Healthcare CPHQ Exam (NAHQ Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality) Detailed Information
Why earn the
CPHQ?
As healthcare continues to evolve, more and more staff in healthcare organizations will be involved in quality. That's why it is more important than ever before to differentiate yourself as a healthcare quality professional with the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (
CPHQ) certification.
As a healthcare quality professional, you bring together data analytics, performance improvement, risk management, patient safety and much more, helping others see the bigger picture.
Prove that commitment by earning your
CPHQ credential.
What is the
CPHQ?
The
CPHQ incorporates the body of knowledge in the healthcare quality profession, which includes:
strategic and operational roles in management and leadership
information management, including design and data collection, measurement and analytics, and communication
performance/quality measurement and improvement, including planning, implementation and evaluation, and training
strategic and operational tasks in patient safety
The
CPHQ is the only accredited certification in the profession of healthcare quality. The program is fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence in Washington, D.C.
Learn more about the
CPHQ
Get more details about the exam, recertification requirements and more below.
CPHQ Certification Examination
CPHQ Recertification Process
CPHQ Preparation Resources
CPHQ Statistics
The Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (
CPHQ) exam is offered throughout the year at more than 130 US computer testing centers.
Membership Status Exam Fee
NAHQ Member $399
Nonmember $469
Join NAHQ to save $70. All
CPHQ Exam Fees are non-refundable.
Before Applying
Review the
CPHQ US Candidate Handbook for all guidelines and information.
HQCC recommends you review the Preparation Resources when considering preparation materials. Study programs should be based on individual needs, but most candidates with healthcare quality experience should plan to spend 6 weeks to 3 months in preparation.
You have 90 days from the date of payment to schedule and sit for the exam.
CPHQ FAQ
Preparation for the Exam:
- How much time and experience do you recommend people have before taking
the
CPHQ?
o To take the
CPHQ, you must determine for yourself if you have the
knowledge base of a quality professional and feel you are prepared for the
exam. However, the exam is designed for someone who has spent at least
2 years in a quality role.
- What are the four topic areas that are covered on the exam?
o Quality Leadership and Structure; Information Management; Performance
Measurement and Quality Improvement; and Patient Safety. They are all
included in the content outline.
- Is Q Solutions enough of a resource for preparation or do you recommend other
study materials?
o This is entirely dependent upon your learning style and which resources
would best suit your style. However, multiple study materials are
recommended and provided on the
CPHQ website.
- How can I find out about other live
CPHQ Review Courses?
o
CPHQ Review Course info can be found on the Quality Events Calendar at
www.nahq.org/education/events/calendar.
- What is the level of detail discussed in the live
CPHQ Review Course?
o The live
CPHQ Review Course does not go into great detail about the
quality field but is more of a resource on how to take the exam and
prepare for the exam. It is a very high level overview of the exam content.
- Do the Q Solutions books include practice questions?
o Q Solutions does not include practice questions as it is also a resource for
quality professionals not preparing to take the exam. The Self-Assessment
exam is a good resource for testing your knowledge prior to taking the
exam.
- How/who can I contact to answer my questions after completing the SelfAssessment
Exam to make sure I got the correct answers?
o You will receive feedback on the self-assessment exam following
completion, letting you know what items you got wrong and how to better
answer them along with an explanation of the correct answer.
- When can I get the Self-Assessment Exam and for how long?
o The self -study course is good for one year from time of purchase.
- Is there any assistance available for those who cannot afford to pay for the
exam and are not at an executive level where their employer will pay for it?
o There are grants available through the Healthcare Quality Foundation that
are awarded twice a year that assist recipients with the cost of the exam
or their preparation materials.
- If I purchase the Self-Assessment exam, can I take it multiple times?
o You can only submit answers for the Self-Assessment exam once and will
then be provided feedback on your answers. You have up to one year from
time of purchase to take the exam.
Taking the Exam:
- Are there questions that have answers with more than one correct option?
o No, each question has one best answer. While it may seem like some
questions have more than one possible answer, there is one BEST answer
for each question.
Post-Exam:
- When a candidate has sat for the exam and they receive their scores onsite, are
those scores official or unofficial scores?
o These are unofficial scores. You cannot use the
CPHQ credential nor are
you considered a passing candidate until you receive your official
documentation and certificate 4-6 weeks following the end of the month
that you took the exam.
- What is the passing score?
o The number of correct answered required to pass is generally around
75% of questions.
- When can I begin using the
CPHQ credential?
o You cannot begin using the
CPHQ credential until you have received your
official documents in the mail.
- How many times can I take the exam if I do not receive a passing score on my
first attempt?
o You must wait 90 days before attempting the exam again and you then
have 3 opportunities within a 365 day period to pass the exam.
Recertification:
- How many CE’s do I need over the 2 year recertification period?
o Recertification requires 30 CE hours over a 2 year period.
- When can I start earning CE's towards my recertification if I have passed the
exam?
o You can begin earning CE toward your recertification beginning January 1st
of the year following your exam date. For example, if you took the exam in
June of 2014, you cannot begin earning CE until January 1, 2015. CE
earned from January 1, 2015-December 31, 2016 can be used toward
recertification.
- Are there CE opportunities available online through NAHQ?
o Members receive special benefits when it comes to CE in that they have
opportunities to earn CE through JHQ Article reviews, IHI Open School
courses, and many other members -only opportunities.
- Can I use college course hours in place of CE?
o Yes, for each 1 hour of college credit, you can earn 10 CE hours.
- Can continuing education hours be used interchangeably? For example same
submitted for nursing licensure, case management, etc.
o Yes, so long as the hours align with the current content outline then they
can be used toward recertification.
