Certified Health Education Specialists
and the RSPH Multiple Event Provider Program
The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and the Master Certified Health
Education Specialist (MCHES)
Health educators are professionals who design, conduct and evaluate activities that help improve
the health of all people. The activities can take place in a variety of settings: schools,
communities, health care facilities, businesses, and colleges. Health educators are employed
under a range of job titles patient educators, health education teachers, trainers, community
organizers, and health program managers. The Certified Health Education Specialists
(CHES) are those who have met the standard of quality established by NCHEC by successfully
passing the CHES examination. Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) are
those who have met an advanced-level of quality established by NCHEC. The CHES and
MCHES designations after a health educators' name is one indication of professional
competency.
The RSPH Multiple Event Provider (MEP) Program
The Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH) of Emory University is accredited by the National
Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) to offer credits to certified
health education specialists. Continuing education for health educators is defined as educational
experiences which assist in the development or enhancement of knowledge and skills directly
related to seven areas of responsibilities and related competencies identified in A CompetencyBased Framework for Professional Development of Certified Health Education Specialists.
The seven areas of responsibility are:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Assessing individual and community needs for health education
Planning effective health education programs
Implementing health education programs
Evaluating effectiveness of health education programs
Coordinating provision of health education services
Acting as a resource person in health education
Communicating health and health education needs, concerns, and resources
Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) or Master Certified Health Education Specialists
(MCHES) must earn 75 continuing education contact hours (CECH) every five years in order to
be recertified. One contact hour is equivalent to one 60-minute hour of instruction. Category I
CECH are obtained through participation in structured learning experiences offered by providers
designated by the NCHEC.