CEALS: Improving Public Health Education

Disease control and prevention is the focus of public health. But for public health professionals to be knowledgeable of the steps they need to take to control and prevent disease, education is essential.

Opportunities for public health education and training are no longer limited to the classroom. Teleconferences and webcasts provide instruction via the World Wide Web. If scheduling prohibits instruction at a designated time, participants can watch a DVD or CD on a variety of subjects.

CDC's Continuing Education and Learner Support (CEALS) Team in the Office of Workforce and Career Development is responsible for working with the course developers of partners both inside and outside of CDC to accredit continuing education (CE) activities.

The CEALS Team is a recognized authority for providing accredited CE through several organizations including the following:

• Accreditation Council for Medical Education;
• American Nurses Credentialing Center;
• International Association for Continuing Education and Training;
• National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.;
• American Association of Veterinary State Boards/Registry of Approved Continuing Education; and
• Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education.

Working with CEALS consultants, course developers can be assured that their activities meet the highest standards required by the accrediting agencies. The CE credit proposal process can be reviewed by visiting CDC's Continuing Education Web site.

Many courses provide CE contact hours to CDC's partners and other public health professionals whose disciplines require this instruction for the specialized skills and training needed to perform their jobs. Participants can also log on to CDC's Training and Continuing Education Online system to access a course evaluation and continuing education certificate for completed live or online activities.