Health Education:
Responsibilities, Competencies and Certification
Secure Your Future as a Health Educator by Becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) and examining the foundational elements and applications.
Tracking More Than 35 Years of Health Education Competency Research and Practical Applications: The Significance for You Today and in the Future!
Fall: September 25–October 16, 2020
https://www.uwlax.edu/ex/ches/
Online* course opportunity: (HED 471/571)
Non-credit or university credit options!
During the three weeks, each week provides an opportunity to review and gain insights into the following major areas of focus:
- Historical and foundational overview of the research and competencies for the health education/health promotion specialist
- Focus on clear examples of the application of the competencies in practice settings
- Preparation for either the CHES or MCHES examination
Faculty: Gary D. Gilmore, M.P.H., Ph.D., MCHES, Professor and Director, Graduate Community Health/Public Health Programs, UW-La Crosse
Whether you are a graduating health education student or a practicing health education professional, the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) designation after your name is one indication of professional competency and commitment to continued professional development.
*Synchronous events will be recorded for those taking the course entirely online.
Benefits of CHES/MCHES Certification
- Establishes a national standard.
- Attests to the individual's knowledge and skills.
- Assists employers in identifying qualified health education practitioners.
- Conveys a sense of pride and accomplishment in your profession.
- Promotes continued professional development.
Goals
- Participate in an introduction and overview to the course and the learners in live format and via recording.
- Examine the foundational elements of the history, evidence and practical applications for health educator role delineation (to include individual assessment).
- Compare the seven Areas of Responsibility in terms of competencies, and selected sub-competencies, along with the roles, settings, examples and resources.
- Engage in application modalities with individual and group projects, examination preparation, employment opportunities, and futuring.
Learning objectives
- Become acclimated to the four goals and session procedures.
- Review the course responsibilities.
- Complete the course pre-assessment.
- Review a historical overview of the role delineation process.
- Raise questions about the foundational elements in the role delineation process.
- Review the hierarchical model borne out of empirical research and professional involvement.
- Explore practical uses of the hierarchical model.
- Investigate the professional contributions by the Core Knowledge Items.
- Differentiate the three domains of professional preparation, credentialing and professional development.
- Examine Area of Responsibility I through VII with its competencies and sub-competencies.
- Prepare for small group work regarding the practicality of the competencies.
- Apply the competencies to realistic examples.
- Recognize the benefits of employing a health educator from an employer's perspective.
- Review the CHES and MCHES development and formats.
- Prepare a futuring activity in groups.
- Engage in the futuring activity.
- Engage in an individual assessment.
- Pose questions regarding appropriate next steps.
Related campus initiatives
Student success
Greater La Crosse community
