CPH - ALL SAMPLE EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 VERIFIED 2026-2027
Overview
This comprehensive document provides a complete collection of sample questions and
verified answers for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam, updated for the 2026
testing cycle. It covers all core public health domains including epidemiology,
biostatistics, environmental health, health policy and management, social and behavioral
sciences, leadership, ethics, and program evaluation. All answers are accurate and
aligned with current CPH certification standards for 2026, making this an essential
resource for exam preparation and self-assessment.
Question 1
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a community health needs
assessment?
A) To secure funding for health programs
B) To identify health problems, assets, and gaps in a community to guide
intervention planning
C) To evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs
D) To comply with accreditation requirements only
Rationale: A community health needs assessment systematically collects and analyzes
data to understand community health status, needs, resources, and priorities. Its primary
purpose is to inform planning and resource allocation, not merely to secure funding or
meet compliance requirements .
Question 2
What is the primary goal of a "Health Impact Assessment" (HIA)?
A) To evaluate clinical outcomes after treatment
B) To prospectively assess the potential health effects of a proposed policy, project,
or program
C) To diagnose individual patient conditions
D) To replace environmental impact assessments
,Rationale: HIA is a structured process that identifies potential health consequences of
decisions in non-health sectors (e.g., transportation, housing, agriculture). It is prospective
and aims to influence decision-making to maximize health benefits and minimize harms .
Question 3
In the context of program evaluation, what is the difference between "efficacy" and
"effectiveness"?
A) Efficacy is measured in real-world settings; effectiveness is measured in controlled
settings
B) Efficacy is the benefit under ideal/controlled conditions; effectiveness is the
benefit under real-world conditions
C) Efficacy refers to cost; effectiveness refers to health outcomes
D) There is no meaningful difference
Rationale: Efficacy is the benefit of an intervention under ideal, controlled conditions (e.g.,
randomized controlled trial), while effectiveness is the benefit under real-world, routine
conditions. This distinction is critical when translating research findings to practice .
Question 4
Which of the following is a key component of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model?
A) Health belief assessment
B) Educational and ecological assessment
C) Statistical power analysis
D) Cost-benefit analysis
Rationale: PRECEDE-PROCEED is a comprehensive planning framework. The "Educational
and Ecological Assessment" (Phase 4) identifies predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing
factors that influence health behaviors. This is a distinctive feature of the model .
,Question 5
What is the primary purpose of a logic model in program planning?
A) To replace the need for evaluation
B) To visually depict the relationship between program resources, activities,
outputs, and outcomes
C) To secure grant funding
D) To track program expenses
Rationale: A logic model is a visual tool that connects program inputs (resources), activities
(interventions), outputs (direct products), and outcomes (short, intermediate, and long-
term changes). It guides both planning and evaluation .
Question 6
Which of the following is an example of a qualitative research method commonly used
in public health?
A) Randomized controlled trial
B) Cross-sectional survey
C) Focus group discussion
D) Cohort study
Rationale: Focus groups are a qualitative method for exploring perceptions, beliefs, and
experiences through group discussion. RCTs, cross-sectional surveys, and cohort studies are
typically quantitative methods .
Question 7
What is the purpose of a "systematic review" in public health?
A) To present one expert's opinion on a topic
B) To comprehensively summarize and appraise all available evidence on a specific
research question
C) To collect new primary data
D) To promote a specific intervention
, Rationale: Systematic reviews follow a rigorous, transparent methodology to identify,
select, and critically evaluate all relevant studies on a question. They are the foundation of
evidence-based practice and inform guidelines and policy .
Question 8
What is the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in public health research?
A) To ensure scientific validity of research
B) To protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects
C) To secure research funding
D) To publish research findings
Rationale: IRBs review research protocols to ensure ethical conduct, informed consent, risk
minimization, and protection of vulnerable populations. They do not assess scientific merit
or provide funding .
Question 9
What is the primary purpose of "contact tracing" in infectious disease control?
A) To locate missing persons
B) To identify and notify individuals who have been exposed to an infectious
disease
C) To track personal movements for surveillance
D) To enforce quarantine without consent
Rationale: Contact tracing is a core public health tool that identifies, notifies, and monitors
individuals exposed to an infectious disease. It enables early testing, treatment, and
isolation to prevent further transmission .
Question 10
Which of the following best describes "health literacy"?
2026 VERIFIED 2026-2027
Overview
This comprehensive document provides a complete collection of sample questions and
verified answers for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam, updated for the 2026
testing cycle. It covers all core public health domains including epidemiology,
biostatistics, environmental health, health policy and management, social and behavioral
sciences, leadership, ethics, and program evaluation. All answers are accurate and
aligned with current CPH certification standards for 2026, making this an essential
resource for exam preparation and self-assessment.
Question 1
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a community health needs
assessment?
A) To secure funding for health programs
B) To identify health problems, assets, and gaps in a community to guide
intervention planning
C) To evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs
D) To comply with accreditation requirements only
Rationale: A community health needs assessment systematically collects and analyzes
data to understand community health status, needs, resources, and priorities. Its primary
purpose is to inform planning and resource allocation, not merely to secure funding or
meet compliance requirements .
Question 2
What is the primary goal of a "Health Impact Assessment" (HIA)?
A) To evaluate clinical outcomes after treatment
B) To prospectively assess the potential health effects of a proposed policy, project,
or program
C) To diagnose individual patient conditions
D) To replace environmental impact assessments
,Rationale: HIA is a structured process that identifies potential health consequences of
decisions in non-health sectors (e.g., transportation, housing, agriculture). It is prospective
and aims to influence decision-making to maximize health benefits and minimize harms .
Question 3
In the context of program evaluation, what is the difference between "efficacy" and
"effectiveness"?
A) Efficacy is measured in real-world settings; effectiveness is measured in controlled
settings
B) Efficacy is the benefit under ideal/controlled conditions; effectiveness is the
benefit under real-world conditions
C) Efficacy refers to cost; effectiveness refers to health outcomes
D) There is no meaningful difference
Rationale: Efficacy is the benefit of an intervention under ideal, controlled conditions (e.g.,
randomized controlled trial), while effectiveness is the benefit under real-world, routine
conditions. This distinction is critical when translating research findings to practice .
Question 4
Which of the following is a key component of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model?
A) Health belief assessment
B) Educational and ecological assessment
C) Statistical power analysis
D) Cost-benefit analysis
Rationale: PRECEDE-PROCEED is a comprehensive planning framework. The "Educational
and Ecological Assessment" (Phase 4) identifies predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing
factors that influence health behaviors. This is a distinctive feature of the model .
,Question 5
What is the primary purpose of a logic model in program planning?
A) To replace the need for evaluation
B) To visually depict the relationship between program resources, activities,
outputs, and outcomes
C) To secure grant funding
D) To track program expenses
Rationale: A logic model is a visual tool that connects program inputs (resources), activities
(interventions), outputs (direct products), and outcomes (short, intermediate, and long-
term changes). It guides both planning and evaluation .
Question 6
Which of the following is an example of a qualitative research method commonly used
in public health?
A) Randomized controlled trial
B) Cross-sectional survey
C) Focus group discussion
D) Cohort study
Rationale: Focus groups are a qualitative method for exploring perceptions, beliefs, and
experiences through group discussion. RCTs, cross-sectional surveys, and cohort studies are
typically quantitative methods .
Question 7
What is the purpose of a "systematic review" in public health?
A) To present one expert's opinion on a topic
B) To comprehensively summarize and appraise all available evidence on a specific
research question
C) To collect new primary data
D) To promote a specific intervention
, Rationale: Systematic reviews follow a rigorous, transparent methodology to identify,
select, and critically evaluate all relevant studies on a question. They are the foundation of
evidence-based practice and inform guidelines and policy .
Question 8
What is the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in public health research?
A) To ensure scientific validity of research
B) To protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects
C) To secure research funding
D) To publish research findings
Rationale: IRBs review research protocols to ensure ethical conduct, informed consent, risk
minimization, and protection of vulnerable populations. They do not assess scientific merit
or provide funding .
Question 9
What is the primary purpose of "contact tracing" in infectious disease control?
A) To locate missing persons
B) To identify and notify individuals who have been exposed to an infectious
disease
C) To track personal movements for surveillance
D) To enforce quarantine without consent
Rationale: Contact tracing is a core public health tool that identifies, notifies, and monitors
individuals exposed to an infectious disease. It enables early testing, treatment, and
isolation to prevent further transmission .
Question 10
Which of the following best describes "health literacy"?
