Understanding of the Application of Advanced-Practice Health Educator Subcompetencies by Certified Health Education Specialists

Abstract

In May 2009, the Board of Commissioners of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) established policies to award the Master Certified Health Education Specialist certification. As with any new licensure, registration, or certification in a profession, policy makers need to consider how to provide quality assurance of experienced practitioners. Thus, an Experience Documentation Opportunity (EDO) process was created to validate whether active Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) were practicing health education at an advanced level. The process included a review of an applicant's résumé, explanation of experience in advanced-level health education within the past 5 years, and testaments of practice by 2 individuals. In the process of reviewing the applicants' materials for certification, NCHEC officials were afforded a unique opportunity to assess how current CHES understood, applied, and articulated advanced-level subcompetencies. The results of this review showed that some in the profession were unable to clearly define and provide documentation that they were practicing at an advanced level. This article serves to stimulate dialogue in the field of health education on how to assist health education specialists in clearly understanding the purpose and use of subcompetencies. Furthermore, by identifying the competencies for which CHES lack clarity, continuing education providers can plan more meaningful and useful opportunities to close the gap in understanding the advanced-level subcompetencies.