Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals
The Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Core Competencies) are a consensus set of knowledge and skills for the broad practice of public health, as defined by the 10 Essential Public Health Services. The Core Competencies reflect foundational or crosscutting knowledge and skills for professionals engaging in the practice, education, and research of public health.
The Core Competencies provide a framework for workforce development planning and action and are used by public health agencies and academic institutions across the United States. These competencies can serve as a starting point for public health professionals and organizations in identifying and meeting workforce development needs, improving performance, preparing for accreditation, and enhancing the health of the communities they serve. Organizations are encouraged to interpret and adapt the Core Competencies in ways that meet their specific organizational needs.
The Core Competencies are an initiative of the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council on Linkages). The current version was adopted by the Council on Linkages in October 2021.
These competencies are organized into eight domains, representing skill areas within public health, and three tiers, which describe different types of responsibilities within public health organizations.
Download the 2021 version of the Core Competencies. A Word version of the Core Competencies is available by request. Questions about the Core Competencies can be sent to competencies@phf.org.
Development of the Core Competencies
The Core Competencies are the result of 30 years of work by the Council on Linkages and other public health practice and academic organizations, beginning with development of the Universal Competencies by the Public Health Faculty/Agency Forum in 1991. Guided by the Core Competencies Workgroup, the Core Competencies are regularly reviewed and revised to ensure these competencies remain relevant in an evolving field of public health and continue to meet workforce needs. The current version of the Core Competencies was adopted by the Council on Linkages on October 21, 2021, following a yearlong review and revision process.
Using the Core Competencies
A variety of resources and tools are available to support public health professionals and organizations in using the Core Competencies:
Core Competencies Workgroup
The Core Competencies Workgroup (Workgroup) supports activities of the Council on Linkages related to the Core Competencies and was instrumental in developing and refining the Core Competencies. The Workgroup is charged with periodically reviewing and revising the Core Competencies to ensure these competencies continue to reflect the skills needed to provide the 10 Essential Public Health Services and creating resources to facilitate use of the Core Competencies.
Workgroup members work in a variety of public health practice and academic organizations dedicated to promoting a competent public health workforce. For more information or to join the Workgroup, please contact Mayela Arana at marana@phf.org.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Council on Linkages’ ongoing work related to the Core Competencies, contact Mayela Arana at marana@phf.org.