A California Nonprofit Benefit Corporation, 501(c)(3)
What are Public Health Microbiologists?
A California certified Public Health Microbiologist (PHM) is a professional laboratorian who specializes in detecting, isolating, and identifying the microorganisms that are associated with infectious and communicable diseases.
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In public health laboratories, PHMs perform analyses on specimens from humans, as well as from water supplies, food and the environment. They provide laboratory support for the surveillance, control and prevention of communicable diseases and other health hazards in the community. PHM is one of several subdisciplines within the profession of microbiology that offers great opportunities to impact individual and population health from the county level to the national level.
How do I become a LFS approved PHM trainee?
Academic requirements:
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A bachelors or higher degree in medical or public health microbiology from an accredited college or university.
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A bachelors degree in a biological, chemical, physical or laboratory science may be considered equivalent if the transcript shows completion of 24 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) in the following subjects: microbiology, cellular or molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, physics, micro technique, instrumentation, epidemiology, or other related courses.
Required course information:
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The 24 semester units must include a minimum of 6 semester units in a microbiology, molecular microbiology, or bacteriology course that includes instruction in the causative organisms, principles and practices of infectious disease, and infection control. A course in medical microbiology or pathogenic bacteriology would provide this instruction, although such topics may be included within another course.
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Courses in microbiology (bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology, immunology, and serology) should include a laboratory component.
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Related courses which may be acceptable include: Bacterial or Microbial Physiology, Bacterial Diversity, Bacterial Pathogenesis, Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, Virology, Genetics, Microbial Genetics, Immunogenetics, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Cellular Immunology, Food Microbiology, Public Health Microbiology, Recombinant DNA Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Statistics, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Biosystemics, Microscopy, Electron Microscopy, Tissue Culture, Laboratory Techniques, Laboratory Mathematics, Environmental Microbiology, Soil Microbiology, Hematology, Immunohematology.
Learn more about the Public Health Microbiologist Trainee Certificate on the CDPH-LFS site - Public Health Microbiologist Trainee License (ca.gov)
Click on the button below to register online and apply for training by creating a PERL account on the LFS website.
I am approved to train by LFS, what do I do next?
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Learn more about the PHM Training program!
Training Duration: 6 months
PHM Training is rigorous and comprehensive, consisting of didactic and practical instruction covering the body of knowledge of public health laboratory science.
Upon successful completion of the training program, you may:
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Sit for the Public Health Microbiologist Certification exam administered by the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB).
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Receive a passing score to be eligible to obtain Public Health Microbiologist Certification.
Hear from our previous trainees
It wasn’t until after working as a Laboratory Assistant at Monterey County Public Health Laboratory for 3 years, during a crucial time like the COVID-19 pandemic, that I truly understood the importance and impact Public Health Microbiologist and Laboratories have for the community. This training experience was very eye-opening on the wide range of knowledge and skills that are needed to be a well-rounded microbiologist. It is definitely a field where you are always learning and adapting to new information. the best thing about the training is the amount of hands-on laboratory experience you can do.
- Jeelene Luna Jimenez
PHM Trainee, Class of 2023
Monterey County PHL
What is a Public Health Microbiologist?
California licensed Public Health Microbiologists (PHMs) are laboratorians who specialize in microorganisms related to infectious and communicable diseases. They perform microbiological and related biological, serological, and biochemical examinations for the detection and identification of microbial, fungal, parasitic, and viral agents of disease in a public health laboratory, analyzing a wide variety of specimens from human, animal, and environmental sources. PHM is one of several subdisciplines within the profession of microbiology that offers great opportunities to impact individual and population health from the county level to the national level.
What are the academic requirements to qualify for this program? Are there required courses to qualify?
Academic requirements: Bachelors or higher degree in medical or public health microbiology from an accredited college or university. Bachelors degree in a biological, chemical, physical or laboratory science may be considered equivalent if the transcript shows completion of 24 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) in the following subjects: microbiology, cellular or molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, physics, microtechnique, instrumentation, epidemiology, or other related courses.
Required course information: The 24 semester units must include a minimum of 6 semester units in a microbiology, molecular microbiology, or bacteriology course that includes instruction in the causative organisms, principles and practices of infectious disease, and infection control. A course in medical microbiology or pathogenic bacteriology would provide this instruction, although such topics may be included within another course. Courses in microbiology (bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology, immunology, and serology) should include a laboratory component. Related courses which may be acceptable include: Bacterial or Microbial Physiology, Bacterial Diversity, Bacterial Pathogenesis, Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, Virology, Genetics, Microbial Genetics, Immunogenetics, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Cellular Immunology, Food Microbiology, Public Health Microbiology, Recombinant DNA Microbiology, Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Statistics, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Biosystemics, Microscopy, Electron Microscopy, Tissue Culture, Laboratory Techniques, Laboratory Mathematics, Environmental Microbiology, Soil Microbiology, Hematology, Immunohematology.
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What are the expectations of a trainee in this program?
Trainees will develop sound foundation in the fundamental aspects of microbiological laboratory science as it relates to the diagnosis of infectious disease agents via culture, molecular detection or through humoral immune responses. It is this foundation that will serve as the cornerstone for laboratory decisions that the trainees will make in their careers in public health microbiology.
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What is the structure of the PHM Training Program?
There are 21 total modules in this training program, with lecture and laboratory training across all subjects within Public Health Microbiology. This is a 6-month program, usually ran from mid-January to late-July.
Who can I contact if I have more questions regarding the PHM Training Program?
If you have issues with the approval to train application process or questions about your eligibility, please contact: LFSphmicrobiologist@cdph.ca.gov and LFS contacts: Nema Lintag and Dolapo Afolayan
If you have other general questions, please email the CAPHLD PHM Training Committee at PHMtrainingupdate@gmail.com. Emails are not checked daily, so please be patient in waiting for a response to your question(s).
If I am accepted do I have to pay for this program?
Candidates are currently sponsored by the training approved laboratories. No self funding or volunteer option are currently available.
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Where does the training take place?
Training locations may vary depending on who is your sponsoring laboratory. Training may take place at the California Department of Public Health in Richmond, CA, or at your sponsoring laboratory with or without some travel to another training laboratory.
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If I have completed PHM training and have obtained PHM license, Where do I apply?
Candidates who have obtained their licenses and are qualified to apply for a PHM position, please go to Employment posting for most recent job postings. You can also send us your resume/CV and a copy of your trainee license for review.​ Click here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For other inquiries on PHM training, send an email to PHMtrainingupdate@gmail.com ​
