Credentialing & Benefits of Certification

Credentialing is an umbrella term referring to the various means employed to designate that individuals or organizations have met or exceeded established standards. These may include certification, registration or licensure of individuals, or accreditation of organizations. The body of health education has chosen certification as the method of individual credentialing for the profession. Certification is the process by which a nongovernmental agency or association grants recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by the agency or association. Typical qualifications include:

• Graduation from an accredited or approved program
• Acceptable performance on a qualifying examination or series of examinations

Benefits of Certification

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. National certification benefits practitioners and the public in that it:

• Establishes a national standard
• Attests to the individual's knowledge and skills
• Assists employers in identifying qualified health education practitioners
• Sense of pride and accomplishment
• Promotes continued professional development