Public Health Professionals must also be competent to:

DEMONSTRATE readiness to apply professional skills to a range of emergency situations during regular drills. (For example: access, use and interpret surveillance data; access and use lab resources; access and use science-based investigation and risk assessment protocols; identify and use appropriate personal protective equipment).

MAINTAIN regular communication with partner professionals in other agencies involved in emergency response. (This includes contributing to effective community-wide response through leadership, team building, negotiation and conflict resolution).

PARTICIPATE in continuing education to maintain up to date knowledge in areas relevant to emergency response. (For example: emerging infectious diseases, hazardous materials, and diagnostic tests).

Note: Combine these competencies with the leader/administrator competencies when public health professionals also have management duties. Professional occupations require knowledge acquired through education or training equivalent to a bachelor's degree or higher; require the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility for the application of an organized body of knowledge that is constantly studied (adapted from the US Office of Personnel Management).