ABSTRACT Background The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) has established and updated the specific knowledge and skills necessary to become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). To prepare students, it is important that coursework addresses the Areas of Responsibility (AoR); however, research examining student preparation has been limited. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess perceived knowledge, skills, and confidence to apply selected sub-competencies from AoR I, II, IV, and VII through a community health assessment (CHA) among undergraduate health majors in Community Health courses in spring of 2021. Methods A 20 question pre and post-survey was administered to measure and compare student confidence and perceived knowledge/skills of the Eight AoR. Results There was a statistically significant difference (p < .05) between the pre and post-test measuring confidence for 38 AoR and for 31 AoR assessing perception of knowledge and skills. Discussion The findings from this study help instructors identify gaps in the course and in the preparation program. Translation to Health Education Practice This assessment of the CHA project is a useful pedagogical tool to determine if students are gaining fundamental skills in competencies needed in health education and promotion.
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