Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) must renew their certification annually and recertify every five years. Recertification requires earning 75 continuing education contact hours over five years, with a minimum of 15 hours per year. Credits can be earned through various professional development activities and are categorized as either Category I (pre-approved events) or Category II (non-pre-approved events). MCHES must also earn 30 hours related to advanced competencies. Certification may be maintained through continuing education or re-taking the

1. How Do I Maintain My
Certification?
National Commission for
Health Education
Credentialing, Inc.

2. OBJECTIVES
1. Discuss the recertification requirements
for Certified Health Education Specialist
(CHES) and Master Certified Health
Education Specialist (MCHES).
2. List the key resources available to earn
Continuing Education Contact Hours for
CHES and MCHES.

3. CHES & MCHES
 Congratulations
on receiving the
CHES/MCHES credential.
 Category I credits will be offered for
this webinar.

4. Benefits of Certification
 Access to continuing education
opportunities
 Use CHES/MCHEC designation behind
your name
 Job postings page on NCHEC website
 Social/networking events
 Opportunities to get involved with NCHEC
at a national level
 Newsletter

5. CHES/MCHES CERTIFICATION
 The purpose of professional
certification is to ensure a high level
of competence in the health
education workforce. Maintenance of
this competence is supported by
continued training in the knowledge
and methods of the field.

6. RENEWAL AND RECERTIFICATION
 The CHES/MCHES credential must be
renewed every year.
 Recertification takes place every five
years.
 Requirements for recertification include
the accrual of 75 Continuing Education
Contact Hours (CECH) and payment of
the recertification fee.

7. FEES
 Annual Renewal Fee: $55
 Annual Retired Renewal Fee: $15
 Recertification Fee: $55
 Late Fee: Up to three months late: $25
(renewal + late fee = $80)
 Reinstatement Fee: More than three
months late: $75 (renewal + late fee +
reinstatement fee = $155)

8. CONTINUING EDUCATION
CONTACT HOURS (CECH)
 CECH are earned through participation in
experiences that assist in the development
or enhancement of the knowledge and/or
skills directly related to the Seven Areas
of Responsibility and the individual’s
professional occupation.

9. SEVEN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health Education
Specialist - the broad entry-level skills necessary
for the practice of health education in all settings.
I: Assess needs, assets and capacity for health
education
II: Plan health education
III: Implement health education
IV: Conduct evaluation and research related to
health education
V: Administer and manage health education
VI: Serve as a health education resource person
VII: Communicate and advocate for health and
health education

10. RECERTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS
 Afterinitial certification, each
CHES/MCHES must earn a total of
75 CECH every five years to be
recertified.
 CHES & MCHES are encouraged to
accumulate a minimum of 15 CECH
per year.

11. EARNING CECH
 CHES/MCHES may earn CECH through
completion of any of the following
activities:
 Attendance at Professionals Meetings
 Self-Study
 Academic Preparation
 Creative Endeavors
 Professional Presentations
 Professional Service
 Advanced Professional Practice Activities

12. EARNING CECH
 Each activity is worth a specific number of
CECH, as defined in the Policies and
Procedures Handbook for Renewal and
Recertification 2011.
http://www.nchec.org/_files/_items/nch-
mr-tab7-
80/docs/policy%20and%20procedure%20
-%20final%20-revised%209-12.pdf

13. RECERTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS
For CHES & MCHES:
Category I Category II
Events offered by providers Events offered by providers
Pre-approved by NCHEC Not pre-approved by
NCHEC
Minimum 45 CECH Maximum 30 CECH
For MCHES only:
Required to earn 30 CECH directly
related to the advanced-level Sub-
competencies from Category I and/or
II

14. CATEGORY I
 Category I entry refers to CECH
opportunities that relate to one or more of
the Areas of Responsibility and have been
preapproved by NCHEC (offered by
designated providers).
 Category I advanced refers to CECH
opportunities that relate to one or more of
the advanced-level Sub-competencies and
have been preapproved by NCHEC
(offered by designated providers).

15. CATEGORY I
 The designated provider of Category I
credits will report directly to NCHEC on a
quarterly basis.
 CHES/MCHES should retain the
certificate in their records.
 CHES/MCHES should not submit any
Category I documentation to NCHEC
unless requested.

16. CONTINUING EDUCATION
ACTIVITIES
 Category I CECH opportunities are listed
on the NCHEC Web site at
http://www.nchec.org/ce/procal/
 NCHEC encourages training in all the
Seven Areas of Responsibility, as
continued competence in all Areas is
essential to effective health education
practice.

18. CATEGORY II
 A maximum of 30 category II credits can
be earned.
 Category II entry refers to CECH
opportunities that relate to one or more
of the Areas of Responsibility, but have
not been preapproved by NCHEC (offered
by non-designated providers).

19. CATEGORY II
 Category II advanced refers to CECH
opportunities that relate to one or more of
the Areas of Responsibility and the
advanced-level Sub-competencies but
have not been preapproved by NCHEC
(offered by non designated providers).
 Documentation is needed as evidence to
support a CECH claim.

20. CATEGORY II
 To claim Category II CECH, CHES/MCHES
will need to record not only the program
information, but also how each activity
relates to the Areas of Responsibility
and/or advanced-level Sub-competencies.
 CHES/MCHES must fill out a Category II
CECH Claim Form.
 It is recommended that claims be
submitted within 90 days following
program completion.

21. CATEGORY II CLAIM FORM
•When filling out the
Category II claim form
please be sure to fill out
the areas in red.
•Information section
•Activity
•Area of Responsibility
•Brief Description
•Signature
• Link to the Category II
Claim Form:
http://www.nchec.org/_files/_ite
ms/nch-mr-tab6-
78/docs/cat%20ii%20claim%20f
orm%20-%20ches-mches.pdf

22. CATEGORY II CLAIM FORM

23. CATEGORY II CLAIM FORM

24. CATEGORY II FOR CHES/MCHES
 ForCHES, CECH may not be
claimed for activities, events or
experiences that are part of daily job
requirements.
 ForMCHES, CECH may be claimed
for work-related activities, events or
experiences that relate to advanced-
level Sub-competencies.

25. APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION
FOR ACTIVITIES
 Attendance at Professional Meetings
◦ Certification of Attendance including hours
◦ Meeting schedule/agenda with attended session
highlighted
 Presentation at a Professional Meeting
◦ Program Announcement indicating duration
◦ Thank you letter indicating duration
 Academic Preparation
◦ Copy of Transcript listing the course title and
number of credits earned

26. APPROPRIATE DOCUMENATION
FOR ACTIVITIES CONTINUED
 Authoring a Thesis or Dissertation
◦ Copy of title page, table of contents and letter
of acceptance by the university
 Sole Author of a Training Module or
Course
◦ Copy of title page, table of contents, and
description of content learning objectives
 Sole Developer of a Health Education
Project
◦ Copy of official copyright notice
◦ Copy of product itself

27. COMMON MISTAKES
 Common mistakes when filling out
Category II claim forms:
Incorrect Form--Please use the
current form “CHES/MCHES
Category II CECH Claim Form”
Missing date
CECH claimed not listed
Activity not chosen

28. COMMON MISTAKES CONTINUED
 Area of Responsibility not chosen
 No signature
 More than one activity submitted on
Category II claim form
 Documentation does not show breakdown
of hours (Even though a certificate was
provided hours need to be listed)

29. CECH THAT DO NOT QUALIFY
 You may not claim time for lunches or
breaks, attending poster sessions,
networking sessions, business meetings,
or non-education periods.
 All authorship must involve substantive
contributions and not mere proofreading.
 CECH may not be claimed for reprints,
duplications, or revisions of the same
article in different publications.

30. CECH THAT DO NOT QUALIFY
CONTINUED
 A CHES/MCHES applying for CECH as a
presenter also may not claim CECH for
attending the session in which the
presentation was made.
 For CHES, acting as mentor excludes
student interns and student teachers.
However, for MCHES serving as an
internship/practicum preceptor counts.
 As always, personal and professional
integrity should guide all CECH claims and
documentation.

31. CARRY OVER OF CECH
 CHES/MCHES who have accumulated in
excess of 75 CECH at the end of their
current five-year certification cycle will
carry over a maximum of 15 Category I
CECH into their next five-year certification
cycle.
 Category II hours are not eligible for
carryover.
 For MCHES, any advanced CECH over 30
will carry over as entry-level credits only.
Category II hours are not eligible for
carryover.

32. EXTENSION
 CHES/MCHES who are due to recertify that
have not met the required 75 CECH may
request an extension for a maximum of two
years (approved in one-year increments). A
letter of explanation for the request must be
submitted each year. Payment of the $55
annual fee must be paid.
 Extension status may be granted for special
circumstances including, but not limited to
personal or family illness, graduate study, or
foreign residency.

33. EXTENSION STATUS
 While
on extension status, a
CHES/MCHES:
oMay continue to earn CECH
oIs not permitted to hold any elective
NCHEC office
oIs not allowed to serve on any planning
committee as a CHES/MCHES
representative.

34. MCHES RECERTIFICATION
 MCHES who previously were active
CHES, that have not met the required
30 advanced-level credits, can revert
back to CHES if they have met all
requirements for the CHES
certification.

35. RECERTIFICATION BY
EXAMINATION
 To recertify by examination a
CHES/MCHES must:
◦ Meet the current eligibility criteria to sit for the
examination.
◦ Apply and pay appropriate fees by the stated
deadline for the examination using the official
CHES/MCHES examination application form
available through NCHEC or on the Web site
(www.nchec.org).
◦ Pass the CHES/MCHES examination. (Exams are
administered in April and October.)

36. LAPSED CHES & MCHES
 CHES/MCHES that are lapsed for renewal
or continuing education credits are no
longer allowed to use the CHES/MCHES
designation.

37. RETIRED CHES/MCHES
 CHES/MCHES who are permanently retired
from health education and are in
active/good standing may apply for the
retired status.
 After retired status is approved and
awarded, a retired CHES/MCHES must use
CHES/MCHES (Ret.) after his/her name.
 Retired status is considered a permanent
status.
 No CECH requirements exist.

38. APPEALS POLICY
 An appeal procedure is available to any
applicant or CHES/MCHES to contest any
adverse decision affecting his/her
CHES/MCHES examination eligibility or
CHES/MCHES status.
 Any individual who does not file a request
for an appeal within the required time
limit shall waive the right to appeal.

39. FOR MORE INFORMATION
 Please see the Policies and Procedures Handbook
for Renewal and Recertification.
http://www.nchec.org/_files/_items/nch-mr-
tab7-80/docs/policy%20and%20procedure%20-
%20final%20-revised%209-12.pdf

40. Stay Connected
National Commission for
Health Education
Credentialing, Inc.
1541 Alta Drive, Suite
303
Whitehall, PA 18052
http://www.nchec.org
Email us at: nchec@nchec.org

41. QUESTIONS