Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
About Us Membership Knowledge Members Partners Students

CIPHI Crest

CIPHI Continuing Professional Competencies Program

The CPC Program is starting on January 1, 2010 for all Regular members of CIPHI.

Questions and concerns regarding the CPC program can be directed to cpcprogram@ciphi.ca

Quick Navigation

CPC Program Overview

Program Components

The CPC Program involves four components. They are all described in detail in the CPC Program Reference Guide Release 1.1.

  1. Code of Ethics: CIPHI’s Code of Ethics provides the baseline expectation for professional conduct of all EPHPs.

  2. Standards of Practice: The Standards of Practice offer a framework of principles outlining expectations of knowledge, skills and values. They also inform EPHPs of their accountabilities and the public of what to expect of EPHPs.

  3. Discipline Specific Competencies: CIPHI developed a set of competencies that are specific to the field of environmental public health. These competencies describe the essential knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for ongoing success in the role of an EPHP beyond the CPHI(C) certification. Members will conduct an annual self assessment to help identify personal strengths and development areas to focus on.

  4. Professional Development Model: CIPHI has also created a Professional Development (PD) Model. The PD Model quantifies the areas in which EPHPs should direct their professional development in order to maintain and improve their professional competency. To achieve this, the PD Model specifies the annual professional development hours (PDHs) required of regular CIPHI members. PDHs include hours worked in the profession (on the job hours) and a combination of other activities.

Program Steps

The CPC Program involves five steps. Every year, CPHI(C) holders will:

  1. Use the discipline specific competencies to conduct a self assessment

  2. Identify learning objectives and development goals

  3. Review CIPHI’s PD requirements

  4. Collect PDHs

  5. Submit their PDHs through the CIPHI membership site

Documents, Tools and Forms

Documents

Tools

Forms

PDH Approval

Council of Professional Experience (CoPE)

The Council of Professional Experience (CoPE) is tasked with administration of the CPC Program. Currently, the membership of CoPE is comprised of interim members who have been appointed through consultation with the Branches of CIPHI. The interim Council has been in place since June 2009 and have been working to formalize the structure, operations and policies of the permanent Council. It is anticipated that the permanent Council members will be appointed in early- to mid-2010.

Download the Regulations Governing the Council of Professional Experience here.

Current Membership

Craig Nowakowski (BC) – Chair

Arne Faremo (BC)

Julie Scarpino (MB)

Gary O'Toole (NS)

Ken Gorman (ON)

Jon Gaudry (SK)

Victor Mah (AB)

Doug Quibell (BC)

Background Documents and Information

Setting the Context

Public Health events in Canada such as SARS highlighted the need for an overhaul of the Public Health System in Canada. In September of 2004, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) Health Ministers identified Public Health as a top priority and agreed to develop a 10-year pan-Canadian strategy for Public Health. The strategy focused on the importance of interprofessional approaches that will encourage individuals to think outside of the box, leading to improved cooperation and collaboration among Public Health professionals. Another focus of the strategy was human resource planning that included a commitment to invest in post-secondary education and a commitment to establishing core competencies for Public Health in Canada. As part of the overhaul of Public Health in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was established in 2004 and Dr. David Butler-Jones was appointed as Canada’s first Chief Public Health Officer. With PHAC in place, there was clear Federal leadership around Public Health and a mechanism for accountability was created. Combined with the Pan-Canadian Strategy for Public Health and national leadership, the environment for consultative development of core competencies for Public Health and discipline-specific competencies for Environmental Public Health was right.

What are Core Competencies for Public Health?

The five core functions of Public Health in Canada, as identified by the Advisory Committee on Population Health, include:

  • Disease and Injury Prevention
  • Health Promotion
  • Health Protection
  • Health Surveillance
  • Population Health Assessment

Based on these core functions of Public Health, core competencies span all Public Health practitioners to be the foundation of human resource planning. The knowledge, skills and abilities for all Public Health professionals are what we refer to as Core Competencies. In identifying pan-Canadian core competencies, it becomes possible to bring together people from across the country and allow them to work together cohesively within a common framework of Public Health leading to increased collaboration and a strengthened and effective Public Health infrastructure.

The Importance of the Continuing Professional Competencies Program for CIPHI

Public Health is a challenging and fast-paced field and practitioners recognize the need to keep pace with ever-changing demands and needs of the public. As an integral part of the Public Health team, it is just as important that we also continue to grow and move forward to keep pace with the dynamic world we live in. Additionally, within the context of this initiative, CIPHI also has an opportunity to “find our place” in the public health professional community as well as be recognized by other public health professionals as a colleagues.

The Continuing Professional Competencies Program is important to the profession for many reasons including:

  • Provides protection for CPHI(C) holders against challenges to personal competence.
  • Offers a quality assessment tool for employers to assess staff competencies and help focus professional development.
  • Supports Environmental Public Health Professionals in gaining and maintaining the skills, knowledge, and abilities (competencies) essential to their role.
  • Aligns with the CPHI(C) certification proves and will thus enhance the recognized status of EPHPs as specialized professionals.
  • Contributes positively to workforce development in Canada by improving consistency in language, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and enhancing mobility across practice settings and provincial/territorial jurisdictions.

Reference Documents

CIPHI Continuing Professional Competencies (CPC) Steering Committee (Updated December 2009)

  • Adam Grant (ON)
  • Anthony Mak (AB)
  • Bernie Chrisp (MB)
  • Claudia Kurzac (BC)
  • Domenic Losito (BC)
  • Fran Gelder (ON)
  • Gary Gallivan (NS)
  • Grace Maciver (BC)
  • Ivy Chan (ON)
  • John Pelton (AB)
  • Keith Smith (ON)
  • Darryl Johnson (NL)
  • Leonard Gallant (PEI)
  • Peter Parys (MB)
  • Phi Phan(AB)
  • Robert Bradbury (BC)
  • Ron de Burger (ON)
  • Scott MacLean (NB)
  • Tamela Carroll (NB)
  • Theresa Dunkley-Verhage (ON)
  • Yvonne Graff (SK)
  • PHAC Representative

CIPHI Continuing Professional Competencies (CPC) Working Group (Updated December 2009)

  • Gord Stewart (BC)
  • Leonard Gallant (NS)
  • Michael Duncan (ON)
  • Peter Heywood (ON)
  • Phi Phan (AB)
  • Stefane Gravelle (MB)
  • Shawn Bower (ON)
  • William Hohn (AB)
  • PHAC Representative

forum | position place | site map | privacy policy