Prepare for the CPHQ®
Get ready for the CPHQ exam
Becoming CPHQ certified demonstrates to employers and colleagues that you know how to manage and advance healthcare Quality and safety. Effective preparation for the CPHQ exam is critical to earning the credential.
The CPHQ certification incorporates the body of knowledge in the healthcare Quality profession. It covers the following seven domains:
Health data analytics
Includes design and data management; measurement and analysis
Patient safety
Includes assessment and planning; implementation and evaluation
Quality review and accountability
Includes clinical practice guidelines, documentation, patient experience and applying best practices from Quality-related organizations
Regulatory and accreditation
Includes evaluating, monitoring, and improving compliance with organizational requirements and evaluating accreditation, certification and recognition options
Quality leadership and integration
Includes strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and teamwork
Performance and process improvement
Includes identification of improvement opportunities, implementation and evaluation
Population health and care transitions
Includes health management strategies, analyzing and identifying opportunities for improvement in care transitions
Create your exam prep plan
To get started, review the CPHQ content outline. It will provide in-depth information on specific exam topics and help you identify areas to study. There are many ways to prepare for the CPHQ exam, including with NAHQ’s CPHQ Prep products:
- Comprehensive CPHQ Pre-Test
- CPHQ Online Review Course
- Live-Virtual CPHQ Review Course
- HQ Solutions 5th Edition
These best-selling resources are highly complementary and designed to provide busy professionals with all the tools needed to prepare for the CPHQ exam. They are optional resources and do not guarantee passing the exam.
Based on your learning preferences, attend a CPHQ Review Course Live, or study at your own pace with the Online Review Course. Buy all 3 self-study products in the CPHQ Prep Package, and save 10% compared to buying the items separately.
The CPHQ Prep journey
Is the CPHQ for you?
Find out if the CPHQ is right for you by reviewing these resources.
Learn and review
Utilize NAHQ prep materials to learn more and study.
Assess your readiness
Review your progress and assess your readiness for the exam.
Take the test!
Apply for the exam in-person or online.
CPHQ resources
CPHQ exam questions are created based on information in a variety of publications and resources. You can find a list of external CPHQ resources in the CPHQ Candidate Handbook or in the FAQs.
Each question is designed to test if candidates possess the knowledge necessary to perform the task and can apply it to a job situation.
Be sure to review the candidate handbook before you start the certification process.
Plan your time
Most candidates with healthcare Quality experience have reported spending six weeks to three months in preparation. Candidates should take into account their own education and experience while planning their path to earning the CPHQ.
Other ways to prepare
There are many ways to prepare for the exam. NAHQ’s resources are not required for candidates looking to prepare for the CPHQ exam and using NAHQ’s resources does not guarantee candidates will pass the exam.
HQCC's position on exam prep
CPHQ Prep FAQ
What study materials are suggested?
- You are not required to use study materials in preparation for the exam. However, there are a variety of available study materials from NAHQ, which include virtual instructor-led and online review courses, practice exams and books. View CPHQ exam prep products.
What does the exam cover?
- The exam is built from the results of a job analysis that provides objective data to validate the relevance of exam content. This ensures that we maintain the CPHQ exam’s significance while addressing the changing, dynamic environment of healthcare quality. A job analysis is conducted every 3-5 years and surveys the full spectrum of employment settings.
- The results of the job analysis inform the content outline for the CPHQ exam – to ensure job tasks covered in the exam are current and relevant in today’s environment. An Executive Summary of the Job Analysis can be found here.
- The current content outline that the exam covers can be found here.
How long does it take to prepare for the exam?
- This varies by individual depending on the level of experience in the field and study habits. Based on a recent survey of candidates, on average, candidates spend six weeks to three months preparing.
Are there other external resources to prepare for the exam?
Some suggested preparation for the CPHQ exam might include but should not be limited to the following resources:
- The Janet A. Brown Healthcare Quality Handbook: A Professional Resource and Study Guide 30th Edition, Brown, Janet A. and Mellott, Susan (2018)
- Essentials of Managed Health Care (6th ed, 2013) , edited by Peter R. Kongstvedt.
- Facilitating with Ease, Ingrid Bens (2018)
- Preventing Medication Errors, Institute of Medicine. (2007).
- Understanding Patient Safety, Robert Wachter. (2017).
- Storytelling with Data, Cole N. Knaflic (2015)
- The Quality Toolbox, Nancy Tague. (2010).
- Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook, Michael George, David Rowlans, Mark Price, & John Maxey. (2005).
- The Memory Jogger™ 2, 2nd edition. Michael Brassard, (2010). www.goalqpc.com
- The Healthcare Quality Book: Vision, Strategy, and Tools (3rd ed.) Maulik S Joshi, and Elizabeth R. Ransom (2014) ISBN-13: 978-1567935905; Publisher Health Administration Press.
- Quality Chasm Series: Patient Safety—Achieving a New Standard for Care, Institute of Medicine. (2004).
- The Team Handbook, 3rd edition, Peter Scholtes, Brian Joiner, & Barbara Streibel. (2004).
- The Lean Enterprises Memory Jogger, Richard L. Macinnes & Carolann Scherer (2011).
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: www.ahrq.gov
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement: www.ihi.org/Pages/default.aspx
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices: www.ismp.org
Want to learn about the CPHQ®?
Find out more about the only accredited certification in healthcare Quality.
*Required fields
