Questions and Answers

• The recertification process and requirements for CHES and MCHES • Why CHES?
• Where to find CEU’s
• How many
CEU’s?
• What are the fees?
• Other resources for professional development

Category I credits will be offered for this webinar.

• Credentials
• Jobs
• Networking
• Professional esteem

Certificate
• Non degree
• Instruction and training for specific skills
• Awards for participants who meet performance standards
• Examples:
ICE resource: Defining Features of Quality
Certification and Assessment –based Certificate
Programs
Certification
• Voluntary process
• Maintenance of certification
• Participant meets particular knowledge competencies
• Time limited

Certificate
• Content validation
• Provider conducts training
• Not time limited
• Not requred to engage in specific activities
ICE resource: Defining Features of Quality
Certification and Assessment –based Certificate
Programs
Certification
• Assessment of individual
• Provider is independent from training program
• Required to engage in specific activities

The CHES/ MCHES certification ensures the highest level of health education.
• Why CHES?
Maintenance of the certification is supported by continuing education.
• How many
CEU’s?
• What are the fees?

• Renewal every year
• Recertification every 5 years.
• 75 hours of continuing education
• Annual Fee

FEES:
Annual Renewal……..…...$55.00
Recertification……..….…...$55.00
Late fees………….....up to $80.00
Reinstatement…..… up to$155.00

• CECH are earned through participation in areas directly related to the
Seven Areas of
Responsibility
• Must develop or enhance skills
• Must be related to the individuals profession

Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialist - the broad entry-level skills necessary for the practice of health education in all settings.
I: Assess needs, assets and capacity for health education
II: Plan health education
III: Implement health education
IV: Conduct evaluation and research related to health education
V: Administer and manage health education
VI: Serve as a health education resource person
VII: Communicate and advocate for health and health education

• each CHES/MCHES must earn a total of 75 CECH every five years.
• CHES & MCHES are encouraged to accumulate a minimum of 15 CECH per year .

Professional
Meetings
Professional
Service
Self
Study
Creative endeavors
Academic
Preparation
Advanced
Professional
Practice Activities
Professional
Presentations

• Each activity is worth a specific number of CECH
• See Policies and Procedures
Handbook for Renewal and
Recertification http://www.nchec.org/policies-andprocedures-handbook-

For CHES & MCHES:
Category I
Events offered by providers
Pre-approved by NCHEC
Minimum 45 CECH
Category II
Events offered by providers
Not pre-approved by NCHEC
Maximum 30 CECH
For MCHES only:
Required to earn 30 CECH directly related to the advanced-level Sub-competencies from Category I and/or II

• Category I entry are opportunities that relate to one or more of the Areas of
Responsibility and have been preapproved by NCHEC
• Category I advanced are CECH opportunities that relate to one or more of the advanced-level Sub-competencies and have been preapproved by NCHEC
• Offered by NCHEC designated providers

• The designated provider of
Category I credits will report directly to NCHEC on a quarterly basis.
• CHES/MCHES should retain the certificate in their records.
• CHES/MCHES should not submit any Category I documentation to NCHEC unless requested.

• Category I CECH opportunities are listed on the NCHEC website
• nchec.org/ce/procal/

• A maximum of 30 category
II credits can be earned.
• Category II entry refers to
CECH opportunities that relate to one or more of the
Areas of Responsibility, but have not been preapproved by NCHEC (offered by nondesignated providers).

• Category II advanced refers to one or more Areas of Responsibility and advanced-level Sub-competencies
not preapproved by NCHEC or designated providers.
• Documentation is needed as evidence to support a CECH claim.

• record program information and how each activity relates to the Areas of
Responsibility and/or advanced-level Subcompetencies.
• Submit Category II CECH
Claim Form within 90 days following program completion.

• Category II claim form sections to be completed
• Information Section
• Activity
• Area of Responsibility
• Brief Description
• Signature
• Category II Claim Form: http://www.nchec.org/assets/2251/ca t_ii_claim_form_with_accepted_chan ges_5-20-13.pdf

• For CHES, CECH may not be claimed for activities, events or experiences that are part of daily job requirements.
• For MCHES, CECH may be claimed for work-related activities, events or experiences that relate to advanced-level Subcompetencies.

Appropriate Documentation for Activities
• Attendance at Professional Meetings
• Certification of Attendance including hours
• Meeting schedule/agenda with attended session highlighted
• Presentation at a Professional
Meeting
• Program Announcement indicating duration
• Thank you letter indicating duration
• Academic Preparation
• Copy of Transcript listing the course title and number of credits earned

Appropriate Documentation for Activitied
Cont’d
• Authoring a Thesis or Dissertation
• Copy of title page, table of contents and letter of
acceptance by the university
• Sole Author of a Training Module or Course
• Copy of title page, table of contents, and description of content learning objectives
• Sole Developer of a Health Education Project
• Copy of official copyright notice
• Copy of product itself

• On Category II claim forms
• Missing date
• CECH claimed not listed
• Activity not chosen
• Incorrect Form

• Area of Responsibility not chosen
• No signature
• More than one activity submitted on Category
II claim form
• Documentation does not show breakdown of hours despite certificate

• You may not claim time for lunches or breaks, attending poster sessions, networking sessions, business meetings, or non-education periods.
• All authorship must involve substantive contributions and not mere proofreading.
• CECH may not be claimed for reprints, duplications, or revisions of the same article in different publications.

CECH Who Do Not Qualify Cont’d
• CHES/MCHES applying for CECH as a presenter cannot claim CECH for attending the presentation session
• For CHES, a mentor does not include student interns and student teachers.
• For MCHES serving as an internship/practicum preceptor counts.

• CHES/MCHES who have over 75
CECH at the end of the current 5year certification cycle
• Carry over a maximum of 15 Category
I CECH into the next 5-year certification cycle
• Category II hours are not eligible for carryover
• For MCHES, any advanced CECH will carry over as entry-level credits only.
• Category II hours are not eligible for carryover

• Recertifying CHES/MCHES who have not met the required 75 CECH may request an extension for a maximum of two years
• A letter of explanation must be submitted yearly
• Payment of the $55 annual fee must be paid
• Extensions are approved in one-year increments
• Extension status is granted for special circumstances including, but not limited to:
• Personal or family illness, graduate study, or foreign residency

• While on extension status, a CHES/MCHES:
-May continue to earn
CECH
-Cannot hold any elective NCHEC office
-Cannot serve on planning committees as a CHES/MCHES representative

• MCHES, who were previously active CHES, and have not met the required 30 advanced-level credits,
• can become a CHES if all requirements for the CHES certification are met

• To recertify by exam a CHES/MCHES must:
• Meet the eligibility to qualify for the exam
• Apply and pay fees using the exam application form
• Available through NCHEC or on the Web site ( www.nchec.org
)
• Pass the CHES/MCHES examination
• Exams are scheduled in April and October

• CHES/MCHES who are lapsed for renewal or continuing education credits are not allowed to use the CHES/MCHES designation

• Permanently retired CHES/MCHES from health education and with active/good standing may apply for retired status
• If retired status is approved and awarded, the (Ret.) credential must be used after a person’s name
• Retired status is considered permanent status and no CECH requirements exist

Appeals
• An appeal is available to any applicant or CHES/MCHES
• To challenge decisions affecting
CHES/MCHES examination eligibility or
• CHES/MCHES status
• Individuals who do not file a request within the required time limit waive the right to appeal

The Policies and
Procedures
Handbook http://www.nchec.org/p olicies-and-procedureshandbook-

National Commission for
Health Education
Credentialing, Inc.
1541 Alta Drive, Suite 303
Whitehall, PA 18052
NCHEC.org