Studying for Exams

CHES® Exam Study Guides and Suggested Readings

NCHEC Publications

(Scroll to the bottom for additional textbook resources for studying)

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The Health Education Specialist: A Companion Guide for Professional Excellence, 8th Edition

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Price: $70.00

This companion guide is based on the Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis II 2020 (HESPA II 2020) and includes updated and validated Competencies and Sub-competencies at the entry and advanced levels. This publication is an excellent resource to assist in studying for the CHES® and MCHES® examinations. Additionally, the publication can be used to assess health education knowledge. Instructors in professional preparation programs may find the format and organization of this book to be a useful supplement to textbooks and classroom lectures. Employers can encourage their employees to use this book as a tool to determine whether additional professional development in specific areas is needed.

The content of this publication reflects consensus about a common core of professional preparation leading to entry-level practice as a health educator. This publication should not be used in place of primary sources, but rather as a supplemental tool for identifying areas of practice that may require further study using nationally recognized scholarly references. Studying for the CHES® and MCHES® exams should not be limited to this study guide. The purchase of this companion guide is optional and is not a requirement to sit for the CHES® exams.

**Note:  Includes Advanced-Level MCHES® material and Practice Exams for both CHES® and MCHES®

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New eBook Version!

The Health Education Specialist: A Companion Guide for Professional Excellence, 8th Edition - eBook

E-book returns are NOT accepted.  Once the download link has been emailed, it is a non-returnable item.

Price: $65.00

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By purchasing this eBook, you agree NOT to reproduce any part of the publication, including the practice questions, or transmit it in any form without written permission of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Please Download Thorium Reader (recommended) which is available at no cost through Microsoft before downloading this ebook.  NOTE: Reader not available for phone or tablet devices. 

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2020 Book package (2020 Framework, 2020 Companion Guide, 8th Ed.) - print only

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The 2020 CHES®/MCHES® Book Package (Companion Guide Plus Competency-Based Framework) 

Save $10 when you purchase the Health Education Specialist Companion Guide, 8th edition, and the 2020 Framework together (as a package).

The 2020 Book Package offers a discounted rate when you purchase The Health Education Specialist: A Companion Guide for Professional Excellence, 8th edition, and A Competency-Based Framework for Health Education Specialist- 2020 together. Save $10.00 when you purchase this package. 

**Note  Includes Advanced-Level MCHES® material and Practice Exams for both the CHES® and MCHES® exams

Price: $130.00

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 2020 Competency-based Framework for Health Education Specialists 

 The newly released revised framework is based on the Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis II 2020 (HESPA II 2020), a project to update, refine and validate the model of health education practice. The HESPA II 2020 model is designed for use by those in the health education & promotion profession as a framework for professional preparation, credentialing, and professional development. The updated hierarchical model consists of 193 Sub-competencies, organized into 35 Competencies within eight major Areas of Responsibility. Additionally, the knowledge base needed by health education specialists was organized into 10 conceptual topic areas, and 145 knowledge topics were validated as being used by health education specialists. The publication is an essential resource for health education students, college and university faculty, health education practitioners and employers, professional development providers, leaders of professional credentialing and program accreditation, and policy makers and funding agencies. The CHES® and MCHES® examinations will be revised based on this updated framework.

Your Price: $70.00

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Resources for Preparing to Take the CHES® Examination

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of study materials. Please refer to your own notes from coursework as well as other relevant resources from the health education field.

• Bensley, R. J., & Brookins-Fisher, J. (Eds.) (2018). Community health education methods: A practical guide (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
• Cottrell, R. R., Girvan, J. T., & McKenzie, J. F. (2018). Principles and foundations of health promotion and education (7th ed.). New York: Pearson.
• Doyle, E., Ward, S., & Oomen-Early, J. (2018). The process of community health education and promotion (3rd ed.). Waveland Press, Inc.
• Friis, R. H., & Sellers, T. A. (2014). Epidemiology for public health practice, (5th ed. ). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
• Gilbert, G. G., Sawyer, R. G., & McNeill, E.B. (2015) Health education: Creating strategies for school and community health (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
• Gilmore, G. D.(2012). Needs and capacity assessment strategies for health promotion and health education (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
• Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K, & Viswanath, K. (2015). Health behavior and health education – Theory, research, and practice (5th Ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
• Green, L. W., & Kreuter, M. W. (2005). Health program planning: An educational and ecological approach (4th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.
• Harris, M. (2016). Evaluating public and community health programs. (2nd ed.): San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
• Johnson, J. A., & Breckon, D. A. (2007). Managing health education and health promotion programs: Leadership skills for the 21st Century (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. 
• McKenzie, J. F., Neiger, B. L., & Thackeray, R. (2017). Planning, implementing, and evaluating health promotion programs: A primer (7th ed.). New York: Pearson.
• Neutens, J. J., & Rubinson, L., (2014). Research techniques for the health sciences. (4th ed). San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings.
• Perez, Miguel A., Luquis, Raffy R. (2014). Cultural competence in health education and health promotion. Jossey-Bass Publishers.