Lab Aspire

Public Health Microbiology is the specialized area of microbiology, which detects and identifies the microorganisms associated with infectious and communicable disease. California has thirty-eight local county or municipal public health laboratories and a state laboratory. Approximately 350 public health microbiologists staff these laboratories (CAPHLD Website, 2007). The microbiologists perform a variety of complex laboratory techniques from traditional isolation methods and fluorescent microscopy to flow cytometry and molecular technology.

Academic and Experience Requirements of a California Public Health Microbiologist

Baccalaureate degree in a laboratory science or closely related field.
Six-months training in an approved public health laboratory and passing the California State (PHM) Certification examination for public health microbiologists.
Undergraduate work must be completed in an accredited college or university to qualify as a prerequisite and requires either of the following:

A baccalaureate or equivalent or higher degree with a major in Medical or Public Health Bacteriology/Microbiology. No additional coursework.
A baccalaureate or equivalent or higher degree in any major other than listed above with completion of 24 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of the following: microbiology, bacteriology, immunology, virology, parasitology, hematology, cellular biology, biochemistry, clinical chemistry, genetics, microtechnique, instrumentation, epidemiology, or other related courses. These units must include at least 6 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of medical or pathogenic microbiology/bacteriology. A course in immunology or serology may be accepted as a substitute for three or less of the medical microbiology units. Courses in microbiology should include a laboratory component. Any courses taken at a community college must transfer to the UC or CSU system to count as a prerequisite.

Approval to train in a public health lab must be obtained from California State Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services before admission to an approved training program in a public health laboratory. An Application may be obtained from Kathy Williams at: Kathy.Williams@cdph.ca.gov.
Or write to Kathy Williams, California State Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services, 850 Marina Bay Parkway- Bldg P First Floor, Richmond, CA 94804-6403.