Pursue certification as a health education specialist. Pair this certificate with any ASU major to enhance your career options upon graduation. You may complete it as a standalone postbaccalaureate or postgraduate program as well. This certificate enables graduates to qualify for a globally recognized credential and be part of an exciting and growing field.
Students in the health education specialist certificate program gain foundational knowledge in public health education and health promotion and in competencies needed by certified health education specialists. This qualifies graduates to sit for the CHES exam offered by the National Council on Health Education Credentialing.
The CHES is a valuable and desirable credential in the health field. Health professionals with a range of specializations, from nutrition to kinesiology, have found the CHES to be a complement to their knowledge because it emphasizes effective methods for educating individuals and communities on improving health behaviors and outcomes.
More information about the CHES is available here: https://www.nchec.org/profession
At A Glance
Application requirements
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements:
Affording college
Scholarships
Find and apply for relevant scholarships.
Financial Aid
ASU has many financial aid options. Almost everyone, regardless
of income, can qualify for some form of financial aid. In fact,
more than 70 percent of all ASU students receive some form of
financial assistance every year.
Certification and licensure
The College of Health Solutions prepares graduates for excellence upon entering the workplace. Since certification and licensure requirements vary by profession and from state-to-state, we recommend that you visit the ASU licensure website to determine if your program meets the requirements of individual state licensures or national certifications, as applicable. If you have specific questions, please contact your program director or degree coordinator.
Program requirements
Degree requirements
Required Core Courses (24 credit hours)
EXW 102 Principles and Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion (3)
EXW 340 Health Behavior Theory (3)
EXW 348 Methods of Health Education (3)
EXW 452 Health Advocacy in Health Education (3)
EXW 454 Health Promotion Program Planning and Implementation (3)
EXW 456 Health Promotion Program Evaluation (3)
EXW 466 Health Promotion Program Management and Administration (3)
EXW 476 Community Health (3)
Elective (1 credit; choose one)
EXW 321 Consumer Health (1)
EXW 331 Violence Prevention (1)
EXW 341 Injury Prevention (1)
EXW 351 Substance Abuse Prevention (1)
Depending on a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
Enrollment requirements
GPA Requirement: 2.00
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Career outlook
Certified health education specialists often pursue careers in wellness and health promotion in such environments as:
- colleges and universities
- community health agencies
- hospitals and clinical settings
- insurance companies
- private health care organizations
- schools
- state and county health departments
- voluntary health organizations
- wellness centers
- worksite wellness and health promotion
Earning the CHES demonstrates competence and provides professionals a competitive edge in employment. Health education specialist certificate holders have a 100% pass rate on the Certified Health Education Specialist exam, compared with a national average of 70%. Additionally, employment of health educators is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations --- 13% between 2019 and 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Master certified health education specialists are eligible to become certified diabetes educators with proper diabetes self-management practice hours.