Public Health Core Competencies

February 25, 2026 

Public health professionals focus on improving the lives of others and their communities. They concern themselves with many factors that affect human health, such as the environment, public policy, health care, and laws. If you are interested in taking on a public health role and are looking for an appropriate graduate program, a master’s degree might be an ideal way to achieve your goal.

As an MPH student, you’ll be expected to develop proficiency in CEPH’s 22 MPH Foundational Competencies, which serve as the national framework for accredited public health programs. These competencies define the essential knowledge and skills needed for effective public health practice. Below, we take a closer look at each competency and explain why it matters for today’s public health professionals.

Definition of Core Competencies

Core competencies are the measurable knowledge, skills, and behaviors that professionals develop and demonstrate to perform effectively in a role. In public health, core competencies describe the foundational capabilities professionals use across roles and settings to support effective practice and workforce readiness. What are core competencies in public health?

In the public health sector, competencies help professionals carry out the field’s work as described by the 10 Essential Public Health Services, from assessing and monitoring community health needs to implementing effective policies and assuring access to services that improve population health.

Some public health employers may refer to the core competencies when developing job descriptions, performance objectives, assessments, and workforce development plans to ensure a skilled workforce. Plus, for students about to enter the job market, knowing the core competencies is a great way to understand their strengths/weaknesses and evaluate their professional capabilities.

What are the 5 Core Knowledge Areas of Public Health?

Accredited Master of Public Health (MPH) programs are traditionally built around five core knowledge areas that form a foundation in public health theory and practice.

Biostatistics 

Biostatistics focuses on collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to support evidence-based public health decision-making and evaluate programs and interventions.

Environmental Health Sciences

Environmental Health Sciences examines how biological, chemical, and physical environmental factors affect human health.

Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of diseases and injuries in populations.

Health Policy and Management

Health Policy and Management focuses on how health systems are organized, financed, and regulated, with attention to access, quality, cost, and equity for individuals and populations.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Social and Behavioral Sciences explores how social, behavioral, and cultural factors influence health outcomes and inform public health interventions.

What are the 22 CEPH Competencies of Public Health?

These competencies are informed by the traditional public health core knowledge areas (biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, health services administration, and environmental health sciences), as well as cross-cutting and emerging public health areas.

Evidence-based approaches to public health 

1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.

2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.

3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.

4. Interpret the results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice.

Public health and health care systems

5. Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.

6. Discuss how structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges for achieving health equity at the organizational, community and systemic levels.

Planning and management to promote health

7. Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.

8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.

9. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.

10. Explain the basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.

11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in public health 

12. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.

13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.

14. Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.

15. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.

Leadership

16. Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.

17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication

18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.

19. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, in writing and through oral presentation.

20. Describe the importance of cultural humility in communicating public health content.

Interprofessional practice

21. Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health.

Systems thinking

22. Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative.

Core Competencies vs. Specializations: What are the Differences?

While both are necessary for effective public health work, they are distinct in that core competencies of public health are the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform “critical work functions,” whereas public health specializations are a narrow or defined area of expertise in which to apply core competencies.

How should I improve my competencies in public health?

There may be numerous ways to improve depending on your needs and career goals. You might consider advancing your education. Many online programs have been launched catering to students who don’t want to commute to campus, such as online MPH programs, online MHI programs, online MHA programs and more. There are also other ways to continue developing your competencies after graduation from school. Read our Resources for Continuing Professional Development in Public Health to learn more.

Information last updated: February 2026