IHI Launches First-Ever Age-Friendly and Health Equity Certifications for Health Care Professionals
Certification review courses and examinations begin this month in the US and internationally
BOSTON, September 3, 2025 – The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) today announced the launch of two new certification programs for health care professionals: Certified Professional in Age-Friendly Health Care (CPAFH) and Certified Professional in Clinical Health Equity (CPCHE). IHI’s expanding portfolio of certifications gives health care professionals a clear way to demonstrate their expertise and stay at the top of their field, while contributing to the delivery of high-quality care worldwide.
“IHI is a trusted credentialing organization thanks to the widely adopted Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) program, and we’ve added new certifications this year to help the health care workforce meet the ever-changing and complex needs of their patients,” said Sylvia Trent-Adams, Ph.D., President and CEO of IHI. “Our new certifications will validate skills and competencies in some of the most important areas of health care – health equity and care for older adults – which will ultimately lead to safer, more equitable care for patients everywhere.”
The Certified Professional in Age-Friendly Health Care (CPAFH) credential establishes a benchmark for excellence in the care of older adults. Developed as a part of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative and with the generous support of The John A. Hartford Foundation, the CPAFH credential certifies health care professionals who are equipped to deliver high-quality, person-centered care rooted in the 4Ms Framework and tailored to the goals, preferences, and needs of older adults. To earn the CPAFH credential, candidates must be proficient in age-friendly health care domains including Age-Friendly Assessment, Principles, and Considerations; Age-Friendly Interventions, Education, and Counseling; and Age-Friendly Framework, Practices, and Design. The first review course for the CPAFH will take place September 9-10, 2025.
The Certified Professional in Clinical Health Equity (CPCHE) credential sets the standard for individuals committed to delivering equitable care. The CPCHE credential verifies knowledge and application of essential equity competencies. Professionals who earn this credential will have demonstrated expertise in clinical health equity domains including Health Systems and Context; Equitable Health Care Assessment and Design; and Health Data and Information. The first review course for the CPCHE will take place September 23-24, 2025.
“We’re thrilled to launch these new certifications because they give health care professionals a meaningful way to validate their skills and advance their careers, while offering employers a way to verify the knowledge and expertise of job candidates to ensure that patients receive the best care possible,” said Patricia McGaffigan, MS, RN, CPPS, CPHFH, IHI Senior Advisor, Safety, and President of the Certification Board of Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS). “These certifications demonstrate IHI’s commitment to strengthening the quality and safety of health care delivery worldwide.”
Earlier this year, IHI introduced the Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care (CPHFH) credential, which demonstrates a high level of proficiency in applying the core standards of human factors, systems thinking, and design to health care improvement. More than 100 professionals from 29 US states and 9 countries have earned the CPHFH credential in the few months since it launched, validating their knowledge and expertise to design and improve products, processes, and systems that are necessary for patient and workforce safety.
IHI’s new certification programs build on the success of the globally-recognized Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) credential, the only accredited certification exam that is fully dedicated to patient safety. Since the launch of the program in 2012, nearly 8,000 individuals across all 50 US states and 36 countries have earned the credential. Certificants hail from diverse roles across the health care industry including patient safety, quality, and risk professionals, executives, clinical staff and providers, academic faculty and students, solutions providers, patient and family advocates, and more.
To earn any of the IHI credentials, participants must meet eligibility criteria and pass a comprehensive examination administered by the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS). IHI’s online and in-person review courses help prepare candidates for the exam by reviewing domain content areas and test-taking strategies. Full day review courses for all four IHI certifications will take place December 7-8 in conjunction with 2025 IHI Forum in Anaheim, Calif.
About the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is a leading, globally recognized not-for-profit health care improvement organization that has been applying evidence-based quality improvement methods to meet current and future health care challenges for more than 30 years. IHI provides millions of people in health care with methods, tools, and resources to make care better, safer, and more equitable; convenes experts to enable knowledge sharing and peer-learning; and advises health systems and hospitals of all sizes in improving their systems and outcomes at scale. IHI’s mission is to innovate and lead transformational improvement in health and health care worldwide.
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