What is a Certified Professional in Age-Friendly Health Care (CPAFH)?

The Certified Professional in Age-Friendly Health Care (CPAFH) credential sets the standard for excellence in the care of older adults. Informed by the evidence-based 4Ms Framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility), this professional certification program affirms your ability to provide safe, person-centered care across settings. Earning the CPAFH validates your skills and showcases your commitment to providing and leading age-friendly health care grounded in what older adults value most.

What Is the Difference Between a Certification, a Certificate, and a Micro-Credential?

A certification demonstrates a validated level of professional competence through a formal, rigorous assessment process. Earning a certification—such as the Certified Professional in Age-Friendly Health Care (CPAFH) – confirms that an individual possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform in a defined professional role. Certification is a form of credentialing, where a qualified body grants recognition to individuals who meet predetermined, standardized criteria.

IHI certifications (CPPS, CPHFH, CPAFH, CPCHE) are awarded through psychometrically sound examinations developed using rigorous, evidence-based methods. Exam domains and content areas are defined through a Job Analysis (Study of Practice) and are updated approximately every 3-5 years to reflect current practice. Exam development, maintenance, and global delivery are conducted in partnership with PSI, a professional testing organization. Oversight is provided by the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS).

The IHI Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) credential is an NCCA Accredited Program, signifying compliance with nationally recognized standards for certification quality and governance. Accreditation is a time-limited, formal recognition granted after verification that rigorous standards are met.

A certificate program is a non-degree educational program that provides instruction and training to help participants acquire specific knowledge, skills, or competencies aligned with defined learning outcomes. When a certificate program includes an assessment of learning, it is referred to as an assessment-based certificate program. 

A certificate signifies successful completion of a course or program, but it does not independently validate the ability to perform in a professional role or demonstrate professional competence in the same way certification does.

For more information on the difference between a certification and a certificate, visit the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.).

A micro-credential is a formal recognition awarded to an individual who has demonstrated a specific, focused set of knowledge, skills, or abilities, often tied to a narrowly defined competency or skill area. Micro-credentials are typically short, focused learning experiences that are competency-based and delivered as digital badges or other portable formats. They are designed to support targeted skill development and may complement or stack toward broader learning pathways, such as certificates or certifications.

Who is the certifying body behind CPAFH?

The CPAFH examination is administered by the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS). CBPPS was formed to oversee a rigorous and comprehensive credentialing process that attests to age-friendly competencies and expertise. The board’s chief responsibility is the development and administration of an evidence- based examination that provides candidates with a process by which they can demonstrate their competency in age-friendly science and application.

Are there prerequisites or eligibility requirements to sit for the exam?

Candidates for the CPAFH credential are those who include age-friendly care 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 or higher (e.g., associates, bachelors) plus three years of experience (either full- or part-time over a five-year period) in an Age-Friendly Health Care related field.
• Masters or Doctorate plus one year of full-time experience or two years of part-time experience in Age-Friendly Health Care related field over five years.

Age-Friendly Health Care experience can be both indirect and direct patient care for an older adult population, and can include education, teaching, administration, management, advocacy, mentoring, research, social work, and mental health support.

What is the fee to sit for the CPAFH examination?

The CPAFH exam fee is $425. For international candidates, the CPAFH exam fee is US $525.

Is funding available to help me pursue my CPAFH?

Many employers are willing to financially support employees looking to grow professionally; certification candidates should reach out to their supervisor and/or human resources department to inquire if such funding is available. The following resources are available to certification candidates looking to request professional development funding from their employer.

• CPAFH Certification Justification Letter Template
• Expenses and Benefits Worksheet

The 2026 scholarship period is now open and accepting applications through June 15, 2026. Full scholarship details and application instructions are posted on the program homepage. Any professional working in or around health care who is able to demonstrate need and meets the exam eligibility requirements is encouraged to apply. 

What is tested on the CPAFH examination?

How can I obtain a CPAFH Candidate Handbook and application?

The CPAFH Candidate Handbook is available for download, or call our authorized testing partner, PSI Candidate Services​ at (833) 333-4755. Candidates can apply and register for the exam online by following the instructions below.

Can I apply for the CPAFH examination online?

Yes, a candidate who pays the examination fee by credit card may apply online and schedule an appointment to test through the PSI website.

• Visit the PSI certification website
• Use the link in the top right corner to sign in or create an account
• Click on View Available Tests
• Select Certified Professional in Age-Friendly Health Care (CPAFH)™ Examination
• Click the Apply Now button
• Complete the fields in the application. If you need to save your progress to return later, there is an option to Save Application at the bottom of the page. When finished, click the Submit Application button.

Once your application has been submitted, it will need to be reviewed. This can take up to two weeks. Upon approval, you will receive an e-mail confirming your eligibility and inviting you to schedule your test.

Use the same e-mail and password that you created when applying to access your account. You will be able to view available tests, select the test for which you are eligible, and schedule.

How can I prepare for the exam?

To prepare for the exam, we provide candidates with a detailed exam content outline, resource list and self-assessment exam (SAE) or practice exam. The SAE is offered through our testing partner, PSI, and may be purchased on the PSI website.

IHI also offers a CPAFH Review Course in various formats throughout the year (in-person, self-paced, and live webinar). This course can help participants prepare for the exam by reviewing domain content areas and test-taking strategies.

Live Webinars
Join expert-led, interactive sessions over two days to review CPAFH domains, learn test strategies, and ask questions in real time.

On-Demand Course
Study at your own pace with a comprehensive, self-guided course aligned with the CPAFH exam content.

CBPPS does not endorse resources designed to prepare candidates to take the certification exam. Completion of the SAE is optional and not required to take or pass the certification exam. Taking the SAE/practice exam or review course does not guarantee a passing score or improved performance on the exam.   
 

Can I share review course materials, exam content, or practice exams with others?

No. All certification materials, including slides, the examination, and the practice exam, are the intellectual property and copyrighted works of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). These materials are provided solely for your individual use and may not be shared, distributed, reproduced, transmitted, or used for any purpose outside of this course without prior written permission from IHI.

If you are interested in partnering with IHI or obtaining permission to use or distribute these materials, we welcome you to contact us at certification@ihi.org.
 

Is there a practice exam? How is it scored? How can I order it?

A practice exam is available for purchase from PSI. Note: This is also referred to as the self-assessment exam (SAE), described above. The practice exam should be regarded as a diagnostic tool to assess strengths and weaknesses, rather than a study guide for the examination. Upon purchase, the practice exam is available for a period of 60 days from the date of purchase, or until all 50 questions have been answered. At the time of completion, candidates receive a numerical score for each content area, as well as a summary including each question in its entirety, along with their response and the correct answer for each.

CBPPS does not endorse resources designed to prepare candidates to take the certification exam. Completion of the SAE is optional and not required to take or pass the certification exam. Taking the SAE/practice exam or review course does not guarantee a passing score or improved performance on the exam.   

What is the passing score? How is the passing score determined?

The passing score for the examination is 500. Scores ranges from 200 to 800. The passing score for the examination is determined by using a process known as the Angoff method, in which experts in the field estimate the difficulty of each item on the examination for the minimally qualified candidate. These judgments are averaged to determine the minimum passing score, which represents the amount of knowledge a minimally qualified candidate would likely demonstrate on the examination. The results of these ratings are presented to the exam development committee to determine the final passing score.