Value of the CHES and MCHES Certification Study: A Cross-Sectional Examination of Current CHES/MCHES Perspectives

Background:  The Marketing Committee of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), the sole credentialing agency in health education, administered a survey to current Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) to assess the value of the entry-level and advanced-level certifications in health education. Purpose: Using an instrument developed by the Research and Development Committee of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), NCHEC aimed to determine the value of the CHES and MCHES certifications from the certificants’ perspectives. Methods:  A 55-item instrument was distributed by email to 10,348 current CHES and MCHES credential holders. The items were imported into online survey software, Constant Contact. Periodic reminders were sent to improve response rate. The link to access the survey was embedded in the initial invitation email to participate and in reminder emails. A sample of 1,963 certification holders completed the survey (19% response rate). Data were analyzed using SPSS.  Results:  A majority of respondents were CHES (85.6%), and approximately half (50.9%) have been certified for five years or less. Overall, findings indicate that certification holders indeed value the CHES and MCHES certifications; the certifications give an enhanced sense of confidence, and a majority of respondents feel it is a responsibility and commitment to the profession to be certified.  While findings indicate that certifications are not discouraged at the workplace, it is not always viewed as valuable either. NCHEC marketing efforts to employers, as well as additional survey results, will be discussed during the presentation.