North Carolina School of Public Health – NC

Improving water quality from industrial hog farms, preventing the spread H1N1, protecting women’s health and prenatal health, preparing and managing for hurricanes and other natural disasters, are some of the remarkable tasks of Public Health professionals in North Carolina.  Public health, as the name suggests in concerned with maintaining wellness and welfare of the community.  While there is not a particular public health job title, per se, at the bachelors and graduate level individuals can obtain public health certificates or public policy degrees online or through North Carolina public health schools that may prepare them for administrative and management roles. Practitioners of public health have a variety of titles including, epidemiologist, nurse, doctor, dentist, and environmental specialist.

Professional Associations in North Carolina

The North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPPH)  works toward improving the public health, through political and public advocacy. The North Carolina Public Health Association includes professionals and students from a variety of health and social service fields (social workers, nurses, dentists, epidemiologists, etc). Members pay annual dues and additional fees based on their profession.  The benefits of membership include educational opportunities in public health, participation in committees, social activities, and special interest sections. The North Carolina Public Health Association has an annual conference in public health as well.  The NCPHA website has additional resources for special sections which include:  Community health assistants and technologists, dental health, environmental health, epidemiology, health information management, HIV/STD control, laboratory and nursing. 

For more information, contact the NCPHA at:

North Carolina Public Health Association
3000 Industrial Drive
Suite 140
Raleigh, NC 27609

Continuing Education in North Carolina

Professionals certified by a national organization are usually required to complete some form of continuing education in order to maintain their certification. It is best to research the profession’s certification association for specific details.  In North Carolina there are a variety of activities that are public health related. Continuing education examples include, joining a working committee, researching, attending conferences, facilitating workshops and passing additional college courses. To gain experience in the field of public health individuals may want to volunteer at their local Red Cross, work in a hospital or clinic, or work for a public health advocacy organization.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Public Health Professionals in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Cary, High Point and Wilmington, North Carolina may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Forsyth Medical Center, Rutherford Hospital and Pitt County Memorial Hospital.