CHES Exam

The CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) exam measures the competency of candidates who aspire to be entry-level health educators. The exam is comprised of 150 multiple-choice questions in paper-and-pencil format. Offered at 120 test sites nationwide, the exam can be taken twice a year, in April and in October.

The CHES exam is criterion-referenced, which means that the passing score is based on a fixed standard of knowledge rather than on the performance of other candidates. The exam is based on the following seven areas of competency required for health educators (the number in parentheses indicates the corresponding percentage of questions on the CHES exam):

• Assess individual and community needs for health education (10%)
• Plan effective health education strategies, interventions, and programs (15%)
• Implement health education strategies, interventions, and programs (22%)
• Conduct evaluation and research related to health education (13%)
• Administer health education strategies, interventions, and programs (14%)
• Serve as a health education resource person (14%)
• Communicate and advocate for health and health education (12%)

To be eligible to take the CHES exam, a candidate must have a bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited institution of higher learning. In addition, a candidate must have one of the following:

• An official transcript that clearly shows a major in a discipline of health education, or
• An official transcript showing at least 25 semester hours or 37 quarter hours of course work addressing the seven areas of competency listed above.