Gebbie Kristine, Goldstein Bernard D, Gregorio David I, Tsou Walter, Buffler Patricia, Petersen Donna, Mahan Charles, Silver Gillian B
Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Public Health Rep. 2007 Jul-Aug;122(4):435-40. doi: 10.1177/003335490712200403.
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.
国家公共卫生考官委员会（NBPHE，委员会）是多年来在公共卫生界就资质认定的重要性进行深入讨论的结果。委员会计划于2008年开始对经公共卫生教育委员会（CEPH）认证的公共卫生项目和学院的毕业生进行资质认定。在目前为改善公共卫生实践而开展的众多活动中，委员会将资质认定视为提高对公共卫生专业人员的认可度并增强公共卫生实践整体效力的一条途径。正在进行的过程包括开发、准备、管理和评估一项自愿认证考试，该考试旨在测试CEPH认证学校和项目的毕业生是否掌握了与当代公共卫生实践相关的核心知识和技能。这项资质认定举措是在对公共卫生教育兴趣高涨以及公共卫生劳动力预计将迅速更替的背景下开展的。完全可以预期，随着委员会考虑这一职业转型的诸多方面，关于资质认定过程的积极讨论将持续下去。委员会希望鼓励这些讨论，并欢迎就与资质认定过程实施相关的任何方面提供意见。
