Certified Health Education Specialist

What is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)?
Certified Health Education Specialists are professionals who design, conduct and evaluate activities that help improve the health of all people. These activities can take place in a variety of settings: schools, communities, health care facilities, businesses and colleges. Health educators are employed under a range of job titles such as patient educators, health education teachers, trainers, community organizers and health program managers. The Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) are those who have met the standards of quality established by NCHEC by successfully passing the CHES examination. The CHES designation after a health educator's name is one indication of professional competency.

The CHES examination is competency-based. It tests those aspects of the responsibilities and competencies of entry-level health educators that can be measured with a paper and pencil examination. The examination is based on the Framework document that identifies seven different areas of responsibility. Within each area of responsibility, the basic competencies necessary for health education specialists have been delineated. These delineations serve as the basis for developing the questions on the certification examination. The CHES examination, consisting of 150 multiple choice questions, measures the possession, application and interpretation of knowledge essential to the professional practice of health education. 

Basis for the CHES Examination
The CHES examination is based upon the following seven areas of responsibilities as delineated in the Framework.

1. Assess individual and community needs for health education
2. Plan effective health education programs
3. Implement health education programs
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of health education programs
5. Coordinate the provision of health education services
6. Act as a resource person in health education, and
7. Communicate health and health education needs, concerns and resources

Eligibility for the CHES Examination
Eligibility to sit for the CHES examination is based exclusively on academic qualifications. An individual is eligible to sit for the examination if he/she has:

• A bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution of
  higher education; AND
  • an official transcript (including course titles) that clearly shows a
    major in health education, e.g., Health Education, Community Health
    Education, Public Health Education, School Health Education, etc. OR
  • an official transcript that reflects at least 25 semester hours or 37
    quarter hours of course work with specific preparation addressing the seven
    areas of responsibility in the FRAMEWORK.

Making Application for the CHES Examination
Making application for the CHES examination is easy. The CHES examination is conducted on college campuses throughout the United States. Any campus with a testing service is eligible as a CHES examination site. There are two publications available for use as study-guides for the CHES examination. Information is provided with the application packet. An application can be obtained either by downloading the form, contacting NCHEC directly at (888) 624-3248, completing the application on-line with credit card information, or e-mailing the exam coordinator at nchec@nchec.org

Visit http://www.nchec.org for more information.