Certified Health Education Specialist Credential

The field of health education has emerged over the years as one that is defined by specific competencies or areas of responsibility.  A Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) is an individual who has met those standards of competency established by The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) and has successfully passed the CHES examination. Health Education students are strongly encouraged to take the national CHES exam for several reasons including:

• Many health education job announcements now state that CHES certification is preferred or, in some cases, required of job applicants.
• Continuing education requirements for maintenance of CHES certification offer a positive incentive to remain current in health education knowledge and practices.

The CHES designation after a health educator's name is an indication of professional competency and commitment to the field. 

The CHES examination is administered twice a year— in April and October.  Undergraduate Health Education students are eligible to take the credentialing exam during their last semester in the program or upon graduation.  Graduate Health Education students are eligible to take the exam at any time during their program provided that they have received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.  For more information on becoming a CHES, please click on the image below.

Watch this video from the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) for more information on the Health Education Specialist program.