Exam Overview
The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) and Master Certified Health Education (MCHES®) examinations are competency-based tools used to measure possession, application and interpretation of knowledge in the Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialists delineated by A Competency-Based Framework for Health Education Specialists 2015. The CHES® and MCHES® certifications create a national and international standard for health education specialists practicing at both entry and advanced levels.
CHES®
The CHES® exam is :
- designed for individuals in the early stages of their career
- validated by a comprehensive job analysis study that identified entry-level Competencies for health education specialists- testing you on what is relevant in the profession
- designed for health education specialists who select participants and deliver training
- designed for health education specialists who identify existing data collection instruments for program evaluation
MCHES®
The MCHES® exam is:
- designed for experienced specialists with at least five years of experience
- validated by a comprehensive job analysis that identified advanced-level Competencies and Sub-competencies for experienced health education specialists
- designed for health education specialists responsible for developing and managing budgets, and applying ethical principles
- designed for health education specialists repsonsible for identifying staff development and training needs
- designed for health education specialists who develop and monitor strategic plans
Consisting of 165 multiple-choice questions (150 scored and 15 pilot tested), both the CHES® and MCHES® examinations are only in computer-based format at more than 400 Prometric test centers worldwide. Candidates are allotted 3 hours to complete the examination questions. Total seat time at Prometric Test Centers, including tutorials and surveys, is 3.5 hours.
APPLY FOR THE MCHES EXAM NOW (OPENS ON MAY 1, 2020)
CHES® Exam Eligibility
Eligibility to take the CHES® examination is based exclusively on academic qualifications.
CHES® Exam Eligibility
MCHES® Exam Eligibility
The MCHES® exam eligibility includes both academic and experience requirements.
MCHES® Exam Eligibility
The CHES® and MCHES® examinations have met national standards in credentialing and have been accredited by the National Commission of Certified Agencies accreditation since 2008. 
NCHEC also is internationally accredited as a Personnel Certification Body by the International Accrediation Service (IAS) to the ISO/IEC 17024 Conformity Assessment.
The Difference Between CPH and CHES® Certification
Examination Statistics
The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing continues to show solid growth in certifying both CHES® and MCHES®. The 2019 exam cycles had a total of 2785 CHES® registrants and 153 MCHES® registrants. To date, there are over 15,500 CHES® and MCHES® representing all 50 states in the United States, Puerto Rico, as well as many others who are practicing internationally.
Figure 1: 5 Year Comparison Study - CHES® registrants
Figure 2: 5 Year Comparison Study - MCHES® registrants
Figure 3: 2019 CHES® and MCHES® by State Map
