Michigan Surgeon General Kimberly Dawn Wisdom and HealthPlus of Michigan Coordinator, Alesha Keelean BS, CHES, CPST, participate in the Healthy School Environment Recognition Program

Following a charter certification phase in 1989, during which practitioners could become certified through review of documentation submitted by individuals, the first national competency-based certification examination was offered by NCHEC in 1990. Thus, the competencies identified through this process formed the basis for a framework for professional preparation and a national examination, leading to credentialing the eligible individual as a CHES (NCHEC, 1996).

NCHEC's voluntary professional certification program establishes a national standard for individual health education practitioners. It differs from state and local certifications and registries in that the requirements do not vary from one locale to another.

Angela Lee, MSH, CHES: Providing cholesterol education at a Health Designs screening for employees of a municipal client.

• Establishes a national standard of practice for all health educators
• Attests to the individual health educator's knowledge and skills
• Assists employers in identifying qualified health education practitioners
• Develops a sense of pride and accomplishment among certified health educators
• Promotes continued professional development for health educators