The Value of CHES (and now MCHES)?—A Commentary

Uncertain economic times and job availability are concerns for scores of Americans, including many new health education professionals who seek to enter the workforce. One way to distinguish health education professionals from their competitors to increase the chances of employment is certification. Yet, over the years, some health education professionals have balked at the credential and made comments such as, "Why do I need CHES? I have a graduate degree in health education," "CHES is an entry-level credential, and I am beyond that level; I practice at an advanced level, so CHES means nothing to me," "CHES has not made a difference in my professional life," and, most recently, "Will CPH replace CHES?" This commentary is offered so that health education specialists can make an informed decision regarding the value of the CHES credential, as well as the newly-implemented MCHES credential. Beginning with "Will CPH replace CHES?," it should be noted that the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential (first available in 1989), and now the MCHES credential (first available in 2011), and the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential (first available in 2008) do not validate the same professional skills and abilities. The CHES is focused on specific responsibilities and competencies of health education practitioners, and the CPH is focused on the broader and less specific core knowledge of public health. Only a select number of individuals would qualify for both certifications. Second, the CHES and CPH examinations were not created using the same processes. The CHES and MCHES credentials are based on responsibilities and competencies that have been identified by many of the best health education minds, and verified in practice through scientific means three times (Role Delineation Project of 1985; Competency Update Project [CUP] of 2004; and the 2010 Health Educator Job Analysis [HEJA]). NCHEC and its two professional partners, the Society for Public Health Education and the American Association for Health Education, are committed to continuing the verification process with the next job analysis scheduled for updated results in 2015. The CPH credential has not been verified in practice through rigorous scientific means. Third, the eligibility criteria to sit for the CHES and CPH exams are not the same. (1, 2) The CHES and MCHES certifications require preparation specifically in the Areas of Responsibility of Health Education Specialists, whereas the CPH requires graduation from a CEPH accredited school or program in public health. The MCHES certification, in addition to required professional preparation, requires a minimum of five years of health education experience. To address the value-of-CHES questions from some health education professionals, it seems important to note Helen Cleary's remarks. She wrote, "... a credentialing system is not the total answer to any profession's problems, but it can improve the quality of professional preparation and of professional practice. It can also help a profession organize itself. But none of this is possible unless the profession is willing to work to make it happen." (3(p.iv)) Those sentiments still resonate with many health education specialists who have a commitment to improving the profession. The percentage of persons certified by NCHEC with the CHES credential has grown 523% since the credentialing process began (from the 1,558 chartered in 1989 to 9,700 in 2011). In addition, in 2011, almost 900 health education professionals earned the MCHES credential for the first time. The MCHES certification was developed to document advanced practice in the field of health education and keep the certification relevant to experienced practitioners. For many, earning the MCHES certification will be part of a "career ladder" verifying experience in the field. With all of the milestones over the last 35+ years that have strengthened the health education profession (e. …