Competency Guidelines for Laboratory Professionals

Competencies are action-oriented statements of the knowledge, skills, and abilities people need to do their work successfully. They are observable and measurable.

How Can They Help?

Competencies pave the way for quality improvement and workforce development. They can be used to set standards for effective and efficient performance, identify training needs, guide professional development, and assess organizational capacity.

What Do These Guidelines Cover?

The CDC/APHL Competency Guidelines cover 15 domains, ranging from broad topics that all laboratory workers need to know—like quality management systems—to specialized topics in varied areas of practice—like chemistry and bioinformatics. The Guidelines are aligned with four skill levels—beginner, competent, proficient, and expert — and are applicable across roles and responsibilities within the laboratory.