Help - Getting Started with the LMS

The Learning Management System (LMS) is where you track your professional development training. The LMS provides learners with an individual training needs assessment, a topic appropriate curriculum, and a comprehensive training record. Here's how you get started.

1. Assess and maintain your competencies

To begin your online professional development program you will assess yourself based on competencies that are either assigned to you as a "role" by your site administrators, or by choosing from the list of competency groups available to you, or both. Roles and competency group(s) contain set(s) of competencies that you assess your level of confidence in the ability or knowledge to carry out each competency. After you complete the initial assessment, you can update individual competencies as your skills, knowledge and abilities improve.

Competencies relate to your role in your organization. Some competencies represent knowledge, attitudes and skills that are important for general public health practice, while others are relevant to bioterrorism and emergency preparedness initiatives with state and local public health agencies. You can add (or subtract) competency groups at any time. Competencies have been lumped into groups (e.g. Public Health System); your task is to assess your confidence level in carrying out core competencies.

You should reassess your competencies whenever you learn a new skill or acquire new information regarding a Public Health or Bioterrorism/Emergency Preparedness competency. The new assessment will show that your work unit is better prepared because of the skills you can now provide in a given situation. If your role changes then you should take the assessments that apply to your new role.

2. Register for recommended courses

Courses are recommended based on your self-assessment. Once you complete the initial self-assessment, you are directed to the list of recommended courses. At this point, you may register for these courses. You may also browse or search the course catalog for other courses of interest.

3. Get trained

Now that you've registered for courses, get trained!

Face to Face courses are conducted in person. Online courses are conducted via an internet connection. Other courses may be conducted via video, CD-ROM, or any combination of the above. There are many possibilities.

The important core fact is that the Learning Management System (LMS) is where you track your professional development training. The LMS is where you will document your training regimen, including certification, and continue to develop professionally as new competencies and courses are added for your role in public health.