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Nebraska School of Public Health – NE

By allied health world contributing writer
Published:  February 14th, 2010

Education Requirements for Public Health Professionals in Nebraska

There are currently no undergraduate public health degree programs in Nebraska that are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).  While this is not the only program one can attend and graduate from to have a career as a public health professional, it is highly recommended as it will allow the student to sit for the national certification examination and use the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential upon successful completion of the exam.  Nebraska students can complete a bachelor’s degree in a comparable major (speaking with your academic advisor will further assist you with this major selection) and apply to the master’s degree program in Nebraska that is accredited by the CPH and sit for the exam after completing a master’s degree.  A bachelor’s degree program will take four years to complete and students are eligible and encouraged to seek volunteer and/or internship opportunities in order to increase their exposure to the areas available in the public health field. 

Nebraska public health schools offer two-year master’s programs consisting of classroom instruction along with individualized independent study options combined to meet the goals of the program.  Courses to be taken include Biostatistics, Foundations in Public Health, Epidemiology Theory and Applications, and Applied Research in Public Health.  Students who meet the requirements and who submit the required application and materials are offered graduate assistantships, in which they receive paid tuition and fees from the university and are required to work under the guidance of a professor to complete special projects.  These projects range from teaching at the undergraduate level to assisting with research.  Internships are also offered by various organizations to graduate students in order to allow them to gain more practical skills and knowledge in the field of public health and the student’s specific area of interest.  

Regardless of whether or not a student is paid for his/her internship, the experience provided is invaluable and can lead to contacts for future employment in addition to the opportunity to see the “real world” workings of the public health professional. 

Once the student has completed the master’s degree in public health, the next item to complete is to schedule an appointment to sit for the CEPH national certification exam.  This exam is administered on behalf of the CEPH by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE).  Registration is done online (www.publichealthexam.org) and a scheduling ticket will be sent to the candidate.  From this ticket, the candidate may then schedule his/her exam date.  There is an exam fee of $350-$400 that is due at the time of application. 

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Public Health Professionals in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue and Grand Island, Nebraska may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Bryan LGH Medical Center, Lincoln Surgical Hospital, Alegent Healthcare and Blue Cross of Nebraska.