The incorporation of epidemiology AND laboratory training makes the Caribbean Regional programme a FELTP = Field Epidemiology AND Laboratory Training Programme.
Globally, Field Epidemiology Training Programmes ("FETPs") are widely recognized professional development programmes for public health professionals, based on service and on-the-job learning in applied epidemiology.
The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) was the first FETP, established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in 1951 to address a shortage of skilled epidemiologists in the public health workforce. There are now more than 71 national and regional FETPs and FELTPs around the world.
The goal of the Caribbean Regional FELTP is to provide a core curriculum of competency-based classroom learning and on-the-job training, to develop field epidemiology skills and tools to respond to public health issues in the Caribbean through surveillance, outbreak investigation, and operational research and analysis.
The Caribbean Regional FELTP is structured in three tiers: Level I is a 5-month programme that provides basic training in applied epidemiology, public health laboratory science, and communications. Level II involves 12 months of learning and fieldwork in the same content areas, at an intermediate level, and introduce competencies in the areas of teaching and mentoring. Level III will be a full two-year "fellowship" programme. At each tier, Trainees will spend about 20% of the time in the classroom, and the remaining 80% of their time on the job, implementing what they have learned and demonstrating their skills while providing service to public health organizations.
The CR-FELTP is designed for health professionals from diverse backgrounds, who want to contribute to building Caribbean capacity to implement evidence-based health actions and policies, to prevent disease, promote and protect health.