Benefits of Certification

For professionals: IHI certifications provide those working in the field a means to demonstrate their proficiency and skill in the discipline.

For organizations: Requiring or preferring certified candidates provides a way for employers to validate a potential candidate’s knowledge, skill base, and critical competencies for today’s health​​ care challenges and opportunities.

Which Certification Is Best for Me?

When considering certification, we recommend reviewing the detailed certification exam content outline and eligibility requirements to see how both align with your current responsibilities or future goals. If one of your goals for pursuing certification is a promotion or career change, it can be helpful to look at job descriptions or job titles of others who are certified to help understand what opportunities certification might open for you. Additionally, interests and competencies often overlap, which leads many health care professionals to pursue more than one certification. 

The examination for the Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care (CPHFH) credential is offered throughout the year at PSI Assessment Centers located domestically in the United States and internationally. The examination is also available online via live remote proctor.

The examination is administered by appointment only.

Available dates will be indicated when you schedule your examination. Candidates are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Candidates will be given 2.5 hours to complete the examination. 

CPHFH Content Areas

Candidates will be tested on the following human factors in health care domains:

• Assess and Analyze
• Design
• Improve and Monitor

CPHFH Examination Costs

• CPHFH Examination: US $549
• CPHFH Examination for international candidates: US $649
• CPHFH Practice Exam: US $99

How to Book a CPHFH Examination

The CPHFH examination is administered by appointment only at a PSI Assessment Center or online via live remote proctor.

• CPHFH Examination appointments will be available beginning in March 2025. 
• Practice Exam is currently available (see below).

Live Remote Proctoring for CPHFH Exam

Live remote online proctoring option for the CPHFH exam is available allows CPHFH candidates to continue advancing their personal and professional goals without having to travel to a testing center. See the “How to Book an Examination” section for more information.

Please be advised: Using a work computer for the remote proctored exam, even one which passes the System Compatibility Check, is highly discouraged due to administrator firewalls and IT security systems which frequently prevent exam launch.

International Candidates

Candidates testing outside of the US may submit their applications online or by mail. International candidates will be notified of the exam scheduling process as follows:

• Online applicants will be notified by email as soon as they complete the application.
• A candidate who submits a paper application form will be notified by email within 10 business days of receipt of his or her application form.

Additional fees may apply for international candidates.

How to Prepare for the CPHFH Examination

Review the CPHFH Content Outline

Download a PDF of the CPHFH content outline

Take the CPHFH Practice Exam

Take a practice examination to help you evaluate your level of preparedness for the certification examination. Practice examinations are available for $99 and may be ordered online.

The CPHFH Practice Exam is an online practice exam that was developed to be parallel in content and difficulty to the actual Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care exam. The practice exam should be regarded as a diagnostic tool to assess strengths and weaknesses, rather than a study guide for the examination. A passing score on the practice exam does not in any way guarantee a passing score on the CPHFH certification examination, nor is it required to sit for the examination. The practice exam will be available online to you for a period of 60 days from the date the order is placed.

Order the CPHFH Practice Exam online

Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care

Human factors is a discipline that seeks to optimize the relationship between technology, the environment, systems, and humans. In health care, it is an essential component for mitigating risks to both patients and the workforce.

The Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care (CPHFH) credential is earned by demonstrating a high level of proficiency in applying the core standards of human factors, systems thinking, and design to health care improvement.

Certification is awarded upon passing a comprehensive examination covering three key domains: Assess and Analyze, which involves evaluating and understanding human-system interactions to identify potential risks; Design, which focuses on designing and implementing systems and processes that enhance safety and efficiency; and Improve and Monitor, which entails continuously refining and overseeing systems to ensure ongoing safety and sustainable effectiveness.   

Health care professionals who are educated in human factors are empowered with valuable insights into the relationship between humans, patients, and the systems with which they interact.

Benefits of CPHFH Certification

• Health Care Leadership Confidence: Leadership is assured teams are capably skilled to effectively manage complex health care environments through a deep understanding of human-system interactions.
• Skills to Improve Team Performance: Certification affirms competence in applying human factors principles to streamline and optimize team interactions and workflows for more efficient and effective health care delivery.
• Enhanced Patient Safety: Health care professionals with human factors credentials use their knowledge to enhance patient outcomes, minimize errors, design safer systems, and reduce adverse events.
• Professional Recognition: This certification, fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS), validates specialized knowledge in human factors, distinguishing professionals as highly valued experts in creating user-centered and safer health care systems.
• Career Advancement: Human factors in health care certification opens doors to roles that require expertise in system improvement and human factors, positioning professionals for leadership and specialized positions within healthcare organizations. 

Why Certification Is Important

This professional certification program establishes core standards for the field of human factors in health care, benchmarks requirements necessary for health care professionals, and sets an expected proficiency level.

• For professionals, the CPHFH credential provides those working in human factors a means to demonstrate their proficiency and skill in the discipline.
• For organizations, requiring the CPHFH credential provides a way for employers to validate a potential candidate’s human factors knowledge and skill base, critical competencies for today’s health care challenges. 

Requirements for Certification

Candidates for the CPHFH credential are those who include human factors practices as an integral component of current or future professional responsibilities. Candidates must also possess academic and professional experience at one of the following levels:

• Diploma (e.g., associates, bachelors), plus 3 years of experience in Human Factors in Health Care Related Field over five years (either full time or part-time)

OR

• Master/Doctorate in Human Factors Related Field, plus 1 year of full-time experience or 2 years of part time experience in Human Factors in Health Care Related Field over five years

These candidates may include:

• Physicians, Nurses, and Pharmacists
• Patient Safety Professionals
• Quality, Improvement, and Risk Professionals
• Human Factors and Systems Engineering Professionals
• Health Care Executives
• Non-Clinical Health Care Professionals
• All other health care professionals with the requisite background

The Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS) randomly audits a limited number of applications per year to confirm eligibility requirements are met. If your application is selected for audit, please be prepared to provide documentation attesting to your education and experience.