The Council on Education for Public Health Seeks Public Comment on Draft Accreditation

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) has released draft revisions to its accreditation criteria and is inviting input from the academic public health community by January 9, 2026. These updates mark a significant step in CEPH's ongoing efforts to ensure that accreditation standards reflect the evolving landscape of public health education and the skills graduates need to meet today's complex health challenges.

The proposed criteria revisions, available for review on CEPH's website, include updates to the Master of Public Health (MPH) foundational competencies (Sections D1 and D2) and to doctoral and other non-public health degrees housed within schools of public health (Sections D16-D18). CEPH is seeking feedback from schools, programs, faculty, students, and other stakeholders engaged in public health education.

To support this review process, CEPH will host a webinar overview of the proposed MPH curricular changes on Thursday, October 9, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The session will provide an overview of the rationale behind the revisions, highlight key updates under consideration, and outline how public comments will inform the final criteria.

Comments must be submitted via CEPH's online forms by January 9, 2026.

• Submit feedback on MPH criteria (D1 and D2)
• Submit feedback on doctoral and non-public health degree criteria (D16-D18)

CEPH's accreditation process is a cornerstone of quality assurance and continuous improvement in public health education. Accreditation affirms that schools and programs meet rigorous standards in curriculum design, faculty qualifications, community engagement, and student outcomes. As the accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, CEPH ensures that public health graduates are well prepared to enter and lead a diverse and rapidly changing workforce.

ASPPH has long partnered with CEPH to uphold high standards in public health education and will work with its member engagement groups to coordinate collective feedback on the proposed revisions. However, ASPPH encourages all member institutions and individuals to review the proposed updates and provide direct input to CEPH. Member perspectives play a vital role in shaping accreditation criteria that reflect the needs of both academia and the broader public health community.

For more information on CEPH accreditation and ASPPH's work supporting excellence in public health education, visit ASPPH's accreditation page.