Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP)

The Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) and the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP), which offers an added laboratory component, are applied epidemiology programs offered by CDC to help foreign countries develop, set up, and implement dynamic public health strategies to improve and strengthen their public health system and infrastructure.

The program, which was started in 1980, is modeled after CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service.

Since 1980, we have helped establish 37 programs that are now operating independently and we currently (as of August 2010) support 15 programs covering 29 countries.

The programs have produced more than 2,100 graduates. About 80% of them stay in the public health sector and many obtain leadership positions within the health system (i.e., program chiefs, national directors for epidemiology, heads of national and regional surveillance departments).

Partnerships and Funding

Developing partnerships is an important element of establishing, supporting, and sustaining our programs. We regularly collaborate with national and international organizations such as USAID, WHO, the Ellison Medical Foundation, the World Bank, and others.

To establish an FETP, we typically provide Ministries of Health with an in-country resident advisor for 4 to 6 years to help guide training and technical assistance.

In addition, countries that set up field-based training programs can collaborate with two field epidemiology non-profit network organizations to share resources and best practices among FETPs: the Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET) and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET).

CDC Staff

Our division's teams of physicians, epidemiologists, public health advisors, instructional designers, health communication specialists, and support staff provide scientific expertise, training consultations, and other programmatic support and advice to enable foreign Ministries of Health enhance their own health protection and health promotion programs.

FETP Curriculum

The FETP is a 2-year, full-time training and service program, which involves classroom instruction and field assignments.

FETP trainees take courses in epidemiology, communications, economics, and management. They also learn about quantitative- and behavior-based strategies. In addition, FETP trainees work in the field, where they conduct epidemiologic investigations and field surveys; evaluate surveillance systems, perform disease control and prevention measures; report their findings to decision- and policy-makers; and train other health workers.

For more information on training and curriculum activities, go to the Implementation Tools section.

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