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Online Health Education Degrees Can Help You Become a Certified Health Education Specialist

Here are some steps you can take to achieve CHES certification.

With today’s emphasis on preventive medicine and healthy lifestyles, careers in health education and promotion are becoming increasingly popular. It’s expected that the number of jobs in the field will grow by 11% through 2028.1 As a health educator, you will work with individuals and communities to encourage healthy behaviors, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of programs already in place. Health educators work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, nonprofit groups, and government agencies.

However, many employers require that health education specialists be CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) certified. Certification establishes a national standard for members of the profession and shows prospective employers that an individual is proficient in certain knowledge and skills. To become certified, you must pass an exam administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc.2 If you want to apply to take the exam, you must meet certain academic requirements and submit official transcripts indicating a major in health education and completion of at least 25 semester hours (or 37 quarter hours) of work addressing the Seven Areas of Responsibility and Competency for Health Education Specialists3:

Online Health Education Degrees Can Help You Become a Certified Health Education Specialist

  1. Assess needs, resources, and capacity for health education/promotion.
  2. Plan health education/promotion.
  3. Implement health education/promotion.
  4. Conduct evaluation and research related to health education/promotion.
  5. Administer and manage health education/promotion.
  6. Serve as a health education/promotion resource person.
  7. Communicate, promote, and advocate for health and the profession of health education/promotion.

If you’re looking to acquire the skills and knowledge to become proficient in these areas and to earn CHES certification, many universities offer online health education programs to help you reach your goals. These online universities provide you with the freedom to pursue your studies according to your own schedule. And they allow you to do it at home.

Walden University, offers master’s and PhD programs in health education and promotion. The master’s program touches on many key topics, including factors that affect individual and community health, evaluating the effectiveness of programs, and best communication practices. The doctoral program focuses on health behavior theory and strategies for changing behaviors. It also looks at global health education programs. Both can help you prepare for CHES certification. And both can help you achieve your goal of making the world a healthier place.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering an online MS in Health Education and Promotion and a PhD in Health Education and Promotion. Expand your career options and earn your master’s degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.

1Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm
2Source: www.nchec.org/ches-exam-eligibility
3Source: https://www.nchec.org/responsibilities-and-competencies

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org.

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