What Is the Best Way for Me to Pass the CPHQ Exam?
CPHQ candidates now have a choice of options when getting ready for the CPHQ exam. In order to get the most valuable advice about the approach that best suits their situation, candidates should have some basic information on hand.
“How can I pass the CPHQ exam?”
“What resources should I buy to pass the CPHQ exam?”
“Can you give me advice on passing the CPHQ exam?”
Etc.
I get a few questions like these every month. Sometimes they come in an email. Sometimes via the Contact page. Other times in a LinkedIn message. And other times by telephone or in person at conferences, seminars, or workshops.
Ask the Question in the Right Way
What Is the Absolute Best Way for Me to Pass the CPHQ Exam?
It’s a great question. In my role as a professional CPHQ coach, I think about this issue (a lot) to help my students achieve the best possible result as quickly and as comfortably as possible.
But this is no longer 2009. We have more options (though not many legitimate ones) for approaching CPHQ exam preparation. Gone are the days when you get online and search for a few books (or in many cases, one book) to buy to help you prepare for the CPHQ test. That’s so old school.
Anyone who gives you an answer directly, without asking you more about your circumstances, is doing you a disservice and/or trying to peddle their product without thinking whether it will help you and how.
Your strategy for taking the CPHQ exam should be based on you, not on what the marketers promise or what other people did in the past. How others prepared for their exam might or might not have been the best way for their skills, knowledge, and experience. Their methods might or might not have been the most efficient or most effective possible, regardless of the results. They might not have had the opportunity to explore more modern techniques for preparing for the CPHQ exam.
So if you’re asking someone (not just me) about the best way to become a CPHQ, stop for a second and consider the following questions:
- What is your experience in healthcare quality? (Not only in terms of years, but also what you’ve done in that period and where.)
- What are your strengths and weaknesses, relative to the CPHQ exam content outline? How objective is your assessment?
- Have you attempted the CPHQ exam in the past? If so, what were your scores for the four major content categories?
- What other credentials do you have, e.g. certifications, a master’s degree?
- What is your preferred learning style?
- How much resources and time can you invest in exam preparation?
- What time frame have you given yourself?
- When was the last time you sat a standardized professional exam? What were your results?
- How familiar are you with the commonly-used terms and commonly-tested concepts on the CPHQ exam?
It will take some time, but asking yourself these questions and writing down the information somewhere before seeking advice will help you get the highest quality suggestions while avoiding either (A) a one-size-fits-all magic “solution” or (B) a wishy-washy answer that leaves you none the wiser.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Subscribe to the CPHQ Tutor newsletter to receive ongoing information about CPHQ exam preparation, happenings in the CPHQ program, and our products and services.
If any healthcare quality professional is looking at what their study material options are in terms of passing the CPHQ exam, I would say that Dr Teh’s website (yes, ALL his articles MUST be read thoroughly including all quizzes) and 1 standardised healthcare quality book would be more than sufficient 🙂 My passing the exam on the first attempt with the above mentioned resources is enough evidence!
Hi,
Could you post the link to the website? (Dr Teh’s)
Thanks
CPHQ Tutor membership website.
In case you are unaware, Dr Aparna Sundar achieved a score of 107/125 (or about 86%) for her CPHQ exam, with only about 2 months of exam preparation. A terrific result!
Can I ask what type of experience she had prior to preparing and taking the exam?
@heather – Prior to taking the CPHQ exam, Dr Sundar, as she stated during our interview, had undergone her internship and had no formal training in quality management. Dr Sundar was a physician executive. She assumed a support role in the medical administration department of the hospital, where she was working, for less than 2 years before becoming a CPHQ. Dr Sundar passed the CPHQ exam on her first attempt. The information provided here is merely extracted from our interview with Dr Sundar; I haven’t shared any additional information. Although I knew/know a lot more about Dr Sundar’s circumstances (we still keep in touch – she never forgets my birthday!), I hope you understand I will never disclose personal or other information about her or any of our clients, both individuals and organizations (of any size). Privacy and confidentiality are paramount in our work as healthcare consultants.
I second that. I read one book and did the questions on CPHQ tutor and achieved a passing score of 113 on the first attempt.
hello,
I am rami from KSA, I saw your comment and I would like to know whats the book your were read.
thanx
@rami – We have read more books on healthcare quality than we can count, and certainly more than 90% of CPHQ candidates. More importantly, we have distilled the pertinent information and presented it in a simple and concise manner.
I have gained knowledge since I joined the webiste. I do have a question. I do very well learning from lecutures. Does any know of any dvd lecutres that are available that are reputable to help with studying for the exam
@Brandy Robertson – The IHI Open School videos, such as those on the Science of Improvement, offer good value.
which book should i read and i need only one book ,,, which you r recommend for me to read to start studying
@Anonymous – As a reference text, eitherThe Healthcare Quality Handbook or the NAHQ’s Q Solutions should be adequate. However, the modern approach to CPHQ exam preparation does NOT involve “studying” a book (only)! I suggest using a variety of resources to prepare for the CPHQ exam. In fact, most of my private students rarely open a book because (A) they genuinely don’t have the time, and (B) they don’t need to.
Can you pkease send me pic of the answers for the study question of janet brown book , the healthcare quality handbook , i need only the answres , have photocopy of the book but doesnt include answers , be cool and send them to my email please
@Sara – Phoptocopying Janet Brown’s The Healthcare Quality Handbook without the author’s explicit permission is an infringement of copyright and theft of intellectual property. We neither participate in nor condone such activities. As a CPHQ, I feel the responsibility to uphold the values and principles of the healthcare quality profession. Though we have the material you want, we will NOT promote behavior unbecoming of the profession.
Not paying for Janet’s, or anybody else’s, work is stealing, and stealing is definitely not cool.
“Life is made up of choices. There are two ways of doing things, the right way and the wrong way. Every responsible individual stands almost daily at the crossroads and must choose which way he will travel. He can take the road that leads to the heights where the good and great of the earth assemble, or he can take the road that leads to the depths where the victims of remorse and despondency go. Life calls for almost constant decisions and the decisions which we make reflect with accuracy our thinking and our tastes.”
—Delbert L. Stapley
P.S. We are not associated with Janet Brown or her company, JB Quality Solutions, though we regard and respect Janet as a colleague in the healthcare quality profession. Except in specific circumstances and for specific topics, we do not recommend the use of Janet Brown’s The Healthcare Quality Handbook for CPHQ exam preparation. Also, we do NOT recommend against the use of The Healthcare Quality Handbook for the same purpose.
hello,
I visited your very impressive website… I suppose your teaching would be equally impressive and effective but unfortunately the course fees you have mentioned is way too much for me.. 🙁
The way to go scheme will end up same too i guess!!
I hope you dont have some discounted programs available for nonaffording
@Shaz – We recognized more than 5 years ago that the fee for our private CPHQ coaching program was going to be beyond the budget of most candidates. Therefore, we created CPHQ Tutor, which offers excellent value! Discounts on the CPHQ Tutor subscription fee are available to members of selected state healthcare associations for healthcare quality and employees of organizations with which my healthcare quality consulting firm has worked with.
Take my examination on December 19th. Hoping to pass with flying colors been studying for 2.5 weeks so far.m
how did you do?
Hello everyone, I am a Registered Nurse. I have been doing quality for about 3.5 years. I was sorta placed in the position without any training. I went a BCBS CPHQ prep work shop in August, I have been studying off & on for about a month now. I plan on taking the exam in late December or early January. I welcome all comments & any advice for those who have taken the exam whether you passed or not. Thanks
how often are new quizzes added, or is it best to keep retaking the posted quizzes?
@kathleen schwarzkopf – New quizzes are published every 3 or 4 days. We don’t recommend you keep attempting the same ones because this is unlikely to add value to your exam preparation. You might wish to review ones you’ve previously tried at longer intervals, say every 4 weeks.
Hi, Do you have any idea about the suspension of CPHQ exams taking internationally. when will they start again. can i start studying for the exams now
CPHQ certification/exam is just one, right? No specific categories like ASQ.
@Bayani – The American Society for Quality (ASQ) offers a range of certifications. None are specific to health care. The Healthcare Quality Certification Commission (HQCC) offers only the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) certification. The latter is specific to health care.
do you have a book or study guide from you.
@sunday – We have written a number of books and “study guides,” which are meant for use by students enrolled in our private coaching program, in conjunction with other tools and our live instruction. They are not available to the general public.
Hi Andy,
I am an occupational therapist who is very interested and looking to get into healthcare quality but have very little actual exposure to the field. I have asked for opportunities to get involved in QI projects at the hospital, but its been a little slow because of my pt. care responsibilities. Do you think studying and passing the CPHQ would increase opportunities for me to venture into health care quality?
@Roxanne – Being CPHQ certified may help because it demonstrates your commitment to quality and a level of skills and knowledge in the field. With the CPHQ credential, it will likely be easier to access opportunities to participate in improvement teams.
hii ,,, Anybody know the site of CPHQ practical question paper website,,,or anybody have link ,,,kindly post here ,,it will be great help whoever going for CPHQ exam…
@ubai – The largest archive of realistic practice and mock (and some actual!) CPHQ exam questions can be found on this website.
Dear i am mohd nazim hospital pharmacist has more than 5 years experience and also i am out-patient pharmacy quality coordinator..i am planing to attend cphq exam,i would like to ask you,cphq certification would be better for my hospital pharmacist carrer?
and also what egilibilty criteria are required for attebd cphq exam..
thanks
nazim saudi arabia
@mohd.nazim – Will CPHQ certification advance your career as a hospital pharmacist? Possibly. Like all certifications, the CPHQ credential will help to get you noticed; it will lend you credibility, especially in the field of quality and patient safety. But there are other considerations, such as your ability to deliver results – the extent to which you add value to your organization, and more specifically, add value to the aspirations of the “real” decision makers within your organization, will ultimately decide whether you maximize the potential of your CPHQ certification. Not all CPHQs achieve the same level of success. Our clients (hospitals and other organizations) have found this out for themselves! 🙂
With respect to the eligibility requirements for the CPHQ examination, I refer you to the CPHQ 2017 Candidate Examination Handbook (Page 8) and our article “Am I Eligible to Take the CPHQ Examination?”
for CPHQ exam… is it required to attend a lecture course prior to examination? is it part of the requirement? or I can take the exam even if I didn’t attend the lecture course? thanks!
@AC – You don’t need to attend any course to be eligible to take the CPHQ exam.
i will be appearing in CPHQ as international Candidate December 2017 . I want to take benefit from your site . kindly suggest how to do .
@sumaira—CPHQ Tutor is a membership site. You may subscribe to any one of the plans found on the