Service to public health and allied professionals has long been the concern and major function of the Program for Continuing Education in Public Health, sponsored by the four Schools of Public Health in the West--and by the Western Regional Office of the American Public Health Association (APHA). To assess the effectiveness of this program, a study of continuing education needs and interests was made during 1966-67. Data were obtained on age, sex, education and training, experience, hierarchical position, type of employing agency, and other relevant characteristics of 1,355 professional public health workers in the western states, as well as on preferences for 78 course types and for newly proposed methods and techniques of instruction. Nineteen topics were selected by 20% or more of the respondents; eleven of these were already available or being developed. General problem areas, and skills in community and organizational problem-solving, were the major concerns; multidisciplinary courses were widely favored over single discipline courses; and television and videotapes were widely supported, but not teaching machines. Typically, participants were older, had more experience and higher positions, more often had advanced degrees, and were more likely to belong to the APHA or a state association, than nonparticipants. However, 66% of full-time professionals lacked a degree in public health. (ly)