CPH EXAM 2026/2027 Actual Exam – Complete
Questions & Detailed Rationales – Pass Guaranteed
– A+ Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Evidence-Based Public Health | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Epidemiology & Biostatistics | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Environmental & Occupational Health | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Health Policy & Management | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Social & Behavioral Sciences | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 40 in 90 minutes.
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SECTION 1: EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC HEALTH Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A county health department is reviewing interventions to reduce youth vaping. The
program director consults the Community Preventive Services Task Force findings to
identify strategies with demonstrated effectiveness across multiple studies.
A. Systematic review of peer-reviewed intervention research ✓ CORRECT
B. Narrative summary from a single pilot program
C. Expert opinion from a local school board
D. Unpublished internal program evaluation data
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Community Guide is based on systematic reviews that synthesize
evidence from multiple rigorous studies to recommend effective interventions. A
narrative summary or single pilot lacks the breadth and methodological rigor required
,for evidence classification. Health departments should prioritize systematic review
findings when allocating limited prevention resources.
Question 2 of 50
A state chronic disease director must choose between funding a diabetes
self-management program or a community walking initiative with the same budget
allocation. She requests an analysis comparing cost per quality-adjusted life year
gained for each option.
A. Efficacy under ideal trial conditions
B. Cost-utility analysis to determine value for money ✓ CORRECT
C. Internal validity assessment of program design
D. Process evaluation of implementation fidelity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cost-utility analysis expresses outcomes in QALYs, allowing direct
comparison of value across programs with different health benefits. Efficacy and
internal validity describe program performance but do not integrate cost or permit
cross-program prioritization. Decision makers increasingly rely on cost-utility analyses
to justify resource allocation to stakeholders and legislators.
Question 3 of 50
A local health department using the MAPP framework has completed the community
health status assessment, local public health system assessment, community themes
and strengths assessment, and forces of change assessment. The steering committee
is convening to identify priority issues.
A. Organizing for success and partnership development
B. Creating a shared community vision statement
C. Identifying strategic issues based on the four completed assessments ✓ CORRECT
D. Implementing and evaluating action plans
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the MAPP framework, strategic issues are identified only after the four
comprehensive assessments are completed, using that data to drive priorities.
Visioning and organizing occur earlier in the process. Too many health departments
rush to action planning without this critical intermediate step, resulting in interventions
misaligned with actual community needs.
Question 4 of 50
A program evaluator is developing a logic model for a school-based nutrition
intervention. The component describing a 15% increase in student fruit and vegetable
consumption after one semester is classified as:
A. Program inputs including staffing and funding
B. Activities such as classroom lessons and taste tests
C. Outputs measured as number of students reached
D. An outcome representing an intended change in behavior ✓ CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Outcomes are the intended changes in knowledge, behavior, or health status
resulting from program activities, whereas outputs merely count deliverables. Inputs
and activities describe program resources and processes rather than results. Logic
models help stakeholders distinguish between doing things and achieving results.
Question 5 of 50
A state tobacco control program manager notices that only 8% of quitline callers are
Black, while Black residents comprise 22% of the state's adult smokers. To assess
whether the program is reaching its intended audience, the manager calculates:
A. The relative risk of smoking among Black adults
B. The program reach compared to population need ✓ CORRECT
C. The attributable fraction of smoking disparities
Questions & Detailed Rationales – Pass Guaranteed
– A+ Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Evidence-Based Public Health | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Epidemiology & Biostatistics | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Environmental & Occupational Health | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Health Policy & Management | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Social & Behavioral Sciences | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 40 in 90 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC HEALTH Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A county health department is reviewing interventions to reduce youth vaping. The
program director consults the Community Preventive Services Task Force findings to
identify strategies with demonstrated effectiveness across multiple studies.
A. Systematic review of peer-reviewed intervention research ✓ CORRECT
B. Narrative summary from a single pilot program
C. Expert opinion from a local school board
D. Unpublished internal program evaluation data
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Community Guide is based on systematic reviews that synthesize
evidence from multiple rigorous studies to recommend effective interventions. A
narrative summary or single pilot lacks the breadth and methodological rigor required
,for evidence classification. Health departments should prioritize systematic review
findings when allocating limited prevention resources.
Question 2 of 50
A state chronic disease director must choose between funding a diabetes
self-management program or a community walking initiative with the same budget
allocation. She requests an analysis comparing cost per quality-adjusted life year
gained for each option.
A. Efficacy under ideal trial conditions
B. Cost-utility analysis to determine value for money ✓ CORRECT
C. Internal validity assessment of program design
D. Process evaluation of implementation fidelity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cost-utility analysis expresses outcomes in QALYs, allowing direct
comparison of value across programs with different health benefits. Efficacy and
internal validity describe program performance but do not integrate cost or permit
cross-program prioritization. Decision makers increasingly rely on cost-utility analyses
to justify resource allocation to stakeholders and legislators.
Question 3 of 50
A local health department using the MAPP framework has completed the community
health status assessment, local public health system assessment, community themes
and strengths assessment, and forces of change assessment. The steering committee
is convening to identify priority issues.
A. Organizing for success and partnership development
B. Creating a shared community vision statement
C. Identifying strategic issues based on the four completed assessments ✓ CORRECT
D. Implementing and evaluating action plans
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the MAPP framework, strategic issues are identified only after the four
comprehensive assessments are completed, using that data to drive priorities.
Visioning and organizing occur earlier in the process. Too many health departments
rush to action planning without this critical intermediate step, resulting in interventions
misaligned with actual community needs.
Question 4 of 50
A program evaluator is developing a logic model for a school-based nutrition
intervention. The component describing a 15% increase in student fruit and vegetable
consumption after one semester is classified as:
A. Program inputs including staffing and funding
B. Activities such as classroom lessons and taste tests
C. Outputs measured as number of students reached
D. An outcome representing an intended change in behavior ✓ CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Outcomes are the intended changes in knowledge, behavior, or health status
resulting from program activities, whereas outputs merely count deliverables. Inputs
and activities describe program resources and processes rather than results. Logic
models help stakeholders distinguish between doing things and achieving results.
Question 5 of 50
A state tobacco control program manager notices that only 8% of quitline callers are
Black, while Black residents comprise 22% of the state's adult smokers. To assess
whether the program is reaching its intended audience, the manager calculates:
A. The relative risk of smoking among Black adults
B. The program reach compared to population need ✓ CORRECT
C. The attributable fraction of smoking disparities
