Health education is an important profession that continues to grow and expand its presence in the understanding of the impact of health behaviors and the prevention of disease on individual and population health. The process to establish the current Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential began in the early 1970’s in the United States. The main goal was to establish standards of professional practice and to clarify the role of health educators to help establish a respected and successful profession. The certification of health education specialists (CHES) has evolved in the United States (U.S.) over the past 50 years and now includes an advanced-level certification (MCHES). To be eligible to take the CHES exam, one must be in his/her last semester of coursework in “health education” OR provide evidence of 25 semester credits specifically addressing the Seven Areas of Competency. This project will identify strengths and weaknesses within the HWP curriculum for the preparation of the CHES exam.
