Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety

CPHQ Exam 2026: Format, Passing Score, Dates & Fees

Your complete guide to the CPHQ exam: 140 questions, passing score 600, the 7 domains, 2026 dates and current NAHQ fees.

D Dr Ahmed Habib October 20, 2026 Last updated October 23, 2026 9 min read
Share
CPHQ Exam 2026: Format, Passing Score, Dates & Fees
In this article
The CPHQ exam is a 3-hour, 140-question multiple-choice test from NAHQ, and you pass with a scaled score of 600 out of 800. International candidates sit it in one of four windows a year, at a PSI test centre or online. This guide covers everything you need before you apply: who can take it, what it tests, how scoring works, the 2026 dates and what it costs.

The CPHQ exam at a glance

CPHQ exam (2026)
Awarded byNAHQ (National Association for Healthcare Quality)
Questions140 multiple choice — 125 scored, 15 unscored pretest
Time3 hours
Passing score600 on a 200–800 scale
Content7 domains, from Performance and Process Improvement (27 items) to Regulatory and Accreditation (8 items)
WherePSI test centre or online with a live remote proctor
International windows 2026Feb 3–24 · May 4–25 · Aug 3–24 · Nov 2–23
International fee$799 non-member · $559 NAHQ member · $400 premium member
EligibilityNo formal requirements; NAHQ recommends 2 years of quality experience
Valid for2 years, then recertification with continuing education

What is the CPHQ?

The Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) is an international credential for people who lead quality, patient safety and performance improvement in healthcare. It is awarded by NAHQ through its certifying body, the Healthcare Quality Certification Commission, and it is the quality credential hospitals in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf most often list in quality and accreditation job postings.
Passing the exam shows you can apply quality methods — not just define them. Most questions test application and analysis: reading a control chart, choosing an improvement model, or deciding the next step after an adverse event.

CPHQ eligibility and requirements

There are no formal eligibility requirements to sit the CPHQ exam. You do not need a specific degree, licence or job title.
NAHQ does recommend at least two years of experience in healthcare quality before you apply. In practice, candidates who already work in quality, patient safety, risk management or accreditation find the scenario questions much easier, because they have seen the problems in real hospitals.
What you do need on exam day: two forms of ID, one with a current photo (passport or national ID), with the same name you used on your NAHQ application.

CPHQ exam format and content outline

The exam has 140 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours: 125 scored questions and 15 unscored pretest questions that NAHQ is trialling for future exams. You cannot tell which are which, so treat every question as scored. That gives you about 77 seconds per question.
The 125 scored questions come from 7 domains in the CPHQ content outline. Two domains — Performance and Process Improvement, and Health Data Analytics — make up 53 of the 125 scored items, so they deserve the most study time.
DomainScored itemsWhat it covers
Performance and Process Improvement27Improvement models (PDCA, Lean, Six Sigma), process analysis, teams and change
Health Data Analytics26Measurement, sampling, statistics, control charts, data display
Quality Leadership and Integration19Quality strategy, governance, culture, integrating quality across the organization
Patient Safety18Safety culture, risk, RCA, FMEA, adverse events
Quality Review and Accountability16Reporting, benchmarking, peer review, accountability
Population Health and Care Transitions11Care coordination, transitions, population outcomes
Regulatory and Accreditation8Standards, surveys, accreditation readiness
Total125
Item counts from the 2024 CPHQ content outline. Topic descriptions are a summary; read the outline for the full task list.
To see how leaders turn strategy into measurable targets, read our guide to the Balanced Scorecard in healthcare.

CPHQ passing score: how scoring works

The CPHQ passing score is 600 on a scaled range of 200 to 800. Your raw score — the number of the 125 scored questions you answer correctly — is converted to that scale so that every exam version is equally hard to pass. There is no fixed “number of correct answers” to aim for, because the exact cut-off can shift slightly between versions.
There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a question blank.
When you get your result: US candidates see an unofficial result at the end of the exam. International candidates receive their score report by email after the testing window closes — NAHQ’s apply page says 3–5 weeks, while the 2024 international handbook says 8–12 weeks, so plan for the longer wait.

CPHQ exam dates 2026

International candidates test in one of four windows a year and must apply before that window’s deadline. US candidates can test year-round.
Testing window 2026Apply betweenStatus (as of 20 Oct 2026)
Feb 3–24Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026Closed
May 4–25Feb 1 – Apr 30, 2026Closed
Aug 3–24May 1 – Jul 31, 2026Closed
Nov 2–23Aug 1 – Oct 31, 2026Applications close Oct 31
Deadlines are 11:59 pm US Central Time. Once you apply, you must test in the window you applied for; you reschedule your seat with PSI at least 48 hours ahead. NAHQ normally publishes the next year’s windows on its apply page — check it for 2027.
Planning tip: count back 8–12 weeks of study from your window. For the February 2027 window, start preparing in November or December 2026.

CPHQ exam cost and fees

For international candidates, the CPHQ exam costs $799, or $559 with a standard NAHQ membership and $400 with a premium membership. Compare the membership price on nahq.org with the $240 saving before you decide.
Fee (USD)InternationalUnited States
Non-member$799$714
Standard / CPHQ / student member$559$500
Premium member$400$357
Paying by check+ $25+ $25
Source: NAHQ apply page, October 2026. Older guides quote $579 / $679 from the 2024 handbook; the apply page is newer.
Three cost rules to know before you pay:
  • Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Missing your appointment or arriving more than 15 minutes late loses the fee.
  • A retake costs the full fee again. You can’t test in consecutive windows, and after three attempts in 365 days you must wait a year.
  • Recertification every 2 years needs continuing education linked to the content outline, plus a recertification fee.
Your prep course is a separate cost. Medicova CPHQ courses are paid once in EGP for 12 months of access — compare CPHQ course options and prices.

How to apply for the CPHQ exam, step by step

  1. Create a free account on nahq.org.
  2. Apply for the exam under My Certification. Use your name exactly as it appears on your passport or national ID.
  3. Choose your testing window (international candidates) and pay by credit card before the window’s deadline.
  4. Schedule your seat through My Certification › Test Portal, which takes you to PSI. Pick a PSI test centre or online remote proctoring.
  5. Prepare your setup if testing online: a private room, a computer that passes PSI’s system check, and a stable internet connection.
  6. Sit the exam with two forms of ID, one with a current photo. Arrive or log in early — more than 15 minutes late and you lose the fee.
Need testing accommodations? Request them when you apply and send the form at least 45 days before your exam date.

How to prepare for the CPHQ exam

Most working candidates need 8–12 weeks of steady study; experienced quality staff revising for a close window can do it in about 4 weeks. Whatever your timeline, follow the exam’s weights:
  1. Start with the two big domains. Performance and Process Improvement (27 items) and Health Data Analytics (26) are 42% of the scored exam.
  2. Learn the tools by using them. Draw a control chart, run a fishbone and an FMEA on a real problem from your hospital — the exam asks you to apply them, not define them.
  3. Practice in exam conditions. Do at least one full timed set of 140 questions in 3 hours before your window.
  4. Review by domain, not by chapter. After each practice set, sort your mistakes by domain and rewatch those lessons.
  5. Use NAHQ’s own materials — the content outline and candidate handbook — to check nothing is missing.

Prepare with Medicova

Medicova CPHQ courses are recorded, explained in Arabic with English terms, and taught by CPHQ-certified instructors:
  • CPHQ Master Class — a focused 15-hour CPHQ exam prep for quality staff whose exam is close.
  • CPHQ Complete Prep Program — 44 lessons with full exam practice, for 2–3 months of preparation.
  • 30-day CPHQ crash course — the Master Class, a question bank and a day-by-day plan.
Not sure which fits? Compare all CPHQ courses — or read the guide for your country: CPHQ in Egypt · CPHQ in Saudi Arabia.

CPHQ exam FAQ

How many questions are on the CPHQ exam?

140 multiple-choice questions: 125 count toward your score and 15 are unscored pretest questions. You have 3 hours to finish.

What is the CPHQ passing score?

600 on a scaled range of 200 to 800. Your number of correct answers is converted to that scale, so the exact raw cut-off can vary slightly between exam versions.

How much does the CPHQ exam cost in 2026?

For international candidates, $799 for non-members, $559 for standard NAHQ members and $400 for premium members. Fees are non-refundable, and a retake costs the full fee again.

When are the CPHQ exam dates in 2026?

International windows are Feb 3–24, May 4–25, Aug 3–24 and Nov 2–23, 2026. Applications for the November window close on October 31, 2026.

What are the CPHQ eligibility requirements?

There are none. Anyone can sit the exam, though NAHQ recommends at least two years of experience in healthcare quality.

Can I take the CPHQ exam online from Egypt or Saudi Arabia?

Yes. International candidates can test online with a live remote proctor through PSI, or at a PSI test centre where one is available.

How long is the CPHQ certification valid?

Two years. To recertify you earn continuing education linked to the CPHQ content outline and pay a recertification fee before December 31 of your due year.

How long should I study for the CPHQ?

Most working professionals study for 8–12 weeks. Experienced quality staff revising for a close window can prepare in about 4 weeks with a focused plan.

Sources (checked 20 Oct 2026)

#CPHQ#Exam prep
D

Written by

Dr Ahmed Habib

Medicova healthcare-education contributor.