APHL Campuses

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) primarily focuses on professional development, training, and capacity-building programs rather than traditional academic courses. These offerings are designed to enhance the skills of public health laboratory professionals across the United States and internationally. At the headquarters campus in Silver Spring, Maryland, APHL delivers a range of specialized training modules, workshops, and certification programs tailored to the needs of state, local, and territorial laboratories.

• Laboratory Leadership and Management: This program covers strategic planning, resource allocation, and team leadership in public health settings. Participants learn to navigate regulatory environments, implement quality management systems, and foster innovation in lab operations. Sessions include case studies on crisis response, such as during pandemics, emphasizing data-driven decision-making.
• Infectious Disease Testing and Surveillance: Courses delve into advanced techniques for detecting pathogens like influenza, tuberculosis, and emerging threats. Trainees gain hands-on experience with molecular diagnostics, serology, and bioinformatics tools. Emphasis is placed on integrating laboratory data with public health surveillance systems to support outbreak investigations.
• Environmental Health and Chemical Testing: Training focuses on analyzing water, soil, and air samples for contaminants. Topics include toxicology, chromatography, and mass spectrometry methods. Professionals learn to comply with EPA standards and contribute to environmental monitoring programs.
• Bioinformatics and Data Analytics: This module teaches the use of software for genomic sequencing, data visualization, and predictive modeling. It addresses challenges in handling big data from next-generation sequencing, preparing labs for genomic epidemiology.
• Quality Assurance and Accreditation: Participants explore ISO 17025 standards, proficiency testing, and internal audits. The course aims to build robust quality systems to ensure reliable results in high-stakes testing environments.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response: Specialized training on biosafety, biocontainment, and rapid deployment of mobile labs. It includes simulations for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) events, drawing from real-world experiences like Ebola and COVID-19 responses.

These programs are delivered through in-person workshops, virtual webinars, and e-learning platforms, often in collaboration with CDC and other partners. APHL's training equips over 5,000 professionals annually, promoting standardization and excellence in public health laboratory practices. The curriculum evolves with scientific advancements, ensuring relevance to contemporary challenges like antimicrobial resistance and foodborne illnesses. By fostering a network of skilled practitioners, APHL strengthens the nation's public health infrastructure, ultimately safeguarding community health.

Additional offerings include mentorship programs and continuing education credits, encouraging lifelong learning. The headquarters serves as a hub for these initiatives, hosting annual conferences and policy forums that translate training into actionable improvements for laboratory networks nationwide.