Standards and construction of the ches and mches examinations

Since October 2011, the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) has offered the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) examination twice a year simultaneously with the standard Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination. Both exams are based upon the results of the Health Educator Job Analysis (HEJA) Project which identified multiple levels of practice, entry and advanced-level, for health education specialists. The MCHES exam assesses all Sub-competencies, including the 61 advanced-level Sub-competencies while the CHES exam tests the 162 entry-level Sub-competencies. This presentation will inform participants of the first three cohorts (October 2011, April 2012, and October 2012) of the MCHES exam compared to the CHES exam. Items to be discussed will include exam development, pass rate, and results. Presenters will identify and compare differences in results by Areas of Responsibility of the CHES and MCHES exams. At the end of this session, participants will be able to explain the framework of the CHES and MCHES exams, as well as exam results. Lastly, information will be shared on the progress and updates of the next Health Education Specialist Job Analysis project.