Background: Health information courses in Library and Information Science programs are one pathway into health librarianship. They may raise awareness of the profession among students and provide an avenue to learn essential skills of health information practice. For those unfamiliar with health information practice, understanding how to connect course topics to marketable skills can be a challenge.

Description: The health information course at the University of British Columbia was redesigned using the Medical Library Association (MLA) Competencies for Lifelong Learning and Professional Success as a framework. An introduction to the course was provided on the first day of class, which linked the Professional Competencies to the course topics and learning objectives. Students self-assessed their level of Professional Competency at the start and end of the course through an anonymous online survey.

Outcomes: Overall Professional Competency scores increased for the class. Informal feedback on the course was positive and focused on the practicality of the course.

Conclusion: Explicitly anchoring course content in the MLA Competencies can provide a way for learners self-evaluate their learning and provides a clear framework for understanding the key competencies for health information professionals.