The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam is administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). The exam measures entry-level knowledge and skills across the Eight Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialists.
QUESTIONS
165
SCORED
150
TIME LIMIT
3 Hours
FORMAT
Multiple Choice
What Is the CHES Certification?
The CHES credential is a national professional certification for health education specialists. It is awarded by NCHEC to individuals who meet the academic eligibility requirements and pass the CHES examination.
The exam is based on the entry-level competencies identified through the Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis and measures your ability to understand, apply, and interpret health education knowledge.
Who Is Eligible for the CHES Exam?
Eligibility is based on your academic preparation. You must hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher education and meet one of the following requirements:
Health Education Major
Your official transcript clearly shows a major specifically in a health education discipline, such as Health Education, Community Health Education, Public Health Education, or School Health Education.
Qualifying Health Education Coursework
Your transcript shows at least 25 semester credits or 37 quarter hours of qualifying coursework addressing the Eight Areas of Responsibility, with grades of C or better.
For applicants qualifying through coursework rather than a health education major, NCHEC applies additional limits to the types of courses that can count toward the requirement.
NCHEC also offers a 90-day eligibility option for certain students who are scheduled to graduate within 90 days of the exam. These candidates must meet the applicable coursework and documentation requirements before testing. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
What’s on the CHES Exam?
The CHES exam contains 165 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 150 are scored and 15 are unscored pilot questions being evaluated for possible use on future exams.
You will not know which questions are unscored, so answer every question as though it counts.
The current exam is organized around eight Areas of Responsibility:
I. Assessment of Needs and Capacity — 17%
Assessing populations and communities, identifying health-related needs, locating relevant data, and determining existing resources and capacity.
II. Planning — 14%
Developing goals and objectives, selecting strategies and interventions, identifying resources, and creating plans for health education and promotion programs.
III. Implementation — 15%
Delivering health education and promotion interventions, coordinating implementation, using appropriate resources, and monitoring program delivery.
IV. Evaluation and Research — 12%
Designing and conducting evaluation activities, interpreting data, applying research principles, and using findings to improve health education programs.
V. Advocacy — 12%
Using advocacy strategies to support health-related policies, programs, resources, systems, and environments.
VI. Communication — 12%
Communicating health information effectively, selecting appropriate communication strategies, and adapting information for different populations and audiences.
VII. Leadership and Management — 6%
Managing health education resources and activities, supporting organizational goals, facilitating partnerships, and applying leadership principles.
VIII. Ethics and Professionalism — 12%
Applying ethical principles, maintaining professional competence, following professional standards, and supporting the integrity of health education practice.
Assessment of Needs and Capacity is the largest single area at 17%, followed by Implementation at 15% and Planning at 14%. However, the exam covers all eight Areas of Responsibility, so your preparation should not focus exclusively on the highest-weighted domains.
How Long Is the CHES Exam?
You have 3 hours to complete all 165 questions.
The exam is divided into two question blocks:
- Questions 1–83
- An optional 10-minute break
- Questions 84–165
The optional break counts against your three-hour testing time. Once you begin the second question block, you cannot return to questions from the first block. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Where Can You Take the CHES Exam?
The CHES exam is administered through PSI. Eligible candidates can currently choose between:
- A PSI testing center, or
- Live Remote Proctoring from an approved location
Remote candidates must meet PSI’s computer, camera, microphone, internet, room, and security requirements before testing. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
When Is the CHES Exam Offered?
NCHEC offers the CHES examination twice each year, generally during testing windows in April and October.
There are early, regular, and final registration periods. Exam fees vary according to when you register and whether you qualify for the student rate, so check the current NCHEC schedule before applying. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
To qualify for NCHEC’s student rate, you generally must be enrolled in at least 9 semester credits or 12 quarter hours when you apply, unless your institution defines full-time graduate enrollment at a lower credit load and provides documentation.
How Is the CHES Exam Scored?
Your pass or fail result is based on your performance across the entire examination. You do not have to earn a separate passing score in each Area of Responsibility.
NCHEC uses the Modified Angoff method to establish the passing standard and uses statistical equating to account for small differences in difficulty between exam forms.
Scores are reported on a scale ranging from 200 to 800. NCHEC’s most recently published examination statistics list a passing scaled score of 600.
There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
When Will You Receive Your Results?
After completing the exam, you receive an email notification with a provisional pass or did-not-pass result.
NCHEC later issues an official scaled score report that includes your overall result and diagnostic information for each Area of Responsibility. Domain performance is reported using levels such as proficient, moderately proficient, and below proficient. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Can You Retake the CHES Exam?
Yes. If you do not pass, you cannot retake the exam during the same testing cycle. You can register for the next consecutive exam cycle at a reduced retest rate.
If you wait beyond the next available cycle, you must pay the full applicable registration fee. NCHEC does not place an overall limit on the number of times you can attempt the CHES exam. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
How to Prepare for the CHES Exam
Start with the current Eight Areas of Responsibility and use the percentages above to organize your study plan. The exam measures both knowledge and your ability to apply health education principles.
CHES Study Checklist
- Review all Eight Areas of Responsibility.
- Know how to conduct needs and capacity assessments.
- Practice developing measurable program goals and objectives.
- Review implementation strategies and program-management principles.
- Study research methods, evaluation designs, and data interpretation.
- Review health communication and advocacy strategies.
- Know leadership and management concepts used in health education settings.
- Review professional ethics and responsibilities.
- Practice applying concepts to realistic health education scenarios.
- Complete timed practice so you are comfortable answering 165 questions within three hours.
CHES Practice Test
Practice questions can help you identify which Areas of Responsibility need additional review and give you experience applying health education concepts to exam-style situations.
How Long Is CHES Certification Valid?
The CHES certification operates on a five-year recertification cycle. Credential holders must also renew annually.
To recertify through continuing education, CHES credential holders must currently earn 75 Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) during the five-year cycle. At least 45 must be Category I credits approved by NCHEC.
The current annual renewal fee is $70. NCHEC recommends earning continuing education throughout the certification period rather than waiting until the end of the five-year cycle. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
CHES Exam Resources
Free CHES Practice Test — Practice CHES-style questions and review detailed answer explanations.
CHES Exam Study Guide — Find additional CHES review and practice material.
Official NCHEC CHES Exam Page — Check the current exam format, application information, testing options, and official resources.
CHES Eligibility Requirements — Confirm whether your degree and coursework meet NCHEC’s current eligibility rules.
CHES Exam Schedule and Fees — Check the latest registration periods, testing dates, and student and nonstudent fees.