Exam Guide
The CPHQ is administered by the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) and is the only certification dedicated exclusively to healthcare quality. Earning the CPHQ credential demonstrates expertise in organizational leadership, health data analytics, performance improvement, and patient safety.
125
Questions
2.5 Hrs
Time Limit
4
Knowledge Domains
$375+
Exam Fee
Strategic planning for quality, regulatory and accreditation readiness, staff development, change management, communication strategies, and healthcare leadership principles.
Data collection methods, statistical analysis, benchmarking, risk adjustment, healthcare informatics, performance measurement, and data-driven decision making.
Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA cycles, root cause analysis, failure mode effects analysis, clinical practice guidelines, utilization management, and care coordination.
Safety culture, event reporting systems, high-reliability organizations, infection prevention, medication safety, sentinel event response, and evidence-based safety practices.
Education: Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
Experience: At least 2 years of experience in healthcare quality. This can include roles in quality improvement, patient safety, risk management, utilization management, or related areas.
No Degree Requirement: Unlike many healthcare certifications, the CPHQ does not require a specific college degree. Practical experience in healthcare quality is the primary qualification.
The CPHQ consists of 125 multiple-choice questions: 100 scored and 25 unscored pretest items (you cannot tell which are which). You have 2.5 hours to complete the exam. It is computer-based and administered at PSI testing centers. The exam uses scaled scoring, and the minimum passing score is determined by the modified Angoff method.
The exam fee is $375 for NAHQ members and $475 for non-members. The approximate pass rate is 70-75%, making thorough preparation essential.
Most successful candidates study for 6-10 weeks using a combination of flashcards for terminology and frameworks, timed practice exams for pacing, and focused review of the two largest domains: Health Data and Analytics (30%) and Performance and Process Improvement (30%). Together these domains account for 60% of scored questions.
CPHQpractice provides flashcards, timed mini exams, and full-length 125-question simulations covering all four CPHQ domains with the exact weighting used on the real exam.