Become an Associate

Associate Benefits

Benefits of becoming a public health associate include

• Recognition as an employee of CDC, the nation’s leading public health agency
• Salary, paid sick and vacation leave, health insurance, and access to a variety of support services and resources
• Two unique field assignments that provide diverse public health experiences and the opportunity to demonstrate competencies in a wide variety of public health service activities
• Extensive supervisory and mentoring support throughout the program
• Valuable career skill development and on-the-job training to become well-rounded public health professionals

Associate Testimonials

"PHAP is the stepping stone that allows recent college graduates to gain relevant work experience that will catapult them to the top of the public health workforce. I feel like PHAP has helped me to realize that I can be a young leader in the public health arena." – Chelsey Chmelar (Class of 2010), Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Parma, Ohio

"PHAP is a really great program, with amazing support at CDC and endless opportunities at the host sites. It is an amazing way to start your public health career." – Laura Ann Coelho (Class of 2011), Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles, California

"This program has given me invaluable public health experience. I have been able to push myself farther and develop skills that I wouldn't have otherwise. There is no substitute for having the opportunity to receive hands-on field training." – Rachel Holloway (Class of 2010), Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, Charleston, West Virginia

"I believe that I am experiencing in two years with PHAP what might have otherwise taken six years and three jobs in a more conventional route. My confidence in my abilities is already increasing, and I am learning things that I am certain will be valuable moving forward." – Ben Paly (Class of 2011), Walla Walla County Health Department, Walla Walla, Washington