Developing global consensus about core knowledge and skills for genetic counselor education

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Genomics Education
• Global Health Professions Training

Background:

• Existing genetic counselor (GC) training programs vary globally, with established guidelines in some regions.
• Emerging regions face challenges adapting existing aspirational competency lists for GC training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a globally agreed-upon core curriculum for genetic counselor (GC) education.
• To support the development of new GC training programs in underserved regions.

Main Methods:

• A global consensus process involving an online-modified Delphi survey of GC education providers and credentialing board members.
• Literature review and analysis of existing curriculum guidelines and competencies to identify potential topics.
• Two-round survey assessing topic relevance with >80% agreement, followed by online consensus meetings.

Main Results:

• A consensus list of 25 core content topics for genetic counselor (GC) curricula was identified across four key areas: counseling and communication, genetics and genomics, medical knowledge, and professional skills.
• Eleven additional "Tier 2" topics were proposed for consideration based on regional needs.

Conclusions:

• The consensus list provides a foundational curriculum for new and emerging genetic counselor (GC) training programs globally.
• This framework can guide the standardization and enhancement of GC education worldwide.