Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Competencies

The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) is a non-profit organization formed in 2009 through collaboration between six national education associations of schools of the health professions “to promote and encourage constituent efforts that would advance substantive interprofessional learning experiences to help prepare future health professionals for enhanced team-based care of patients and improved population health outcomes.” Since that time, IPEC membership has grown to 21 associations, including the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. While IPEC originally formed with representatives of health care professions, an expanded focus continues to build across multiple health and education professions.

As a guide for curricula development in professional schools, the IPEC panel first developed a set of core competencies for Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Interprofessional Practice (IPP) in 2011. In 2016, IPEC Competencies were updated to form four general competency areas including:

  1. Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice
  2. Roles/Responsibilities
  3. Interprofessional Communication
  4. Teams and Teamwork

In each of the general competency areas, sub-competencies were developed and available in the document, IPEC Core Competencies for Collaborative Practice, 2016 Updates. Each of the IPEC four general competencies and links to sub-competencies (in downloadable pdf format) are below.

Interprofessional Competency Assessment

An additional resource to assist in assessment of professional development of the IPEC Competencies is the IPEC Competency Self-Assessment Tool VERSION 3, available from the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, and also available below to download as a pdf.

SF State students and faculty have found this tool helpful to assess their own development of interprofessional competency before and after IPE events.

IPEC Core and Sub-Competencies

The complete guide to IPEC Core Competencies and Sub-Competencies in each area is available as a downloadable pdf document at the link below.

Dr. Betty Yu answering student questions

Competency 1

Work with individuals of other professions to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values. (Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice)

Values/Ethics Sub-competencies are found on page 11 of the IPEC Core Competency document, linked above.

Faculty discussing an assignment with students

Competency 2

Use the knowledge of one's own role and those other professions to appropriately assess and address the health care needs of patients and to promote and advance the health of populations. (Roles/Responsibilities)

Roles/Responsibilities Sub-competencies are found on page 12 of the IPEC Core Competency document, linked above.

Faculty member helping students during discussion

Competency 3

Communicate with patients, families, communities, and professionals in health and other fields in a responsive and responsible manner that supports a team approach to the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of disease. (Interprofessional Communication)

Interprofessional Sub-competencies are found on page 13 of the IPEC Core Competency document, linked above.

Students collaborating on assignment during class

Competency 4

Apply relationship-building values and the principles of team dynamics to perform effectively in different team roles to plan, deliver, and evaluate patient/population-centered care and population health programs and policies that are safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitable. (Team and Teamwork)

Teams and Teamwork Sub-competencies are found on page 14 of the IPEC Core Competency document, linked above.

For PDF files, you'll need Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or above to view it. If you need Adobe Acrobat Reader it's available free from Adobe.