How to maintain you CHES/MCHES credential

1. Maintaining My
CHES/ MCHES
Certification:
Questions and Answers

2. What we’ll discuss:
• The recertification process
and requirements for CHES
and MCHES
• Where to find CEU’s
• Other resources for
professional development
•Why CHES?
•How many
CEU’s?
•What are
the fees?

3. Congrats on your CHES/ MCHES!
Category I credits will
be offered for this
webinar.

4. Benefits of Certification
• Credentials
• Jobs
• Networking
• Professional esteem

5. Certificate vs. Certification
Certificate
• Non degree
• Instruction and
training for
specific skills
• Awards for
participants who
meet performance
standards
• Examples:
Certification
• Voluntary
process
• Maintenance of
certification
• Participant
meets particular
knowledge
competencies
• Time limitedICE resource: Defining Features of Quality
Certification and Assessment –based Certificate
Programs

6. Certificate vs. Certification
Certificate
• Content validation
• Provider conducts
training
• Not time limited
• Not requred to
engage in specific
activities
Certification
• Assessment of
individual
• Provider is
independent
from training
program
• Required to
engage in
specific
activitiesICE resource: Defining Features of Quality
Certification and Assessment –based Certificate
Programs

7. Why CHES/ MCHES?
The CHES/ MCHES
certification ensures the
highest level of health
education.
Maintenance of the
certification is supported by
continuing education.
•Why CHES?
•How many
CEU’s?
•What are
the fees?

8. Renewal and Recertifying
• Renewal every year
• Recertification every 5
years.
• 75 hours of continuing
education
• Annual Fee

9. Renewing and Recertifying
FEES:
Annual Renewal……..…...$55.00
Retired Renewal…..………$15.00
Recertification……..….…...$55.00
Late fees………….....up to $80.00
Reinstatement…..… up to$155.00

10. Continuing Education
Contact Hours (CECH)
• CECH are earned
through participation in
areas directly related to
the Seven Areas of
Responsibility
• Must develop or enhance
skills
• Must be related to the
individuals profession

11. 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

12. Recertification Requirements
• each CHES/MCHES
must earn a total of
75 CECH every five
years.
• CHES & MCHES are
encouraged to
accumulate a
minimum of 15 CECH
per year.

13. CHES/MCHES May earn
CECH through:
Professional
Meetings
Self
Study
Academic
Preparation
Professional
Presentations
Professional
Service
Creative
endeavors
Advanced
Professional
Practice Activities

14. Earning CECH
• Each activity is worth a
specific number of CECH
• See Policies and
Procedures Handbook for
Renewal and
Recertification
• http://www.nchec.org/_files/_items/nch-mr-tab7-80/docs/policy%20procedure%20handbook%20accepted%

15. Recertification Requirements
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 CHES & MCHES:
For MCHES only:
Required to earn 30 CECH directly related to
the advanced-level Sub-competencies from
Category I and/or II

16. Category I
• Category I entry are opportunities that
relate to one or more of the Areas of
Responsibility and have been
preapproved by NCHEC
• Category I advanced are CECH
opportunities that relate to one or more
of the advanced-level Sub-
competencies and have been
preapproved by NCHEC
• Offered by NCHEC designated
providers
CATEGORY I

17. 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.

18. • Category I CECH
opportunities are listed on
the NCHEC website
• nchec.org/ce/procal/
Continuing Education Activities

22. 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).

23. Category II
• Category II advanced refers to one
or more Areas of Responsibility and
advanced-level Sub-competencies
not preapproved by NCHEC or
designated providers.
• Documentation is needed as
evidence to support a CECH claim.

24. To submit Category II
• record program
information and how
each activity relates to
the Areas of
Responsibility and/or
advanced-level Sub-
competencies.
• Submit Category II
CECH Claim Form within
90 days following
program completion.

25. Category II Form
•Category II claim form
sections to be completed
•Information Section
•Activity
•Area of
Responsibility
•Brief Description
•Signature
•Category II Claim Form:
http://www.nchec.org/_files/_items/nch-
mr-tab6-78/docs/cat%20ii%20claim
%20form%20with%20accepted
%20changes%205-20-13.pdf

26. Category II Claim Form

27. Category II for CHES/MCHES
• For CHES, CECH may not be
claimed for activities, events
or experiences that are part of
daily job requirements.
• For MCHES, CECH may be
claimed for work-related
activities, events or
experiences that relate to
advanced-level Sub-
competencies.

28. 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

29. Appropriate Documentation for
Activitied Cont’d
• 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

30. Common Mistakes
on Category II Forms
• On Category II
claim forms
• Missing date
• CECH claimed
not listed
• Activity not
chosen
• Incorrect Form

31. Common Mistakes Cont’d
• Area of Responsibility not chosen
• No signature
• More than one activity submitted on
Category II claim form
• Documentation does not show breakdown
of hours despite certificate

32. 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.

33. CECH Who Do Not Qualify Cont’d
• CHES/MCHES applying for CECH as a
presenter cannot claim CECH for attending
the presentation session
• For CHES, a mentor does not include
student interns and student teachers.
• For MCHES serving as an internship/practicum
preceptor counts.

34. Carry Over of CECH
• CHES/MCHES who have over
75 CECH at the end of the
current 5-year certification cycle
• Carry over a maximum of 15
Category I CECH into the next 5-
year certification cycle
• Category II hours are not eligible
for carryover
• For MCHES, any advanced
CECH will carry over as entry-
level credits only.
• Category II hours are not eligible
for carryover

35. Extension
• Recertifying CHES/MCHES who have not met
the required 75 CECH may request an
extension for a maximum of two years
• A letter of explanation must be submitted
yearly
• Payment of the $55 annual fee must be
paid
• Extensions are approved in one-year
increments
• Extension status is granted for special
circumstances including, but not limited to:
• Personal or family illness, graduate study,
or foreign residency

36. Extension Status
• While on extension
status, a CHES/MCHES:
-May continue to earn
CECH
-Cannot hold any
elective NCHEC
office
-Cannot serve on
planning committees
as a CHES/MCHES
representative

37. MCHES Recertification
• MCHES, who were previously active
CHES, and have not met the required 30
advanced-level credits,
• can become a CHES if all requirements for the CHES
certification are met

38. Recertification by Exam
• To recertify by exam a
CHES/MCHES must:
• Meet the eligibility to qualify for the
exam
• Apply and pay fees using the exam
application form
• Available through NCHEC or on the
Web site (www.nchec.org)
• Pass the CHES/MCHES
examination
• Exams are scheduled in April and
October

39. Lapsed CHES and MCHES
• CHES/MCHES who are lapsed for renewal or
continuing education credits are not allowed to use
the CHES/MCHES designation

40. Retired CHES/MCHES
• Permanently retired CHES/MCHES from health
education and with active/good standing may apply
for retired status
• If retired status is approved and awarded, the (Ret.)
credential must be used after a person’s name
• Retired status is considered permanent status and no CECH
requirements exist

41. Appeals Policy
• An appeal is available to any
applicant or CHES/MCHES
• To challenge decisions affecting
CHES/MCHES examination
eligibility or
• CHES/MCHES status
• Individuals who do not file a
request within the required time
limit waive the right to appeal
Appeals

42. For More Information
The Policies and
Procedures
Handbook
http://www.nchec.org/_files/_items/nch-mr-tab7-

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