Eligibility for the CHES
In the healthcare world, CHES stands for “Certified Health Education Specialist Exam.” It’s an exam which serves as a tool that measures a person’s possession, interpretation and application of knowledge in seven specific areas that are required of health educators. See the Official CHES Site. Passing the exam means that the person has at least an entry-level competency in these seven areas.
The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions. It’s done in standard pencil-and-paper form on college campuses throughout North America. Although currently there are 120 registered testing sites, any college campus that has a testing service may become a testing site.
The seven areas of responsibility that are tested on the CHES include:
- Assessment of Individual / Community Needs for Health-Related Education
- Planning Effective Education Strategies, Programs and Interventions
- Implementation of Education Strategies, Programs and Interventions
- Conducting Research and Evaluation Pertaining to Health Education
- Administering Health Education Strategies, Programs and Interventions
- Serving as a Health Education Liaison
- Communicating and Advocating for Health Education
There are certain criteria which must be met before a person is eligible to take the CHES exam. All qualifications are based primarily on his or her academic qualifications.
Specifically, a Doctoral, Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited school is required. Also, the candidate must provide an official transcript which shows a health-education major. Accepted majors would include health education, public health education, community health education, school health education, etc. The candidate’s transcript must include course titles.
If the candidate is not eligible because of his or her college major, then alternatively, he must have an official transcript which shows a minimum of 25 semester hours of course work with specific preparation that addresses the seven areas of responsibility covered in the exam. The candidate must also have maintained a “C” average or better.
Normally, those who take the exam have already graduated. There is, however, a 90-day eligibility option. This states that a student who will graduate within 90 days of a test date might in some situations be allowed to take the test. He or she must be attending an accrediting school and show an official transcript that shows a minimum of 25 semester hours of course work with preparation that addresses the seven areas of responsibility covered in the exam.
Your medical school or your undergraduate school’s medical department should have more information about upcoming dates for the CHES
Multiple Choice Secrets
Once I’m eligible, how do I prepare. I’ve ordered the books and they’re good but, I’d like to see what others are doing. Do you know of any CHES exam study groups or blogs that are more informative about exam prep?
try http://www.test-preparation.ca/study-center/ lots of articles and help.
Thanks – i had the same question but your link was real helpful. lots of info
I am eligible based on the 90 day eligibility window but i prefer to graduate first. want to be real prepared