A NEW STANDARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES (CPC) PROGRAM

Reference Guide Release 1.1

Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) is proud to announce the release of the English version of the Reference Guide for the Continuing Professional Competencies (CPC) Program. A copy of the Guide will be sent to every certified member of CIPHI during Environmental Public Health Week (January 18 to 23, 2010). Each year EPH Week recognizes the important and integral role that EPHPs such as Public Health Inspectors, Environmental Health Officers, certified professionals in private industry and other allied organizations play in protecting the health of Canadians.

With the launch of the CPC Program, EPHPs will have access to tools and a framework that will augment current training standards and provide a foundation for EPHPs to maintain contemporary, relevant knowledge as well as skills necessary to meet the public health challenges of the future. "This is a milestone event in the history of CIPHI and Environmental Public Health practice in Canada," said Adam Grant, National President of CIPHI.

Some of the important benefits of the CPC Program include:
• Provides protection for CPHI(C) holders against challenges to personal competence.
• Offers a quality assessment tool for employers to evaluate 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 and will thus enhance the recognized status of EPHPs as specialized professionals.
• Contributes positively to workforce development in Canada by improving the language used for describing the profession, clarifying roles and responsibilities, thereby enhancing mobility across
practice settings and provincial/territorial jurisdictions

The Guide, supporting tools and associated forms are available for download from CIPHI's website (http://www.ciphi.ca). French versions of all the documents will be available by mid- to late-February. Online