Certified in Public Health (CPH)
Examination Practice Exam Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
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1. Which core function of public health focuses on monitoring health status to
identify community health problems?
A. Policy development
B. Assurance
C. Assessment
D. Evaluation
Answer: C. Assessment
Rationale: Assessment involves collecting, analyzing, and disseminating health
information to identify health problems and priorities within a population.
2. The primary purpose of epidemiology is to:
A. Diagnose individual patients
B. Develop pharmaceutical products
C. Study the distribution and determinants of health-related events in
,populations
D. Provide hospital-based treatment
Answer: C. Study the distribution and determinants of health-related events in
populations
Rationale: Epidemiology examines patterns, causes, and effects of diseases and
health conditions in populations to guide prevention and control efforts.
3. Which study design is best suited for investigating rare diseases?
A. Cohort study
B. Randomized controlled trial
C. Cross-sectional study
D. Case-control study
Answer: D. Case-control study
Rationale: Case-control studies begin with individuals who have the disease and
compare prior exposures with controls, making them efficient for studying rare
diseases.
4. Which measure expresses the number of existing cases of a disease at a
specific time?
A. Incidence
B. Mortality rate
C. Attack rate
D. Prevalence
Answer: D. Prevalence
Rationale: Prevalence measures all existing cases within a population at a given
point or period in time.
, 5. Incidence measures:
A. Existing disease burden
B. New cases occurring during a specified time period
C. Total deaths
D. Disability-adjusted life years
Answer: B. New cases occurring during a specified time period
Rationale: Incidence reflects the occurrence of new cases and is useful for
studying disease risk.
6. Which level of prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs?
A. Secondary prevention
B. Tertiary prevention
C. Quaternary prevention
D. Primary prevention
Answer: D. Primary prevention
Rationale: Primary prevention includes interventions such as immunization,
healthy lifestyle promotion, and environmental protection before disease
develops.
7. Mammography screening is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Primordial prevention
Answer: B. Secondary prevention
Rationale: Secondary prevention detects disease early to improve outcomes
through prompt intervention.
, 8. Cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction represents:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Primordial prevention
Answer: C. Tertiary prevention
Rationale: Tertiary prevention minimizes disability and improves quality of life
after disease has occurred.
9. Which organization establishes national public health objectives in the
United States?
A. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
B. Healthy People Initiative
C. Federal Emergency Management Agency
D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Answer: B. Healthy People Initiative
Rationale: Healthy People establishes science-based national objectives for
improving the health of Americans.
10.Which determinant has the greatest influence on population health?
A. Hospital size
B. Social determinants of health
C. Medical technology
D. Insurance billing practices
Answer: B. Social determinants of health
Examination Practice Exam Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which core function of public health focuses on monitoring health status to
identify community health problems?
A. Policy development
B. Assurance
C. Assessment
D. Evaluation
Answer: C. Assessment
Rationale: Assessment involves collecting, analyzing, and disseminating health
information to identify health problems and priorities within a population.
2. The primary purpose of epidemiology is to:
A. Diagnose individual patients
B. Develop pharmaceutical products
C. Study the distribution and determinants of health-related events in
,populations
D. Provide hospital-based treatment
Answer: C. Study the distribution and determinants of health-related events in
populations
Rationale: Epidemiology examines patterns, causes, and effects of diseases and
health conditions in populations to guide prevention and control efforts.
3. Which study design is best suited for investigating rare diseases?
A. Cohort study
B. Randomized controlled trial
C. Cross-sectional study
D. Case-control study
Answer: D. Case-control study
Rationale: Case-control studies begin with individuals who have the disease and
compare prior exposures with controls, making them efficient for studying rare
diseases.
4. Which measure expresses the number of existing cases of a disease at a
specific time?
A. Incidence
B. Mortality rate
C. Attack rate
D. Prevalence
Answer: D. Prevalence
Rationale: Prevalence measures all existing cases within a population at a given
point or period in time.
, 5. Incidence measures:
A. Existing disease burden
B. New cases occurring during a specified time period
C. Total deaths
D. Disability-adjusted life years
Answer: B. New cases occurring during a specified time period
Rationale: Incidence reflects the occurrence of new cases and is useful for
studying disease risk.
6. Which level of prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs?
A. Secondary prevention
B. Tertiary prevention
C. Quaternary prevention
D. Primary prevention
Answer: D. Primary prevention
Rationale: Primary prevention includes interventions such as immunization,
healthy lifestyle promotion, and environmental protection before disease
develops.
7. Mammography screening is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Primordial prevention
Answer: B. Secondary prevention
Rationale: Secondary prevention detects disease early to improve outcomes
through prompt intervention.
, 8. Cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction represents:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Primordial prevention
Answer: C. Tertiary prevention
Rationale: Tertiary prevention minimizes disability and improves quality of life
after disease has occurred.
9. Which organization establishes national public health objectives in the
United States?
A. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
B. Healthy People Initiative
C. Federal Emergency Management Agency
D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Answer: B. Healthy People Initiative
Rationale: Healthy People establishes science-based national objectives for
improving the health of Americans.
10.Which determinant has the greatest influence on population health?
A. Hospital size
B. Social determinants of health
C. Medical technology
D. Insurance billing practices
Answer: B. Social determinants of health
