Core Competencies in Genetics: About

The goal of developing core competencies was to identify the aspects of genetics that are essential for all healthcare providers. Implicit goals in seeking this consensus among the working groups were to: (1) validate the importance of a basic foundation in genetics for healthcare, (2) foster the use of common terminology, (3) increase the consistency of genetics-education efforts across the disciplines, (4) promote active discourse about the relative role of different professions in the provision of genetic services, and (5) reduce duplication of effort.

The development process was initiated and led by the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics (NCHPEG) was a non-profit organization whose mission was to promote the education of health professionals and to provide access to information about advances in human genetics to improve the health care of the nation. In 2013, NCHPEG closed. Core staff and resources moved to The Jackson Laboratory to create the Clinical and Continuing Education Program. CCEP continues the mission to facilitate health professional education in genetics in a collaborative and clinician-centered approach.

The core competencies working group, which originally consisted of 27 members, convened in 1997. After much input, discussion and revision, the NCHPEG steering committee approved a set of 44 core competencies in February 2000, and the original publication appeared in 2001 (Core Competencies Working Group 2001) . The competencies themselves remained unchanged in the second edition, which also added information about the impact of the competencies in the four years following their original publication.

This third edition was the result of more than 18 months of work to redefine that core set of competencies in genetics. The document reflects the experiences of those who have used the competencies, as well as continual review by our membership and Board of Directors.