How to Work in Public Health: Resources to Get Started

Public health refers to efforts to prevent the spread of disease, maintain good health in a community, and reduce inequalities in health outcomes and health disparities within the population. Public health aims to protect and improve the health of populations by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease prevention, recommending policy changes, and educating the public about diseases, mental health, addictions, and other health issues.

With goals of preventing avoidable disease, injury, disability, and death and promoting a healthy and sustainable environment for current and future generations, a career in public health can give you the chance to improve many people's lives. Unlike the clinical healthcare system, which focuses on treating individual cases of disease or illness after they have occurred, public health services promote the health of communities or populations so that people do not fall ill. Discover more about public health as a career path.

Public health defined 

Public health aims to improve the well-being of individuals and communities by strengthening health services and reducing inequalities. Professionals in public health use education and research to promote healthy lifestyles. 

In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) drive public health, focusing on creating healthy living conditions, promoting healthy lifestyles, and protecting people from infectious diseases and environmental hazards.

Besides researching diseases, these organisations develop treatment programs to counteract the spread of infectious diseases. The public health sector also aims to provide all citizens with equal and quality healthcare.

Branches of public health 

The NHS identifies four core domains of public health, each focused on specific aspects of community health. These branches work in tandem to address the broad scope of public health needs across the UK. The four branches, or domains, as identified by the NHS, are as follows: 

Health Improvement

This branch of public health promotes healthier lifestyles. It addresses health inequalities by focusing on social determinants of health, such as lifestyle, education, employment, and housing, while positively impacting public policy. Health improvement professionals develop community programs to tackle issues like obesity, mental health, sexual health, the importance of vaccinations, and substance misuse. 

Health Protection and Emergency Preparedness

Health protection is essential in preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases and protecting people from environmental hazards and natural disasters. This area includes disease surveillance, dynamic risk assessments, and emergency preparedness.

Healthcare Public Health (HCPH)

This domain is concerned with planning and evaluating health services to ensure they meet population needs. Professionals work on improving healthcare quality, accessibility, and efficiency, often engaging in health policy development and system analysis to support the NHS in delivering effective services.

Academic Public Health

Academic public health focuses on understanding the factors that affect public health and aims to build evidence to support how public health functions. This includes research, data analysis, and asking relevant questions to improve the quality of public health across the entire population.

When considering concentrations, look at your areas of interest and how they align with the expertise you need for various career paths. Understanding multiple public health domains can also help you narrow the choices. 

Careers in public health 

Within the field of public health, there are many different career paths. If you want to improve the health and well-being of communities or special populations, you can find a niche that suits you. Some examples include:

Public health practitioner (PHP)

Median annual UK salary: £29,874 per year [1]

Public health practitioners (PHPs) are considered part of the core public health workforce. They work in areas ranging from health protection to health improvement. PHPs can work in the private, public, community, or voluntary sectors. 

Part of a PHP's work involves implementing and carrying out programmes to improve community groups' health and well-being. These programmes may focus on the importance of physical activity, immunisations, or preventative health screenings. Individuals who work in this role may work on national and local health campaigns, while others work on teams for local government organisations and the OHID.  

Public health consultant 

Median annual UK salary: £54,191 [2]

Public health consultants and specialists plan and deliver policies and intervention programmes to influence certain populations' health to help communities live happier and healthier lives. In addition, professionals who work in this role gather and interpret data and provide evidence-based advice that helps create services that are accessible for all groups of people. 

Public health manager 

Median annual UK salary: £47,396 per year [3]

Public health managers can work in any domain of public health. As a result, roles, job titles, duties, and responsibilities vary widely depending on which domain or branch of public health they work in. 

For example, some common job titles for public health managers include health protection specialist, commission manager, health improvement principal, and public health principal. Most of these roles involve developing plans and initiatives, leading groups of other public health workers, and providing community advice and support. Some of your work in this role might involve preparing reports and evaluating interventions and services to assess efficacy. 

Public health nurse

Median annual UK salary: £41,878 per year [4] 

Public health nurses are registered nurses or midwives who specialise in a particular area of public health, such as infection control, health promotion, or health protection. Depending on the specialty area, public health nurses work to educate certain populations on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and support them during disease outbreaks or widespread illnesses. In this role, you may also conduct public health and community risk assessments, emergency planning, and other data collection to help create and/or improve health initiatives. 

Public health educator/academic 

Median annual UK salary: £33,537 per year [5]

Public health educators or academics guide and influence key decision-makers on specific public health issues through academic research and by teaching students in universities and colleges about public health theories and practices. 

In this role, you will be involved in research, teaching, and sharing the results of work with decision-makers in public health, making this role a rewarding one for anyone who wants to make an impact in the field of public health. Like public health managers, public health educators and academics can also work across all domains of public health, so day-to-day duties and responsibilities will vary by domain. 

Health trainer (public health)  

Median annual UK salary: £32,648 per year [6]

Health trainers work closely with individuals rather than groups of people. They help clients evaluate their lifestyles and guide them through practical steps to meet healthy goals. Trainers who work in public health may help people develop healthier habits and change behaviours that range from stopping smoking to exercising more regularly. 

How to work in public health based on your career path 

Due to the variety of career paths you can take in public health, the requirements to enter the industry vary. Entrants into public health can come from clinical backgrounds (medicine or nursing) or nonclinical backgrounds. As a result, degrees and qualifications vary greatly. However, as a starting point, most people who are getting into public health benefit from a degree in a subject related to public health. 

A master’s or doctoral degree or a clinical background can help better position you for certain roles in public health. For instance, a Master of Public Health (MPH) is beneficial for advancing as a public health specialist. Some consultant roles require a clinical background, and research careers in public health often require a doctoral degree.

Along with educational preparation, you will also want to develop skills essential for your success in public health.  Consider these tips when beginning your journey as a public health professional.

Earn a degree 

The first step is understanding the minimum requirements for the public health profession you wish to pursue. Research the positions that interest you and explore the education and training requirements. While most entry-level positions require a bachelor’s degree or higher, some jobs may not require a higher degree education but, instead, emphasise experience. These include health trainers, care workers, and health improvement practitioners. A range of volunteer positions, such as for a nutritionist, can also help you gain the expertise you need while providing a valuable service to the community.

A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for some public health professions. These programmes equip you with a wide range of knowledge in public health and allow you to choose a master's programme that's right for you should you decide to continue your education. You can also pursue an undergraduate course in various fields to prepare you for a role in public health, including, among many others:

• BSc Public Health

• BSc Health and Exercise Science 

• BSc Health and Wellbeing in Society 

• BSc Population Health and Medical Sciences 

• BSc Health and Lifestyle Science 

• BA Public Health and Community Studies

• BA Health and Social Care

A Master of Science (MSc) in Public Health can help you prepare to take on leadership positions. You can select this or other master's and doctoral programmes based on your future career goals. For example, if you want to work as a public health consultant, you may need a master's degree. Some graduate-level degrees in public health include:

• MSc in Public Health

• MSc in Health Management

• Executive Programme Health MBA 

• Clinical and Public Health Nutrition MSc 

• MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology 

• Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Gain experience

To qualify for and expand your career opportunities in a public health role, focus on developing your skills and gaining experience. Entry-level positions within the NHS are a great way to gain work experience. You can find job opportunities on the NHS jobs website. 

Consider certification

Many people who earn a public health certification have earned a bachelor's degree or gained work experience. Certification can boost your career prospects by expanding your knowledge and skills related to public health. 

In the UK, public health professionals often seek registration with the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) or pursue other relevant certifications and qualifications recognized within the UK’s public health system. For example, through the UKPHR, you can register as a Public Health Practitioner or Public Health Specialist. 

Other options include the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), which offers multiple qualifications and training for public health professionals. NHS England also has a Care Certification designed for health and care professionals. 

Salary and career outlook for careers in public health 

As a public health professional, you may have better salary prospects if you possess a Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) or a PhD in Public Health. Both degrees can provide a host of opportunities for advancement. These degrees can open the door to epidemiology and health policy analytics careers.  

An apprenticeship can provide a solid educational foundation for roles such as environmental health practitioners. However, having at least a bachelor’s degree will improve your chances for career advancement. Education level, geography, employment sector, managerial level, and the economy are among some factors that affect career outcomes. 

Getting started in public health

Explore careers in public health through online courses. You can find online courses on Coursera that match your skill level, career goals, and interests.  

To learn more about public health, consider taking an introductory course online, such as Foundations of Public Health Practice Specialisation offered by the Imperial College London or Essentials of Global Health by Yale University, both available on Coursera.