Elective Courses

The Certificate program for Public Health Preparedness and Response Competencies requires elective coursework for intermediate and advance levels.  The elective courses allow you to further enhance your skills and knowledge in your particular area of expertise.    

Persons in the intermediate level are required to take two (2) elective courses and persons in the advanced level must take one additional elective, preferably in a management course.

The online coursework contains materials in a variety of areas.  To take a course, move your curser over the course title and click.  This will take you directly to the website of the university offering the course.  You will need to register for the course on that website.

Completing the Electives: Electives can be completed by selecting from a range of courses offered by accredited academic institutions specializing in Disaster Preparedness. A selection of online courses are offered by the institutions listed below. Fulfilling electives can also be achieved by participating in-person training courses and/or Satellite Broadcasts offered by PHEPR. A list of courses is posted on PHEPR's "Workshops and Training" link and "Satellite Broadcasts" link, respectively.

STEP 1: Click on a link below to find courses that are offered through the accredited institutions. You MUST register with the institution to take the course. Occasionally, courses are offered and no registration is required. Follow the directions posted on the training site for each individual institution.

a. Illinois Public Health Preparedness Center www.publichealthlearning.com

b. Columbia University National Center for Disaster Preparedness www.ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu/training.htm

c. North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness http://nccphp.sph.unc.edu/training/index.php

STEP 2: Choose a Course/Elective

STEP 3: Get a confirmation email or certificate of course completion from the institution offering the course

STEP 4: Notify Mary Valterria by forwarding your email confirmation of course completion, or mail a copy of the certificate issued upon completion. Mary may be reached at MValterr@co.riverside.ca.us or (951) 358-7100.

Elective Waiver

Employees who have successfully completed a course in their specialty, in public health or in emergency preparedness, are eligible to request a waiver of the Elective coursework in the Intermediate and Advanced levels. 

For consideration, the course must have been completed in the last 3 – 4 years.  A copy of the certificate, including dates, must be attached to this form.  Approval is on a case-by-case basis and solely at the discretion of program administration. 

Complete the waiver form (Word 4 Mb) and submit to jdanfife@co.riverside.ca.us for consideration. 

Satellite Broadcasts

Satellite Broadcasts offered through the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Branch (BTPR) may be used for one elective course in the Public Health Preparedness and Response Competencies Certificate Program.