Competencies for Applied Epidemiologists in Governmental Public Health Agencies (AECs)
The Competencies for Applied Epidemiologists in Governmental Public Health Agencies (Applied Epidemiology Competencies [AECs]) were created in collaboration with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE).
The goal of AECs is to improve the practice of epidemiology among public health agencies by creating a comprehensive list of competencies that
- define the discipline of applied epidemiology, and
- describe the essential skills required to accomplish tasks for different levels of practicing epidemiologists who work in government public health agencies.
The definition of competencies for applied epidemiologists provides
- a roadmap for training the existing workforce;
- guidelines for academia to use in training the future workforce;
- definition of the skills needed for hiring epidemiologists;
- a basis for evaluating, rewarding, and promoting epidemiologists;
- improved ability to define the discipline; and
- a useful tool for any potential certification process.
Public Health Reports has devoted an entire supplement to Competency Based Epidemiologic Training in Public Health Practice, including an article that describes the development process in full.
AECs
This document lists the defined competencies for four tiers of practicing epidemiologists.
AECs 
(197 KB, 42 pages)
AEC Preface
The Preface is an overview of AECs and a description of how they were developed. This is a companion document to AECs (above) and includes the Executive Summary; Preface; Appendix A: Panel Members; and Appendix B: Competency Development Process.
AEC Preface (577 KB, 12 pages)
Short Summaries
For each Tier, there is a two-page summary of the relevant AECs.
Tier 1: Entry-Level or Basic Epidemiologist (120 KB, 2 pages)
Tier 2: Mid-Level Epidemiologist (120 KB, 2 pages)
Tier 3a: Senior-Level Epidemiologist, Supervisor, or Manager (135 KB, 2 pages)
Tier 3b: Senior Scientist/Subject Area Expert (94 KB, 2 pages)
More Information
The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) has completed a project mapping curricula to AECs. See the Applied Epidemiology Competencies Curriculum and Practicum Project (1.9 MB, 34 pages).
References
Editorial: Professional Competencies for Applied Epidemiologists: A Roadmap to a More Effective Epidemiologic Workforce. Birkhead GS, Koo D. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice 2006;12(6):501–504.
Page last modified: May 21, 2008
Page last reviewed: March 12, 2007