It has been estimated that there are well over three hundred academic institutions that offer a graduate degree in selected specialty areas within public health. Many of these are programs in community health education and programs in community health/preventive medicine.

However, ASPH represents the CEPH-accredited schools of public health in North America. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the nationally recognized accrediting body for both schools of public health and public health programs.

What are the benefits of attending an accredited school of public health?

• Accreditation is a rigorous peer-review process; attending a CEPH-accredited school of public health means assurance for students that each schools’ educational programs have been found to be satisfactory by other accredited schools of public health;



• Assurance of receiving a well-rounded graduate education. Accredited schools of public health must provide degree programs in each of the five core public health areas: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Behavioral Sciences/Health Education, and Health Services Administration.



• Advanced degree opportunities. Accredited schools of public health must offer at least one doctoral degree, in addition to master's level degrees.



• Assistance in the transfer of credits between institutions, or in the admission of students to advanced degrees, through the general acceptance of credits among accredited institutions when the performance of the student has been satisfactory and the credits to be transferred are appropriate to the receiving institution;



• Eligibility to sit for the Certified in Public Health exam, administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE);



• Assurance that the degree earned will qualify the graduate for many jobs which specify graduation from an accredited school as a condition of employment; and



• Eligibility for public health internships and fellowships sponsored by various federal agencies, as well as student assistance resources that are available only through accredited schools.