1. Public Health and Schools and Universities: The National Commission for Health Education
Government Agencies: Credentialing’s voluntary professional certification
NCHEC-certified health education specialists are
NCHEC-certified health education specialists are
qualified to teach health classes and develop
programs (CHES and MCHES) establishes a WHY Employ a
national standard for individual health education
lesson plans for teaching topics that are relevant
qualified to identify trends in health and disease as
well as evaluate health status measures and de- and age appropriate for their students. They are
also capable of teaching sensitive subjects such
practitioners. It is based on Responsibilities and
Competencies that have been verified by a national
CHES/MCHES
mographic and socioeconomic characteristics in job analysis.
as sex education and substance abuse. In univer-
order to design successful intervention programs.
They are specifically trained to handle controversial sities, health education specialist are qualified to
The national certifications benefit practitioners and
Health Education
health issues/content and develop social marketing work on campuses to develop health communica-
and mass media campaigns. tion materials; oversee and implement appropriate
the public by:
• Establishing a national standard
Specialist?
needs assessment and evaluation, and provide
• Attesting to individuals’ knowledge and skills
leadership for and monitor continuous quality
• Assisting employers in identifying qualified It’s Good Business!!
“
South Carolina Department of Health & Environ- improvement projects pertaining to student health
mental Control (SCDHEC) prefers employing health education practitioners
promotion activities.
CHES/MCHES in public health positions. The • Promoting continued professional development
certification ensures employees with a high-level
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skill set for planning, implementing and evaluat- At HealthTeacher, when recruiting new employ- Check out the NCHEC Website at
ing public health programs. These skills can be ees, we give preference to candidates who have www.nchec.org for more information.
“
used in multiple program areas and across mul- earned their CHES certification. We believe the
tiple sectors of the agency. CHES certification demonstrates to our partners References:
and users, that an individual has made a http://www.nchec.org/credentialing/profession/
personal commitment to advancing health and
well-being of others by attaining a deep knowl- US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational
edge and ongoing professional development re- Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition
lated to the field of health education. In addition, http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos063.htm
“
we support our current staff in their pursuit of
achieving CHES certification. Check out the CHES/MCHES YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheNCHEC?
feature=mhsn
NCHEC can help you hire a CHES/MCHES
Building the CHES/MCHES certification into your job descriptions, and into your employment advertising, facilitates
1541 Alta Drive,
the recruitment of qualified health education specialists. NCHEC will post positions free of charge on our Website Suite 303
for 90 days and share on our social networking sites. The only requirement is that the description must indicate Whitehall, PA 18052-5642
that a CHES/MCHES is preferred or required. Employment listings are accepted by email at nchec@nchec.org or Toll Free Phone: 888-624-3248
by fax 800-813-0727. Toll Free Fax: 800-813-0727 Standard of Professional Excellence

2. ealth education improves the health status of individuals, communities, states, and
H the nation. It enhances the quality of life for all people; and reduces costly premature
deaths and disability. Health education specialists offer knowledge, skills and training
that complement those of health care providers, policy makers, educational experts, human
resource personnel and many other professionals whose work impacts human health.
Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) Employment Settings
is an advanced-level practitioner who has:
Business & Industry:
1) Met required academic preparation qualifications
NCHEC-certified health education specialists are
and worked in the field for a minimum of five years highly qualified to coordinate a variety of vital Worksite
2) Successfully passed a competency-based Wellness programs to improve the quality of lives
Health Care:
EMPLOY A CERTIFIED OR MASTER assessment of your employees and their families. In the hands of
3) Satisfied the continuing education requirement to a CHES/MCHES, your health promotion initiatives Working in hospitals, healthcare providers and
CERTIFIED HEALTH EDUCATION will be designed to improve employee health, job insurers, NCHEC-certified health education special-
maintain the national credential
SPECIALIST (CHES/MCHES) satisfaction and productivity; and help minimize ists are highly qualified to coordinate a variety of vital
absenteeism, injuries and workers’ compensation programs for patients, staff and the neighboring com-
Hiring a CHES/MCHES is a cost-effective invest- CHES and MCHES are specifically trained in the
munity. Based on the priorities of your organization,
ment, since demonstrated expertise is more likely Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health
claims.
a CHES/MCHES can improve the health of your pop-
to increase effectiveness of your health education Education Specialists:
“
LiveHealthier’s standard of employing Certified ulation with programs focusing on effectively reducing
programs. National Commission for Health Educa-
tion Credentialing’s (NCHEC) comprehensive pro- I. Assess Needs, Assets, and Capacity for Health Education Specialists has been an essential health risks, preventing and managing diseases, and
fessional preparation and continuing education Health Education principle in developing our success as a company, identifying community health education needs.
requirements ensure that certified health education II. Plan Health Education
and creating business with fortune 100 clients,
specialists are qualified in every aspect of the and our exponential company growth. We believe
III. Implement Health Education
““
At MD Anderson Cancer Center, it is important
profession. Only a CHES/MCHES maintains NCHEC’s it is imperative to employ individuals who possess
national standards for delivering effective health IV. Conduct Evaluation and Research Related the knowledge, skills, commitment and passion for us to have a cadre of highly trained health
education services. to Health Education to provide comprehensive employee wellness educators. The clinical staff relies on their expertise
to develop, implement and evaluate patient
V. Administer and Manage Health Education solutions to various employer groups. It is for
More and more employers are requiring that their
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these reasons that we find it extremely important education programs, therefore we hire CHES and
health education specialist are certified. NCHEC can VI. Serve as a Health Education Resource and highly valuable to hire CHES. MCHES.
help achieve a variety of benefits for your organ- Person
ization. Hiring a certified individual, is in the best VII. Communicate and Advocate for Health and
interest of your organization. Having a CHES/MCHES Health Education
on your staff can make a big difference to the lives of Community Health Organizations
“
the people you serve – and make them more confi- and Non-Profits:
At HealthFitness, we look for
dent in your organization. individuals with the CHES
NCHEC-certified health education specialists are designation because it repre-
Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) qualified to coordinate a variety of community pro- sents a consistent foundation
is an individual who has: grams to improve the quality of life and health out- of knowledge plus a commit-
1) Met required academic preparation qualifications comes of diverse populations. CHES/MCHES are ment to on-going education.
advocates for behavioral, environmental and policy In program development we
2) Successfully passed a competency-based
change, skilled in directing community health initia- need people who can apply theory into practice and
examination
tives. They are also skilled in organizing and mobi- create programs that support behavior change.
3) Satisfied the continuing education require- lizing communities for action, coalition building and With CHES, we feel confident we’ll get that skill set.
ment to maintain the national credential serve as resource persons.