The National Board of Public Health Examiners: credentialing public health graduates.
The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE, the Board) is the result of many years of intense discussion about the importance of credentialing within the public health community. The Board is scheduled to begin credentialing graduates of programs and schools of public health accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in 2008. Among the many activities currently underway to improve public health practice, the Board views credentialing as one pathway to heighten recognition of public health professionals and increase the overall effectiveness of public health practice. The process underway includes developing, preparing, administering, and evaluating a voluntary certification examination that tests whether graduates of CEPH-accredited schools and programs have mastered the core knowledge and skills relevant to contemporary public health practice. This credentialing initiative is occurring at a time of heightened interest in public health education, and an anticipated rapid turnover in the public health workforce. It is fully anticipated that active discussion about the credentialing process will continue as the Board considers the many aspects of this professional transition. The Board wishes to encourage these discussions and welcomes input on any aspects relating to implementation of the credentialing process.
Gebbie
Kristine
K
Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Goldstein
Bernard D
BD
Gregorio
David I
DI
Tsou
Walter
W
Buffler
Patricia
P
Petersen
Donna
D
Mahan
Charles
C
Silver
Gillian B
GB
D003406:Credentialing; D006075:Governing Board; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D011361:Professional Competence; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000592:standards*; D015980:Public Health Practice / Q000592:standards*