190112 Certifying Health Education Specialists: A Discipline Specific Credential in the Public Health Workforce

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 9:05 AM

Linda Lysoby, MS, CHES , Executive Director, National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc, Whitehall, PA
     
Based on competencies verified in the workplace, the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential has been conferred by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) since 1989. Along with Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of rapid growth of employment, numbers of exam registrations increases by 15% in each of the past 3 years, and increases in recognition by employers in job postings point to an increase role and recognition for the CHES credential. This presentation will underscore the complimentary role of a discipline specific credential as value-added to the public health workforce.

Learning Objectives:
Describe the past and current methods used to determine the competencies needed by health educators in the workforce which are the basis for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential. Compare the processes used by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) to incorporate the health education responsibilities and competencies that comprise the CHES certification with the standards of the accrediting organization known as the National Commission for Credentialing Agencies (NCCA). Describe the postings for health education jobs specifying CHES certification by type and numbers on the NCHEC website.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Linda Lysoby, MS, CHES, is the Executive Director of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. The mission of The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) is to improve the practice of health education and to serve the public and profession of health education by certifying health education specialists, promoting professional development, and strengthening professional preparation and practice. Linda oversees the activities of this national credentialing agency for health educators including testing, renewals and recertification. She is responsible for policy formation, strategic planning, budgeting, marketing, personnel management, working with four voluntary boards and other initiatives to further the mission of NCHEC. As the NCHEC Executive Director, she is responsible for the contracting and oversight of the activities to verify the competencies that are the basis of the credential. Linda has co-authored articles in peer reviewed journals including Health Education & Behavior and The American Journal of Health Education. Linda is a Certified Health Education Specialist and has presented at national conferences including the American Public Health Association Conference, The National Organization for Competency Assurance, The Society for Public Health Educators Conference and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Dance.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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