Public Health Practitioner Certification Board

Mission

As part of its commitment to building a workforce recognized for its competency, the Public Health Practitioner Certification Board (PHPCB) was originally established to certify public health administrators. This mission has been expanded to offer competency-based certification to emergency response coordinators, and to consider further development of competency-based credentialing for other occupational categories within the public health workforce.

Certification

Certification is the recognition by the Public Health Practitioner Certification Board that an individual has acquired and demonstrated competency in the areas established as essential to meeting the professional category within the public health workforce. Such recognition of competency in public health practice may assist state agencies, local boards of health, and other entities in recruiting, hiring and promoting competent local health professionals and serve to foster professional advancement of public health workers.

A person seeking certification as a public health administrator is expected to provide evidence that they have acquired and demonstrated competency in public health practice and public heath administration. Once certified, the individual may use the initials CPHA (Certified Public Health Administrator) after their name.

Certification of emergency response coordinators (CERC) is based on evidence submitted by individuals that have acquired and demonstrated competency in public health practice, public health emergency preparedness and response, environmental health, epidemiology and infectious diseases. The initials, CERC, may be used after the name of a Certified Emergency Response Coordinator.

For more information, including how to apply and the online application process, please visit the PHPCB site.

For additional information, please contact Vikki Wiebel.