areas that need a refresher. Include communication, policy and programme work alongside quantitative methods.

2. Show your calculation steps

For each quantitative question, write the numerator, denominator and unit before calculating. Check whether the question asks for new cases, existing cases, absolute risk or a relative comparison.

3. Combine official samples with targeted revision

NBPHE provides a self-assessment, sample questions and practice resources. Use these to identify gaps, then revisit the relevant source. Repeatedly memorising one short sample cannot establish readiness for the full exam.

Use your sample score as a starting point

The free set contains 6 original practice questions. It is a small learning sample, not an official examination or a validated pass prediction. Review each explanation and its source before moving to another topic.

Start the free sample

Official sources and updates

Confirm current eligibility, fees, scheduling and policies directly with the examination provider. CertMedbry is independent and is not endorsed by these organisations. How we handle content and corrections.