NCHEC Achieves Re-Accreditation from the International Accreditation Service (IAS)
WHITEHALL, Pa. September 1, 2017 — The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) has earned re-accreditation as a Personnel Certification Body by the International Accreditation Service (IAS). NCHEC received initial accreditation from IAS in 2015. An audit of the non-profit organization’s structure and standards process was conducted in-house on June 14-15, 2017 by IAS, and as a result, re-accreditation was granted.
“The IAS accreditation is what sets NCHEC’s certifications apart from competitors,” said Linda Lysoby, MPH, MCHES®, and Executive Director of NCHEC. “This prestigious recognition demonstrates our firm and ongoing commitment to not only meeting the highest credentialing standards of practice for the health education/promotion profession – but embracing the principles of continuous improvement within our organization.”
Accreditation provides a global benchmark for personnel certification programs to ensure consistent, comparable and reliable operations worldwide. The IAS accreditation program for Personnel Certification Bodies is based on ISO/IEC Standard 17024:2012 Conformity Assessment –– general requirements for bodies operating certification of persons.
“The IAS accreditation is confirmation that NCHEC’s policies and procedures comply with the highest international standards of practice for certifying agencies,” said Kerry Redican, PhD, CHES®, and current Chair of NCHEC Board of Commissioners. “This is a recognition that our organization is very proud to announce to the public and all stakeholders in the field of health education and promotion.”
Established in 1988, NCHEC is the only accredited U.S. certifying agency for the health education/promotion industry. NCHEC is a highly recognized and well respected credentialing organization administering two professional credentialing programs including the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®), designed for entry-level health education specialists, and the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES®), targeted to advanced-level practitioners. In addition to ISO 17024 accreditation, the CHES® and MCHES® programs maintain third-party accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). For more information about NCHEC’s certification programs, visit www.nchec.org.
A recognized accreditation body since 1975, IAS is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation. IAS is one of the leading accreditation bodies in the United States and a signatory to several international mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs). In addition to NCHEC, IAS accredits more than 800 organizations. For more information about IAS accreditation program for Personnel Certification Bodies, visit http://www.iasonline.org/.
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Founded in 1988, the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional practice of Health Education/Promotion by promoting and sustaining a credentialed body of Health Education Specialists. Therefore the, purpose of NCHEC is to certify health education specialists, promote professional development, strengthen professional preparation and practice, and support and promote the health education/promotion profession. (See www.nchec.org).