Rural Public Health Training Series
A Multi-Module Series for Building Rural Public Health Capacity

The Rural Public Health Training series helps build the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively in rural communities. The modules in this series are grounded in the day-to-day realities of rural practice — including limited staffing, small populations, and varying access to analytic or policy expertise. The first module, Introduction to Rural Public Health (Rural Public Health 101), offers foundational concepts and is ideal for onboarding, continuing education, and professional development. Additional modules, including Practical Data Skills for Rural Public Health and Practical Approaches to Rural Public Health Policy, offer practical guidance on using data and navigating policy in rural settings. All modules feature examples from rural local health departments across multiple states. The training series will continue to expand with new modules covering additional topics relevant to rural public health practice.

Who Should Take These Courses

Primary audience:

• Rural local health department staff, including practitioners new to public health — ideal for workforce onboarding, continuing education, and professional development.

Secondary audiences:

• State and regional teams that support rural communities
• Other public health professionals
• Students and early-career practitioners working in rural contexts, who can use these modules as supplemental coursework to prepare for careers in rural health
• Healthcare and social service providers
• Rural partners (educators, cooperative extension, libraries)
• Decision-makers shaping rural public health policy and funding, who can use the series to build rural health literacy and inform strategic investments

Continuing Education

Health professionals and Certified in Public Health (CPH) candidates can earn continuing education (CE) by registering on CDC TRAIN using the course IDs below. View the Rural Public Health Training Series: Continuing Education Information guide for complete CE information, including disclosures, objectives, faculty, expiration dates, and instructions for obtaining credit.

Access the Training

Across the training series, you'll build practical skills for rural public health practice — from foundational concepts to data use and policy engagement.

Introduction to Rural Public Health
Build a strong foundation for rural public health work. Learn to define "rural" in a public health context, recognize and leverage the unique strengths of rural communities, understand how rural public health systems and services operate, and identify opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.

• Access with CE (via CDC TRAIN – Course ID WB4981)
• Access without CE (via NORC Walsh Center – Introduction Module)

Practical Data Skills for Rural Public Health
Turn data into practical insights and meaningful action by building on existing community strengths and resources. Learn how data supports rural public health decision-making, where to find data sources relevant to your community, and how to apply a practical six-step process to collect, organize, analyze, interpret, and communicate data your team can act on.

• Access with CE (via CDC TRAIN - Course ID WB5052)
• Access without CE (via NORC Walsh Center – Data Skills Module)

Practical Approaches to Rural Public Health Policy
Build the confidence to engage in local policy work, no matter your role. Learn how public health policy takes shape, identify the people who influence decisions in rural communities, and use a practical six-step process to define priorities, build support, and adapt your approach to reflect local strengths, relationships, and rural context.

• Access with CE (via CDC TRAIN - Course ID WB5053)
• Access without CE (via NORC Walsh Center – Policy Module)

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, eligible activities in the Rural Public Health Training Series have been planned and implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NORC at the University of Chicago, and East Tennessee State University. CDC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) to offer continuing education units (CEUs) for eligible activities and is a preapproved provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) recertification credits. Available credits vary by course and are listed on CDC TRAIN.