The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists recognize the critical role of epidemiologists at all levels of public health practice. In January 2004, CDC and CSTE hosted a work force summit to address work force issues affecting public health epidemiologists. Leaders in applied epidemiology were invited to discuss the key work force issues in this field.

Participants strongly supported the need for establishing core competencies for applied epidemiologists. The stated purposes for developing these competencies were: 1) to more clearly define the field of applied epidemiology and provide guidance to practitioners regarding expected competencies; 2) to inform supervisory and personnel systems in governmental public health agencies of expected competencies for staff hiring and to assist in establishing civil service job titles and in the development of “career ladders” for advancement for epidemiologists; and 3) to inform educators and academic institutions of the expected competencies. This competency development process was subsequently identified as a priority for CDC and CSTE.

CDC and CSTE convened an expert panel to define competencies for applied epidemiology for local, state and federal public health epidemiologists. This panel has representation from state and local health agencies, academia, private industry, and from across CDC. The panel, convened by Denise Koo, MD, MPH, from the Office of Workforce and Career Development at CDC, and Matt Boulton, MD, MPH, from the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan (Michigan State Epidemiologist representing CSTE at the time), first met October 2004. Gus Birkhead, MD, MPH, of the New York State Department of Health and Kathleen Miner, PhD, MPH, CHES, from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University co-chair the expert panel.

Draft competencies for frontline ("tier 1"), mid-level ("tier 2"), and senior ("tier 3") epidemiologists will be available for comment during February and March 2006.  Competencies on the tier 2 competencies received during the Summer 2005 comment period were considered during development of tier 1 and tier 3 competencies, but final revisions to tier 2 competencies will not be made until after the Winter 2006 comment phase.  Practicing epidemiologists may review the competencies and submit comments through March 31, 2006 at http://www.cste.org.  Individuals and organizations employing applied epidemiologists may submit comments to <competencies@cste.org>>.  All epidemiologists are encouraged to participate, regardless of experience.  Following the review and comment period, the expert panel will consider all information received and revise the competencies for publication.  Questions regarding the competencies or the development process may be submitted to CSTE at .