Produced by the
Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council on Linkages), the
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Core Competencies) represent a set of skills desirable for the broad practice of public health that professionals may want to possess as they work to protect and improve the nation's health. In response to requests from public health professionals,
Competency Assessments have been developed to aid in the use of the Core Competencies. Assessments are now available for the three tiers – Tier 1, 2, and 3 – of the Core Competencies, allowing individuals in positions from entry level to senior management to assess their knowledge and skill level for each of the competencies. Using the results of their assessments, public health professionals can identify areas of strength and areas where additional training may be beneficial.
The Core Competencies and Competency Assessments can also be used by organizations as they identify and assess competence gaps in their workforce, create workforce development plans, and seek accreditation. Domain 8 of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)
Standards and Measures focuses on maintaining a competent workforce, citing the Council on Linkages’ Core Competencies as a nationally adopted set of public health competencies that can be used to assess and improve staff competencies. The Core Competencies and the corresponding Competency Assessments can be used to identify training needs and promote the development of skills that aid public health professionals in meeting the needs of both their organizations and the wider public health field.
The Competency Assessments were developed by Janet Place, MPH, North Carolina Public Health Academy, University of North Carolina, and modified by the Public Health Foundation. They may be modified as necessary to meet local needs. For questions or feedback, please contact Kathleen at
kamos@phf.org.