Continuing Professional Competencies (CPC) Program

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

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

To log your PDH hours, please visit the Member's Service Center at www.ciphimember.ca.

Quick Navigation

• Quick Overview
• Documents, Tools, and Forms
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Council of Professional Experience
• Background Documents and Information Related to the CPC Program

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

• CPC Program Reference Guide, Release 1.1 / Manuel de référence DPC, version 1.1
  • Acknowledgements / Remerciements
  • Table of Contents / Table des matiéres
  • Overview / Sommaire
  • Code of Ethics / Code de déontologie
  • Standards of Practice / Normes de pratique
  • Discipline Specific Competencies / Compétences propres à la discipline
  • Professional Development Model / Modèle de perfectionnement professionel
  • Appendices / Annexes
• CPC Program Brochure / Brochure DPC

Tools

• Discipline Specific Competencies Self Assessment Tool / Outil d'auto-evaluation

Forms

• The Detail Activity Record Form (Dossier d'activites detaille) is no longer available. Faxed copies of the Detail Activity Record Form to the CIPHI Office will no longer be accepted. Please complete all PDH entries using the on-line module located within the Member Service Centre. Thank you.
• Request for Special Consideration to Reduce Professional Development Requirements / Demande de consid'ration speciale pour une réduction des exigences en matière de perfectionnement
• Non-Practicing Declaration / Déclaration de «non-practique»
• Resumption of Practice Application / Demande de reprise de la pratique

PDH Approval

• Organization/Group Application for Approval of Professional Development Hours / Organisme/Group - Demande d'approbation pour les heures de perfectionnement professionel

** Note: There has been a change in procedure. Only organizations/institutions delivering courses should apply for course credits. Individual members should not apply but should instead record the appropriate number PDHs in their Detailed Activity Records at year-end.

Approved Events, Courses & Activities

Frequently Asked Questions

CIPHI has developed answers to a list of frequently asked questions regarding the CPC program. Click here to view the questions and answers, or download the PDF file here.

Council of Professional Experience (CoPE)

The Council of Professional Experience (CoPE) is tasked with administration of the CPC Program. CoPE is comprised of members who have been appointed through consultation with the Branches of CIPHI. The Council has been in place since June 2009 in an interim format working to formalize the structure, operations and policies of the permanent Council. The permanent Council has now been in operation since early 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)
• Len Gallant (PEI)
• Darryl Johnson (NL)

Background Documents and Information

• Setting the Context
• What are Core Competencies for Public Health?
• The Importance of the Continuing Professional Competencies Program
• Reference Documents
• CIPHI Continuing Professional Competencies (CPC) Steering Committee (Updated December 2010)
• CIPHI Continuing Professional Competencies (CPC) Working Group (Updated December 2010)

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

• The Need to Implement a Continuing Professional Competency Program for the Environmental Public Health Profession in Canada - September 1,2005
• Opinion Paper on Professionalism for the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors - Summer 2005
• Resolution, CIPHI Annual General Meeting, Toronto, September 2005
• Core Competency Literature Review for the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors - 2004
• CIPHI 2005-2010 Strategic Plan - April 2005
• Building the Public Health Workforce for the 21 Century - A Pan-Canadian Framework for Public Health Human Resources Planning
• Édifier une main-d'oeuvre en santé publique pour le 21eme siècle - Un cadre pancanadien pour la planification des ressource humaines en sant' publique
• CONTINUOUS EDUCATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Part I: A Literature Review of Continuous Education and Core Competencies in Environmental Health - By Shawna Bourne, Environmental Health Review, Summer 2005
• CONTINUOUS EDUCATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Part II: A Professional Learning Guide for the Continuing Education of Environmental and Public Health Professionals - By Shawna Bourne, Environmental Health Review, Fall 2005
• Environmental Health Competency Project: Recommendations for Core Competencies for Local Environmental Health Practitioners, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Public Health Association, May 2001
• A Review of Continuing Competence Assessment Programs, Related Research and Consultation to Identify Policy Options for Environmental Public Health Professionals, Public Health agency of Canada, August 30, 2005
• The Development of a Draft Set of Public Health Workforce Core Competencies Summary report, Federal/Provincial Territorial Joint Task Group on Public Health Human Resources, Prepared by Dr. Brian P. Emerson, January 26, 2005

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