About:
The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) credential is a national certification that validates health professionals’ competencies and professionalism in the field of health education. Health educators play a vital role in providing and managing programs that help individuals and communities lead healthy lifestyles.
Certification Body: National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC®)
Learning Objectives:
The CHES credential equips professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to:
- Assess community needs and resources.
- Plan and implement effective health education programs.
- Evaluate and research health initiatives.
- Advocate for health and wellness in communities.
- Communicate effectively and lead health education efforts.
Exam Information:
Candidates must pass a written exam that assesses competencies across several areas:
- Assessment of Needs and Capacity
- Planning
- Implementation
- Evaluation and Research
- Advocacy
- Communication
- Leadership and Management
- Ethics and Professionalism
Exams can be taken as remote proctored online exams or in-person at designated testing centers.
Recertification:
- Validity: CHES certification is valid for five years.
- CEUs Required: Holders must earn 75 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) during this period.
- Application: Submit a recertification application with proof of CEUs before expiration.
Curriculum
- 1 Section
- 7 Lessons
- 40 Hours
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- CONTENT:7
- 1.1Assessment and analysis of community health needs.
- 1.2Strategic planning for effective health education programs.
- 1.3Implementation techniques for educational initiatives.
- 1.4Evaluation methods for measuring program effectiveness.
- 1.5Advocacy strategies for promoting health policies.
- 1.6Effective communication and leadership skills.
- 1.7Ethical practices in health education.
Requirements
- Degree: Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral from an accredited institution.
- Coursework: Major in health education or at least 25 semester hours (or 37 quarter hours) of relevant courses with a grade of "C" or better.
- Ethics: Must adhere to the NCHEC Health Education Code of Ethics.
Target audiences
- Health education professionals