The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) has been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC CK20-2003) to develop and implement the Certification in Disease Intervention (CDI) program and the infrastructure in which it can succeed. ASPPH is working with the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) to develop the certification exam.
CDI Project Purpose
Standardize and validate knowledge, skills, and abilities
Drive the standardization and improvement of training
Increase the quality and consistency of service delivery
Increase recognition of professional skills and abilities
A certified disease intervention workforce will improve public health outcomes by preventing and stopping the spread of infectious diseases. Additionally, the certification will allow employers and other stakeholders to easily identify individuals who have the required competencies to do their jobs.
CDI PROJECT HISTORY
With funding from the CDC, support for professional certification for the disease intervention workforce has and continues to involve stakeholders who have shaped this project over time:
In 2013, a feasibility study was conducted by International Credentialing Associates (ICA) and National Association of County and City Health Officers (NACCHO).
In 2014, the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) determined the foundational activities for a national Disease Intervention Certification program:
- Definition of a Disease Intervention Professional
- Job Task Analysis of the Disease Intervention workforce
- Enumeration of the Disease Intervention Workforce
By convening national partners and engaging subject matter experts, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) is developing educational pathways that remove barriers to the CDI exam to recruit, train, and retain the disease intervention workforce. In 2022, in collaboration with the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE), ASPPH began work towards:
- Disease Intervention Workforce Environmental Scan
- Updated Job Task Analysis (JTA) of the Disease Intervention Workforce
- CDI Examination and Certification program development
- CDI Continuing Education program development