Today’s Guide to Public Health Certifications

March 5, 2026 

Ever wonder how to become a skilled social worker, educator, or emergency coordinator in the public health landscape? For many, public health certifications are the first step. 

Today, as new healthcare challenges arise and technological advancements transform public health practice — from how health information is exchanged to the delivery of medical supplies to first responders during a crisis — those with plans to enter the field should aim to be highly skilled and more adaptable than ever before. As such, many pursue public health credentials and certificates: tools that enable them to study, specialize, and possibly advance their careers. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social assistance is projected to be the fastest-growing major industry sector over the next decade. Public health is a sizable workforce with roles spanning governmental public health, healthcare, nonprofits, and academia. In the United States, there is no universal national license or required credential for all public health roles, requirements vary by employer and position. However, the most widely recognized broad, voluntary credential is the Certified in Public Health (CPH) offered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). In the United States, there is no single national-level credential for public health. That means many workers aren’t required to be certified in public health. Those who are, however, have the chance to distinguish themselves and signal their ongoing commitment to the field, to prospective employers.

When mapping out your path to becoming a public health worker, it is important to independently research your options. To start, find out which credentials are available to you and what makes each one different. 

Certified in Public Health (CPH)

The Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential demonstrates competency in public health practices, including scientific standards and professional values. Earning the CPH can strengthen your credibility for many public health and population-health roles—such as health education, program coordination, community health, policy, epidemiology support, and nonprofit or government public health work. To take the CPH exam, you need to satisfy at least one of the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be a current student in, or a graduate of, a CEPH-accredited (or CEPH applicant) school or program of public health (as defined by NBPHE eligibility criteria).
  • Have qualifying public health work experience under one of NBPHE’s pathways: (a) a bachelor’s degree in any field + at least 5 years of public health work experience; (b) a relevant graduate-level degree + at least 3 years of public health work experience; or (c) a graduate-level certificate from a CEPH-accredited or CEPH applicant program + at least 3 years of public health work experience.
  • Be a public health faculty who meet NBPHE’s faculty eligibility criteria.

The CPH exam is administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). It is a computer-based exam with 200 multiple-choice questions (175 scored plus 25 unscored pretest questions) and a four-hour testing window.

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)

To signify professional competency in health education, the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) offers Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credentialing. To be eligible for the CHES® exam, you must have at least a bachelor’s (or higher) degree from an accredited institution and meet NCHEC’s health education coursework requirement.

  • Completion of a degree program with official transcripts showing at least 25 semester credits (or 37 quarter hours) of coursework addressing the Eight Areas of Responsibility and Competencies for Health Education Specialists.
  • NCHEC groups qualifying coursework into three categories: process, topic-focused (content), and other courses that include elements of the Eight Areas. Of the 25 required semester credits, at least 12 must be process courses; up to 9 may be topic-focused courses; and up to 6 may be other related courses that include elements of the Eight Areas.

The CHES® exam is a computer-based test consisting of 165 multiple-choice questions (150 scored and 15 pilot items). Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam, which may be offered at test centers or via live remote proctoring.

Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) 

The Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) certification, also offered by NCHEC, signifies advanced-level competency in health education. To earn the MCHES® credential, you must meet NCHEC eligibility requirements and pass the MCHES® examination.

  • Hold the CHES® credential and meet NCHEC’s practice-based experience requirement for MCHES®, which is based on verified work experience in health education (NCHEC outlines acceptable documentation and what qualifies as eligible practice).
  • Have a master’s (or higher) degree from an accredited institution and provide official transcripts showing health education coursework that addresses the Eight Areas of Responsibility and Competencies. In addition, meet NCHEC’s required amount of documented practice-based experience as a health education specialist. NCHEC categorizes qualifying coursework as process courses, topic-focused courses, and other related courses that include elements of the Eight Areas of Responsibility. Of the required 25 semester credits, at least 12 must be process courses; up to 9 may be topic-focused; and up to 6 may be other related courses that include elements of the Eight Areas.

Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) 

Offered by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) certifications demonstrate knowledge of environmental health — an increasingly important field. To be eligible for the REHS/RS exam, you need to meet all criteria within one of the following options: 

  • Track A (Environmental Health Degree): Hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in Environmental Health from a U.S.-accredited college or university, and the degree program must be accredited by NEHA’s Environmental Health Accreditation Council (EHAC). (No work experience required.)
  • Track B (Degree + Science Coursework + Work Experience): Hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in any subject from a U.S.-accredited college or university, plus:
    • At least 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) in basic science coursework (life, natural, physical, or health sciences). Social science courses (such as sociology or psychology) do not count toward this requirement.
    • Credit for college-level math or statistics
    • Two or more years of full-time, paid environmental health work experience
  • Track C (In Training): This track is designed for candidates who do not yet have two years of qualifying work experience. You must meet the same education requirements as Track B (degree + basic science hours + math/statistics), but work experience is not required to apply. If you pass the exam, your credential will indicate “REHS/RS – In Training.” You then have three years to obtain and submit documentation of two years of qualifying environmental health work experience to earn the full REHS/RS credential.

Certified Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist (CPAPHS)

The Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist (PAPHS) certification, previously offered through ACSM, has been sunset, and ACSM has transitioned specialty certifications into educational certificate programs. ACSM now offers a Physical Activity and Public Health Specialist Certificate Course, which provides training aligned with recommended competencies for public health physical activity work. Because this is now an educational certificate course (not the former certification exam), ACSM lists no formal prerequisites to enroll.

CPR/AED is not listed as a prerequisite for the certificate course. However, CPR/AED is commonly required or preferred in many public-facing health and fitness roles, so it may still be useful depending on your career path.

Certificates vs Certifications in Public Health

Certifications. Credentials. Certificates. If you’re hoping to leverage these accolades to advance in the field of public health, you need to know what each one can help you achieve. That said, there are important distinctions that you should be aware of before choosing which to pursue. 

Credential Certifications

Professional certifications are credentials awarded by a certifying organization — for instance, the NCHEC. Examples of credential certifications include Certified in Public Health (CPH) and Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). To earn credential certifications, you need to meet specific academic or experiential requirements, pass an exam, and then meet ongoing renewal requirements (often continuing education), depending on the certifying body’s guidelines. Once earned, certifications can help signal verified competency in a defined public health skill set or specialty area to employers.

Certificate of Completion

Certificates of completion show that you have completed coursework (including short courses) in a public health or public health–adjacent topic area. They’re most often issued by universities, training providers, or professional organizations and typically confirm participation and completion rather than a certification exam or licensure.  Learners from diverse educational and professional backgrounds can earn certificates in areas such as health informatics, healthcare management, epidemiology, biostatistics, or community health. 

These certificates signal focused training and exposure to specific concepts, but they don’t usually carry the same standardized, exam-based validation as a professional certification.

Graduate Certificate Programs in Public Health

Graduate public health certificate programs are commonly offered by schools of public health (including many with MPH programs) and by universities that offer public health–related graduate training. Many can be completed in about 6–12 months of full-time study, though timelines vary widely based on credit requirements and whether you attend part-time.

Types of public health certificates include health administration, biostatistics, global health, and more, and candidates can earn their certificates online or in person. Some certificate programs are geared toward working professionals, with flexible scheduling (evenings, weekends, or online) and applied coursework designed for people with experience in healthcare or public health. These types of programs are designed for professionals with prior experience in the field. If you’re interested in an MPH, certificates can be a strong first step.

Public health priorities evolve quickly, and many roles require you to stay current with policy, data, and best practices. By earning a credential, such as a graduate certificate program or a professional certification, you can demonstrate focused training in a specialty area and strengthen your qualifications for certain roles. If you are interested in earning an online graduate degree, you may also check our online MPH programs list. As you plan your next step, start with your target job titles and employers, then work backward to the certificate, certification, or degree that best fits those requirements.

Information last updated: March 2026