Richard Clover, chair of the National Board of Public Health Examiners: Credentialing shows ‘commitment:’ Professionalizing the field of public health via certification

Until recently, public health was one of the few health fields that did not have a national standard or credentialing process. Several federal reports, including one from the U.S. surgeon general, urged public health officials to create a standardized benchmark to assess knowledge and professionalize the field. As a result, the National Board of Public Health Examiners, an independent nonprofit organization that includes representatives from a broad range of partner organizations, was formed. Richard Clover, MD, dean of the University of Louisville’s School of Public Health and Information Science, serves as chair of the board. As of today, more than 5,000 public health professionals have begun the process of becoming certified.

Click here to read the complete article published in the March 2012 issue of The Nation's Health.