2011 ANNUAL CONFERENCE—26 & 27 September 2011
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Leveraging Health Education Certification
to Move the Public Health Mission Forward
Stephen F. Gambescia, PHD, MEd, MBA, MHum, MCHES
Blossom Paravattil, MPH, CHES
Melissa Rehrig, MPH, CHES
Triad of Influences in the Assurance Process
of Professional Preparation Programs
Accrediting Agency
Professional
Institution/Program
Gambescia, S.F., 2006
Professional Organization
Hallmarks of a Mature Profession
 Consensus

on Defined Competencies
Certification System for Individuals
 Code of Ethics
 Unifying Accreditation Process in Higher
Education
 Increasing Degree Program Offerings (especially
at the graduate level)
 Federal Occupational Classification
NCCA Standards for a
Professional Credential






Conduct role delineation or job analysis
Link the examination to a defined body of
knowledge
Demonstrate the reliability and validity of the
examination
Develop a minimum passing score
Equate alternate forms of the exam
Require a method of recertification
Source: Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE)
Formerly known as National Organization for Competency Assurance,(NOCA)
Project Partners
Professional
Examination
Service
(PES)
• Contracted by NCHEC
• Standards/best
practices:
– American Educational
Research Association
– American Psychological
Association
– National Council on
Measurement in
Education
Health Educator Job Analysis - HEJA
PURPOSE
To validate the contemporary practice of
entry-level and advanced-level health
educators.
To re-define core knowledge and
competencies for health education practice.
Responsibilities, Competencies &
Sub-Competencies
CUP 2006
HEJA 2010
7 Areas of
Responsibility
 29 Competencies
 163 Sub-competencies


 82 Entry
 81 Advanced
7 Areas of
Responsibility
 34 Competencies
 223 Subcompetencies
 162 Entry
 61 Advanced
The CHES Examination
Examination Specifications based on HEJA-2010
No. Area of Responsibility
%
I
Assess Needs, Assets, and Capacity for Health Education
12%
II
Plan Health Education
15%
III
Implement Health Education
24%
IV
Conduct Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education 15%
V
Administer and Manage Health Education
11%
VI
Serve as a Health Education Resource Person
16%
VII
Communicate and Advocate for Health and Health Education
7%
CHES Eligibility

Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral Degree from an
accredited institution, AND

A major in: health education, community
health education, public health education, school
health education, OR

25 semester hours (37 quarter hours) specific to
course work related to Seven Areas of
Responsibility
The CHES Exam





Competency-based penciland-paper exam
165 multiple-response
questions
Identifies each Area of
Responsibility
Offered at over 120 testing
locations nationwide
Companion Guide available
Why an Advanced Credential?

Official recommendations of the National Task Force on
Accreditation

Findings of CUP revealed advanced levels among health
educators in their practice. This was confirmed by the Health
Educator Job Analysis (HEJA) results.

2006 Feasibility Study Survey: 2/3 of respondents indicated
that an advanced level certification will benefit the profession

Continuing comments from health educators that current
CHES credential is “entry-level” and, therefore, not reflective
of the scope of practice of many health education specialists.
WHY MCHES?
To help advanced-level CHES:
identify,
promote,
and advance their skills.
First Cohort of MCHES via the
EDO
NCHEC implemented the Experience
Documentation Opportunity (EDO) process
that was offered between October 15, 2010
and April 16, 2011.
 MCHES EDO applicants documented
advanced-level practice in the field of health
education and had recommenders attest to
their performance and competence levels.
 A total of 818 Health Education Specialists
earned the MCHES designation.

This Experience Documentation
Opportunity provides unique insight into
how the certified health education
specialist understands and can apply (via
documentation) competencies required in
the field.
Through this EDO process what can be said of
the level of understanding applicants had of our
advanced level competencies?
 What sub competencies are not well
understood?
 What was the level and nature of concern on
the description of the advanced activity?
 What was the level and nature of concern
with documentation?
 Can you use a supervisor/peer reviewer?
Upcoming Reports

Gambescia, S.F., Paravattil, B., Lysoby, L. & Chaney,
E. (27-29 October 2011). Concurrent paper
presentation. A snapshot of advanced-level research
and practice in health education: Results from the
Master Certified Health Education Specialist
(MCHES) Experience Documentation Opportunity
(EDO). Annual Meeting of the Society for Public
Health Education. Washington, DC.


Elmore, L. Chaney, E., Gambescia, S.F., Lysoby, L.,
& Rehrig, M. (1 November 2011). Concurrent paper
presentation: A portrait of an advanced-level health
education specialist. American Public Health
Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.

Articles in health education journals …
MCHES Examination
Specifications
Examination Specifications based on HEJA-2010
No. Area of Responsibility
%
I
Assess Needs, Assets, and Capacity for Health Education
10%
II
Plan Health Education
15%
III
Implement Health Education
20%
IV
Conduct Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education 16%
V
Administer and Manage Health Education
16%
VI
Serve as a Health Education Resource Person
15%
VII
Communicate and Advocate for Health and Health Education
8%
The MCHES Examination
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
1st offered – October 15, 2011
Style & Structure
 Provided at the same sites where CHES exam offered
 3 hours to complete
 165 multiple choice questions; 150 scored, 15 pilot
 Stand alone & scenario-based multiple choice items
 Covers all 7 Areas of Responsibility; including 61
advanced-level Sub-competencies
Duffy, J. (1991).” Assuring Public Health in A Democracy” in
Kevin Cahill (ed.), Imminent Peril: Public health in a declining
economy. New York: The Twentieth Century Press, pp 21&22.
For More Information
1541 Alta Drive, Suite 303, Whitehall, PA 18052-5642
888-NCHEC4U (624-3248)
http://www.nchec.org
Brochures
Exam Application
Revised Framework
Study Guide