Per the 1992 Indian Healthcare Improvement Act, TECs perform the following seven core functions:

1. Collecting data and monitoring health;
2. Evaluating data and health care delivery systems;
3. Identifying health priorities;
4. Making recommendations for health service needs;
5. Making recommendations for improving health care delivery systems;
6. Providing epidemiologic and other technical assistance; and
7. Providing disease surveillance.*

*Pub. L. No. 111–148, 124 Stat. 119 § 210 Epidemiology centers, § 214 (a)(3)

TECs operationalize the seven core functions in different ways based on the priorities and needs of the AIAN people and the T/TO/UIOs they serve, Tribal and urban Indian leadership, funding sources, and access to valid and reliable data.