Right away! Contact CEPH staff as soon as you begin discussions about adding an MPH, even before formal approval processes begin. Your staff contact can explain the timing of procedural steps and help you to avoid surprises or misunderstandings if we are informed about your institution or program’s plans as soon as possible.
When the MPH degree has been approved through your university processes, submit a notice of intent to transition from the SBP to PHP category.
Typically, adding new degrees or concentrations does require a substantive change notice. However, adding an MPH degree means that the SBP category of accreditation is no longer applicable; per CEPH Procedures, SBP units includeonly baccalaureate degrees. When adding an MPH degree to the unit of accreditation, you must follow a formal process to transition from SBP accreditation to PHP accreditation. If handled properly and with appropriate notice, this transition process can be seamless with a smooth transition in category and no lapse in accreditation.
You should still follow the substantive change process to add new baccalaureate degrees or concentrations to the unit of accreditation. Your CEPH staff contact is available to assist.
An SBP may be accredited in an institution that also offers an MPH degree ONLY IF the MPH degree is offered by and operated under a separate organizational and governance structure from the SBP. Typically, the same faculty and administrators would not be involved in both degree programs. Talk with your staff contact to ensure clarity on this issue.
Talk with your staff contact. The Council assesses these degrees based on a number of factors including the curriculum and manner in which the program of study is described to prospective students and the public. If the degree is intended to prepare individuals for public health practice in a manner equivalent to the MPH (i.e., a professional degree), then your unit would need to transition to the PHP category of accreditation (or voluntarily withdraw from accreditation). If the degree is intended to prepare students for doctoral study in public health fields or for highly technical and specific job functions, the change would not trigger the transition to the PHP category.
Typically, the IAS is due as soon as the MPH exists publicly (e.g., listed on the program or institution’s website, actively enrolling students, etc.). Work with your staff contact to determine more specific timing. You can start preparing the IAS even in advance of the degree’s public announcement.
No. The IAS fee is waived for units that apply for a transition in accreditation category, but the unit is responsible for all other fees and costs associated with an initial accreditation review, including a one-time payment of the annual applicant fee after the IAS is accepted by the Council.
Yes, these are required for all applicants in the PHP category. The SBP and PHP criteria have significant differences, and it is important to have a strong understanding of the requirements to ensure a successful process and accreditation decision.
The review in the PHP category (which includes submitting a preliminary and final self-study and undertaking a site visit) must occur within two years of notifying the Council or by the expiration of the current accreditation term, whichever occurs first.
For example, if your current SBP accreditation term expires on July 1, 2027 and the Council accepts your IAS to transition to the PHP category on April 5, 2024, then your preliminary self-study would be due by April 5, 2026 followed by a site visit in fall 2026.
If your current SBP accreditation term expires on December 31, 2025 and the Council accepts your IAS to transition to the PHP category on April 5, 2024, then your site visit must take place in fall 2025 (before your current expiration date), and the preliminary self-study would be due five months earlier.
You would need to transition back to the SBP category of accreditation, following the official process for transition in category. It is critical to work closely with your staff contact to ensure that the timing of each step allows you to maintain your existing accreditation. Be aware that if your program fails to meet an obligation of your current accreditation (such as a reaccreditation site visit), the program will not maintain accreditation in any category.