2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

338211
Standards and Construction of Certification Exams


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 1:15 p.m. - 1:35 p.m.

Amy S. Hedman, PhD, MCHES, Department of Health Science, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN
Dianne L. Kerr, PhD, MCHES, Health Education and Promotion, Kent State University, Kent, OH
The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) and the Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE) recently conducted the Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis (HESPA).  Results of this project identified the current practices of entry level Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and advanced level Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES). Based on these results, the practice framework of health education specialists has been updated, refined, and validated; resulting in 258 Sub-competencies and 36 Competencies within seven major Areas of Responsibility.  In response to the updated Sub-competencies, the Division Board for Certification of Health Education Specialists is constructing new CHES and MCHES exams.  This session will discuss exam construction and rigorous item development and review procedures, the timelines for administration of the updated CHES and MCHES exams, and changes made to the exams based upon the HESPA results.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
List the anticipated dates of administration for the updated CHES and MCHES exams reflecting the HESPA results. Describe how the percentages of the Areas of Responsibility that comprise the updated CHES and MCHES exams are determined.

Keyword(s): Certification, Accreditation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I currently serve as the Coordinator for the Division Board for Certification of Health Education Specialists with NCHEC.
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.

Back to: 3227.0: Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis: Re-verification of Essential Professional Responsibilities, Competencies, & Sub-competencies