Certified Health Education Specialists Certified Health Education Specialist

Certified health education specialists (CHES) are those who have met the standards of competence established by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc. (NCHEC). Organized in 1988, the NCHEC evolved from the work of the National Task Force on the Preparation and Practice of Health Educators.

The DHEC Office of Public Health Education (OPHE) was designated as a multiple event provider of Category 1 continuing education contact hours by the NCHEC in 1992. The designation is renewable every two years. A special committee provides oversight for coordinating, approving and reporting continuing education events for CHES. Educational offerings must directly relate to seven areas of responsibility and related competencies.

 

Become a CHES

To become a CHES, individuals must meet eligibility requirements and pass a certification examination. Eligibility to take the CHES examination is based exclusively on academic qualifications. An individual is eligible to take the examination if he/she has:

A bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher education; AND one of the following:

  • An official transcript (including course titles) that clearly shows a major in health education, e.g., Health Education, Community Health Education, Public Health Education, School Health Education, etc.

    Degree/major must explicitly be in a discipline of "Health Education."

OR

  • An official transcript that reflects at least 25 semester hours or 37 quarter hours of course work with specific preparation addressing the Area of Responsibility for health educators listed below.

Students studying

 

CHES Application (doc) for Continuing Education Contact Hours

CHES Application Letter (doc)

CHES Presentation Objectives Form (doc)

CHES Study Sessions (pdf)
The OPHE and S.C, Association for the Advancement of Health Education (SCAAHE) provide two CHES study sessions per year, in April and October.

Learning Objectives and CHES Areas of Responsibility and Competencies (doc)