How to Become a Public Health Consultant: What to Know

By Dr. Nadine Spring  |  10/06/2025

Do you have a passion for health and research, as well as helping communities? If so, becoming a public health consultant might be a flexible, satisfying career path for you.

Public health consultants work with a diverse range of clients. For instance, they may work with:

• Healthcare facilities
• Government agencies
• Nonprofit organizations
• Healthcare organizations

Their goal is to address public health issues, improve systems, and ultimately create healthier communities.

What Does a Public Health Consultant Do?

Public health consulting is all about problem-solving. Consultants are hired to provide their expertise, strategies, and evidence-based solutions to some of the most pressing public health challenges. For instance, this work may include developing community programs to fight infectious diseases such as HIV, COVID-19, or influenza.

Consultants could also work towards helping healthcare facilities implement better systems for patient care and improved patient outcomes. They could also participate in projects where they advise government organizations on health-related policies or healthcare policy reforms.

Similarly, public health consultants often partner with healthcare organizations to improve efficiency, manage budgets, and enhance quality of care. They are often consulted to support public health officials in designing programs for environmental health or global health concerns.

A public health consultant uses research and data analysis, management strategy, and strong communication skills to guide decision-making and shape policies that directly affect human health.

What Education Is Needed to Become a Public Health Consultant?

As with most specialized careers, becoming a public health consultant requires the right educational background. The first step to become a public health consultant is to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Most aspiring consultants study fields related to a public health degree program, such as:

• Public health or public health programs
• Environmental health
• Health administration
• Global health
• Social sciences
• Life sciences such as biology

Having a bachelor’s degree will provide foundational in areas like health education, data analysis, and systems analysis. It can be used to prepare you for entry-level public health consultant roles or as a stepping-stone to graduate education.

Many public health professionals continue their education after attaining a bachelor's degree and pursue a master of public health (MPH) degree, which is highly recommended if you want to grow in public health consulting. Having a graduate degree in public health will help to add credibility to your work in public health.

An MPH also deepens your expertise in areas such as:

• Health policy
• Infectious diseases
• Environmental health

 This advanced training provides strong analytical skills and helps prepare you to seek leadership positions in the healthcare industry. Many employers consider an MPH a standard qualification to become a public health consultant.

Certifications That Support a Public Health Consultant Career

To stand out from their peers, many public health consultants choose to pursue certifications to obtain other relevant education. The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential, for example, demonstrates your expertise in health education. It isn’t required to become a public health consultant, but it can certainly be helpful.

Other certifications in areas such as project management, strategic management, or healthcare policy can be advantageous in boosting your credibility. If you have a medical degree or advanced training in primary care, that may also open opportunities for specialized consulting work in patient care and healthcare facilities.

Skills Every Public Health Consultant Needs

While education provides the knowledge, becoming a great public health consultant requires a blend of technical skills and soft skills. Depending on the scope of work you are interested in as a public health consultant, you may need skills such as:

• The ability to interpret complex data, conduct systems analysis, and provide evidence-based recommendations
• An understanding of how laws, regulations, and health policies shape the healthcare industry
• Infectious diseases and environmental health knowledge
• Clear written communication skills for key stakeholders, including public health officials, organizational leaders, and healthcare providers.
• Good financial skills for managing budgets and analyzing financial statements (especially important if you’re consulting with healthcare organizations or nonprofit organizations)
• Critical thinking for problem-solving and innovative solutions
• Strong verbal communication skills to explain findings to clients, colleagues, and community members
• Cultural competency and experience working with diverse populations in global or community settings
• Project management skills for handling multiple projects simultaneously
• Soft skills such as teamwork, adaptability, and empathy – these qualities help consultants to connect with clients and communities

Starting a Public Health Consulting Business

One often overlooked but rewarding career path in public health is entrepreneurship through public health consulting. Many public health professionals discover that they have gained specialized expertise that organizations are willing to pay for. This experience is often gained from working for:

• Educational institutions
• Healthcare systems
• Medical research institutions
• Nonprofits
• Government organizations
• Community organizations

Starting your own consulting practice allows you to leverage these skills, work independently, and pursue projects that align with your passions. Those passions could be more specialized, such as:

• Maternal and child health
• Epidemiology
• Clinical research
• Health policy
• Community-based interventions

Consultants are often called on for various reasons. As a public health consultant, you might conduct needs assessments, do program evaluations, or conduct research projects. Other work includes providing:

• Training in health equity
• Representation in clinical research
• Cultural competency
• Community Advisory Boards (CABs) organization
• Patient advocacy
• Policy analysis
• Program evaluation
• Community need analysis
• Population health management

Public health consultants can also play an important role in helping smaller organizations – such as nonprofits and community health centers – to develop their grant proposals. They can also create strategic plans or analyze data to strengthen programs and demonstrate impact.

Becoming a self-employed public health consultant also offers personal freedom and flexibility. You control your schedule, the clients you take on, and the scope of your work.

While the transition may feel daunting, many public health professionals begin their consulting journey by freelancing on small projects alongside a full-time job, gradually scaling up as their networks and reputations grow. With the right business plan, branding, and marketing strategy, it is possible to transform your expertise into a thriving business.

Practical Steps to Becoming a Public Health Consultant

If you are considering this career path, start by identifying your niche. What expertise do you bring to the table that organizations need?

Perhaps you are skilled in critical thinking and designing culturally tailored health interventions, or you have deep experience in clinical trial diversity, data analysis, or policy evaluation. Once you identify your areas of strength, build a clear service menu so prospective clients know what you offer.

Networking is another helpful step. Many consultants secure projects through:

• Professional associations like the American Public Health Association (APHA)
• LinkedIn® connections
• Social media groups
• Alumni networks
• Professional networking with peers and senior colleagues at industry conferences

Building a strong online presence, through blogging, speaking engagements, or sharing thought leadership on social media, can help establish your credibility and attract clients.

It’s also important to consider the logistics of running a business such as:

• Setting up a legal entity (such as an LLC)
• Creating a website
• Determining your rates
• Setting up business banking, agreements, and invoicing systems

While these steps may feel intimidating at first, they are part of building the foundation of a sustainable business. Many entrepreneurs start small and learn as they grow.

Launching your own public health consulting business allows you to combine your passion for health equity with the autonomy of entrepreneurship. It is an exciting and viable career path for public health professionals who want to expand their impact beyond a traditional job while also creating financial stability and independence.

Career Pathways for Public Health Consultants

One great thing about public health consulting is the diverse range of opportunities available. Many consultants work with government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state health departments, or local agencies. Projects might include designing health education programs, monitoring diseases, or advising on health policy.

Consultants in healthcare facilities and healthcare organizations focus on improving efficiency, quality, and patient care. This work could involve:

• Strategic management
• Workflow design
• Budget management to reduce costs while improving patient outcomes

Some consultants support nonprofit organizations that deliver community health programs. They focus on issues like health equity.

After gaining experience, some professionals choose to work as an independent consultant. Their clients often come from healthcare facilities, community health programs, or policy initiatives.

The Challenges and Opportunities of Public Health Consulting

While this career path is rewarding, it comes with challenges. There could be issues with navigating bureaucracy in government agencies and balancing multiple projects with limited resources. Some consultants may struggle with staying up to date with constantly changing policies and regulations or with handling complex data to ensure accurate data analysis.

At the same time, there are opportunities. With increasing attention on equity, consultants help healthcare providers and organizational leaders reimagine healthcare facilities, improve the care of patients, and design programs that create healthier communities.

The Impact of Public Health Consultants

With ongoing public health issues such as pandemics, bio-terrorism, climate change, and rising healthcare costs, organizations increasingly need expert consultants. Demand is particularly high in areas like infectious diseases, healthcare policy, and global health.

At the end of the day, public health consultants work to improve human health and strengthen the systems that affect it. By using strong analytical skills, soft skills, and practical knowledge, they help communities overcome public health challenges and improve patient outcomes.

From preparing reports and shaping health-related policies to mentoring health educators and guiding public health specialists, consultants make a measurable impact. They are essential partners in helping communities and healthcare facilities develop strategies and build sustainable solutions for a healthier future.

This path may require persistence, but the impact is far-reaching. You’ll help both individuals and entire populations live healthier, stronger lives.

The Master of Public Health Degree at APU

For students interested in seeking the knowledge and skills to become a public health consultant, American Public University (APU) offers an online Master of Public Health (MPH). This MPH program offers courses in multiple subjects, such as epidemiology, disaster health management, and emergency management health and medical issues. Other courses include quarantine, public health in America, and ethical issues in public health.

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH®) has awarded specialty accreditation to this MPH program. This type of accreditation demonstrates that this degree’s courses have been thoroughly checked to meet high academic standards.

For more information, visit APU’s health sciences degree program page.

Note: This program has special admission requirements.

LinkedIn is a registered trademark of the LinkedIn Corporation.
CEPH is a registered trademark of the Council on Education for Public Health.