Strengthening the Disease Intervention Workforce Through Training and Credentialing
Discover competency-based learning resources, professional pathways, and continuing education opportunities for disease intervention professionals.
As the national convener, ASPPH is strengthening the disease intervention workforce through education, training, and Certified in Disease Intervention (CDI) certification pathways.
ASPPH Partnerships
ASPPH bridges education and practice by bringing together public health agencies, educators, and workforce leaders to foster a disease intervention workforce that is prepared, recognized, and equipped to meet evolving community and public health needs.
National Practice Partners
ASPPH collaborates with national practice partners to inform and guide the CDC’s National Disease Intervention Certification Project, ensuring it reflects workforce needs, practice realities, and nationally recognized standards for disease intervention workforce.
National Network for Disease Intervention Training and Credentialing
Through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) serves as the national convener for the National Network for Disease Intervention Training and Credentialing (NNDITC).
The NNDITC brings together federal agencies, academic institutions, credentialing organizations, national training providers, public health practice leaders, and other national organizations involved in disease intervention education, training, credentialing, workforce development, preparedness, and response.
Through this collaborative forum, participating organizations exchange expertise, identify emerging workforce needs and education and training gaps, share promising practices, and develop recommendations to inform educational resources, continuing education, workforce development, and preparedness activities. The Network also supports the dissemination of relevant information and resources through participating organizations and their networks.
Academic Partners
ASPPH collaborates with CEPH-accredited, ASPPH-member schools and programs of public health, as well as institutional members of the ASPPH Undergraduate Network for Academic Public Health, to standardize and professionalize the disease intervention workforce through the CDC’s National Disease Intervention Certification Project. See contributing ASPPH members below.
Certified in Disease Intervention (CDI) Project History
The National Disease Intervention (DI) Certification Project is a collaborative initiative led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through CK20-2003, “Improving Clinical and Public Health Outcomes through National Partnerships to Prevent and Control Emerging Infectious Disease Threats,” designed to strengthen public health services by enhancing workforce capacity through national partnerships and high-quality, standardized professional development for DI professionals.
ASPPH has been funded by CDC to develop and implement the CDI Program and the infrastructure in which it can succeed. The CDI Program aims to:
DI professionals are vital members of the national public health workforce, reducing community spread of infectious diseases through activities such as contact tracing, partner services, health education, and facilitating access to care. National certification programs play an essential role in validating professional knowledge, skills, and abilities, ensuring individuals meet established standards of proficiency and professionalism. Such certification not only enhances service quality but also supports workforce expansion and retention.
Consistent with ASPPH’s partnership model and with funding from the CDC, support for professional certification for the disease intervention workforce draws on contributions from national partners, health departments, academic institutions, and disease intervention professionals who have shaped this project over time:
In 2013, a feasibility study was conducted by International Credentialing Associates (ICA) and National Association of County and City Health Officers (NACCHO).
In 2014, the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) determined the foundational activities for a national Disease Intervention Certification program:
- Definition of a Disease Intervention Professional
- Job Task Analysis of the Disease Intervention workforce
- Enumeration of the Disease Intervention Workforce
By convening national partners and engaging subject matter experts, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) is developing educational pathways that remove barriers to the CDI exam to recruit, train, and retain the disease intervention workforce. In 2022, in collaboration with the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE), ASPPH began work towards:
- Disease Intervention Workforce Environmental Scan
- Updated Job Task Analysis (JTA) of the Disease Intervention Workforce
- CDI Examination and Certification program development
- CDI Continuing Education program development
Foundational Activities
Inspired by conversations with DI professionals across the United States, ASPPH is advancing clearer educational pathways, expanded continuing education opportunities, and professional certification for the disease intervention workforce.
To elevate the impact and visibility of the disease intervention workforce, ASPPH developed the This Is Disease Intervention campaign as part of the broader national disease intervention certification initiative. The Certified in Disease Intervention (CDI) program establishes a nationally recognized standard for the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform disease intervention activities effectively. In collaboration with academic and practice partners, ASPPH has conducted an environmental scan and developed national practice standards and a core competencies framework that support consistent training and disease intervention workforce preparedness to meet evolving public health needs.
Educational Pathways
ASPPH is advancing educational and career pathways into disease intervention through partnerships with high schools, community colleges, and universities, preparing future disease intervention professionals for careers in the field and for CDI certification.
To inform this work, ASPPH convened academic partners to identify opportunities for students to learn about disease intervention, develop relevant skills, and explore careers in the field before entering the workforce.
Certification
The Certified in Disease Intervention (CDI) credential launched in 2026 to enhance clinical and public health outcomes through standardized training, professional development, and career pathways for both prospective and current disease intervention professionals.
Through academic and practice partnerships, ASPPH established a workforce development continuum that supports recruitment, training, CDI Certification, professional development, workforce preparedness, and retention. workforce.
Continuing Education
As disease intervention practices, public health guidance, and community needs continue to evolve, UniversiDI provides continuing education and competency-based training to support CDI recertification and workforce excellence.
Through UniversiDI and other project partner activities, ASPPH maintains a growing library of CDI certification-aligned resources that support the attainment and maintenance of professional credentials, continuing education, and professional development for disease intervention professionals, supervisors, educators, and health departments.
Coming Soon: Public Health Reports
ASPPH is working with Public Health Reports, the official journal of the U.S. Surgeon General, to publish a special supplement on training and credentialing of the disease intervention workforce.
Acknowledgement of Federal Funding: Funding for the Certified in Disease Intervention (CDI) Program was provided through CK20-2003 Improving Clinical and Public Health Outcomes through National Partnerships to Prevent and Control Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease Threats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of financial assistance award NU50CK000612 funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, the U.S. Government, or ASPPH.