Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
What
is the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing,
Inc?
The
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing,
Inc., or NCHEC (pronounced N-Check), is a nonprofit organization
whose major purposes are:
- Develop
and promote standards for professional education of
health educators
- Develop
and administer a national competency-based examination
- Ensure
professional development through continuing education
After more than a decade
of work, committed
health educators representing the health education profession
established NCHEC in April 1988 . Today there are more than 7,500 individuals carrying
the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) designation.
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__What
is CHES?
The
CHES (pronounced chez) designation signifies that an individual
possesses the proper qualifications for, and has successfully
passed a competency-based examination demonstrating skill
and knowledge of the Seven Areas of Responsibility, upon which the credential is based.
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__What
are the Seven Areas of Responsibility?
The Seven
Areas of Responsibility that make up the
standards of the credential are:
- Assess individual and community needs for health education
- Plan effective health education strategies, interventions, and programs
- Implement health education strategies, interventions, and programs
- Conduct evaluation and research related to health education
- Administer health education strategies, interventions, and programs
- Serve as a health education resource person
- Communicate and advocate for health and health education
To
view a detailed list of the above responsibilities click
here.
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__How
does one obtain skills in and knowledge of the Areas of
__Responsibility?
The
foundation for obtaining experience in the Areas of Responsibility
is academic training. Many professional
preparation programs in health education or related degree
programs at colleges and universities have designed their
curricula to reflect most, if not all Seven
Areas of Responsibility. Eligibility for the CHES examination
is based solely on possession of a degree and academic
preparation related to health education.
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__What
are the qualifications to take the CHES exam?
To
be eligible to take the CHES examination an individual
must have a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate's degree from
an accredited institution of higher education, AND
Have
an official transcript that clearly shows a major in health
education, e.g., Health Education, School Health Education,
Public Health Education, Community Health Education, etc.
OR
Have
an official transcript that reflects at least 25 semester
hours (37 quarter hours) of course work addressing the
Seven Areas of Responsibility.
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__
I haven't graduated yet. Must I wait until I have my
degree?
No.
Undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited institution
of higher education who provide an official transcript
showing a minimum of 25 semester hours relating to the
Areas of Responsibility, and who will
be graduating within 90 days of a testing date may sit for
the CHES exam. The student candidate must also submit
written verification from a faculty advisor affirming
that the student will be academically qualified by the
examination date.
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__
What if I’m unsure of my eligibility to take the CHES exam?
NCHEC offers a prescreen service for those individuals who are unsure of their eligibility. Exam eligibility is determined through a review of an individual’s academic transcript. To request this service, the prescreen request form, a $25 nonrefundable fee and an official transcript must be submitted to NCHEC. If the applicant is found ineligible, course deficiencies will be identified and guidance for qualification will be provided. If the applicant is deemed eligible, the $25 fee is then applied toward the exam fee, and an application will be mailed. All applicants are notified in writing of their prescreen outcome.
This service is particularly useful to applicants whose academic preparation does not include a degree in health education, but may have accumulated sufficient health education course work to qualify for the CHES exam.
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__
I have a Master of Public Health (MPH).
__
Am I eligible to take the CHES exam?
No. A Master of Public Health (MPH) alone does not qualify an individual to take the CHES exam. An applicant’s degree must explicitly be in a discipline of "Health Education," unless the transcript reflects at least 25 semester hours (37 quarter hours) of course work addressing the Seven Areas of Responsibility.
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__When
is the CHES exam offered?
The
CHES exam is offered twice a year - April and October.
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__What
is the CHES exam like?
The
CHES examination is a paper-and-pencil test
administered by the Professional
Examination Service (PES) at 120 test sites nationwide. Candidates have three hours
to answer 150 multiple-choice questions based upon the
Seven Areas of Responsibility.
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__How
is the passing score for the CHES exam determined?
The
passing score varies by the version of the exam.
The passing point is determined by using a variety of statistical
techniques (A modification of the Angoff method),
which takes difficulty in account.
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__What
are the fees for taking the CHES exam?
There
are four filing deadlines. The filing deadlines and fees
for both CHES exams are:
.
| April
26, 2008 CHES Exam |
| Dates |
Nonstudent
Fee |
Student
Fee |
| 1st
Registration Deadline 12/1/07 |
$240 |
$210 |
| 2nd
Registration Deadline 1/2/08 |
$250 |
$210 |
| 3rd
Registration Deadline 2/1/08 |
$280 |
$210 |
| Final
Registration Deadline 3/1/08 |
$330 |
$265 |
| October
18, 2008 CHES Exam |
| Dates |
Nonstudent
Fee |
Student
Fee |
| 1st
Registration Deadline 6/1/08 |
$240 |
$210 |
| 2nd
Registration Deadline 7/1/08 |
$250 |
$210 |
| 3rd
Registration Deadline 8/1/08 |
$280 |
$210 |
| Final
Registration Deadline 9/1/08 |
$330 |
$265 |
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