Education Requirements
for Public Health Microbiology

Kathy Williams, Examiner II Manager, Public Health Laboratory  Program Laboratory Field Services 850 Marina Bay Parkway, Bldg P First Floor Richmond, CA 94804-6403 PH: (510) 620-3838, FX: (510) 620-3821, E: kwillia8@dhs.ca.gov

GUIDE TO DETERMINE EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATION FOR 
ADMISSION TO THE EXAMINATION FOR A CERTIFICATE AS PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGIST

To clarify and administer Section 1079 (d) of the California Administrative Code with specific reference to the phrase, "and experience represented by at least six months as a Public Health Microbiologist-trainee in a public health laboratory approved by the Department for such training; or experience equivalent to this training as determined the Department in a laboratory acceptable to the Department," the following is to be used as a guide:

1. The candidate must complete the Public Health Microbiologist-trainee program. The Department determines the  duration and subject content of the training program following a review of any clinical laboratory technologist training and practical laboratory experience the candidate may have.
2. Public Health Microbiologist training may include some or all of the following subjects. The approximate number of weeks to complete training in each subject is indicated. The Department reduces or waives training in subjects  where experience has already been gained.

Subject                  Weeks of Training

• Enteric Bacteriology	2
  Food Bacteriology	1
  Mycobacteriology	3
  General Bacteriology	3
  Water Bacteriology	1
  Mycology	2
  Parasitology	3
  Fluorescent Antibody Procedures	2
  Syphilis Serology (other)	2
  Other Serology	1
  Virology	4
  Public Health Orientation	2

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE EXAMINATION FOR

 A CERTIFICATE AS PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGIST



To clarify  and administer Section 1079 (d) of the California Administrative Code with specific reference to the phrase, "&  A baccalaureate or higher degree with a major in Medical or Public Health Microbiology, or equivalent major as determined by the Department, with courses acceptable to the Department, from a college or university accredited  by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or an essentially equivalent accrediting agency, as  determined by the Department;& " the following guide has been adopted by Laboratory Field Services.

1. A baccalaureate or equivalent or higher degree with a major in the following subjects would fulfill the academic requirements without requiring any specific courses:

Medical Bacteriology
Public Health Bacteriology
Medical Microbiology
Public Health Microbiology

2. A baccalaureate or equivalent or higher degree in any major other than those listed above will be considered the equivalent  in subject or subjects only if the transcript shows completion of 24 semester units (or equivalent quarter units)  of the following:

Microbiology	Parasitology	Genetics
Bacteriology	Hematology	Microtechnique
Immunology	Cellular Biology	Instrumentation
Virology	Biochemistry	Epidemiology
Mycology	Clinical Chemistry	Other Related Courses

The above 24 semester units must include at least 6 semester units or 9  quarter units in medical or pathogenic microbiology or bacteriology. A medical microbiology course can be used  to meet this requirement only if it contains a component in pathogenic bacteriology. A course in immunology or  serology may be accepted as a substitute for three semester units or less of these required units.

Courses in microbiology (bacteriology, immunology, serology, virology, parasitology, mycology) should include a laboratory component.