Health Education Specialist ,Certificate
Health Advocacy, Health Behavior, Health Care, Health Promotion, Nutrition, Prevention, Public Health, School, Wellness, community health
Do you want to reduce health disparities and help people improve their lives? Develop the skills it takes to become a certified health education specialist and protect the health of individuals and communities.
Health education and health promotion professionals fill a critical role as they teach individuals how to stay well by living healthy lifestyles. As a health education professional, you can help mobilize communities to advocate for and create healthy environments, and champion health equity through policy, advocacy and environmental change.
In the health education specialist certificate program, you learn how to plan, implement, manage and evaluate health promotion programs that improve health outcomes and prevent chronic and infectious disease.
This certificate qualifies you to sit for the certified health education specialist exam through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (https://www.nchec.org/). CHES is a globally recognized credential for health professionals.
- College/school:
College of Health Solutions
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
2026-2027 Catalog Year
| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
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| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
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The certificate in health education specialist consists of 27 credit hours, of which at least 15 must be upper division. A minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) is required for each course.
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HEP 102 Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
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HEP 361 Digital Health Communication and Education
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
HEP 452 Health Advocacy in Health Education
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
HEP 454 Health Promotion Program Planning and Implementation
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
HEP 456 Health Promotion Program Evaluation
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
HEP 466 Health Promotion Program Management
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
9 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 9 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
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GPA Requirement: 2.00
Incompatible Majors: None
Other Enrollment Requirements: None
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:
- Assess needs, health status, and capacity of a priority population.
- Plan a comprehensive health education/promotion program.
- Communicate and advocate for health education/promotion.
Employment of health educators is expected to grow steadily, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a 4% increase in the field between 2024 and 2034. The need for quality health education specialists has never been more critical than it is today.
Having CHES certification gives graduates a competitive edge in the job market, and those who have earned this credential can identify themselves as a certified health education specialist.
Health education specialists, also known as health educators, can work in:
- businesses
- government
- health departments
- hospitals and clinics
- nonprofit organizations
- schools
- tribal nations
Employment opportunities are available within national, state and local health departments and in community clinics, community and privacy advocacy groups, wellness centers, health education programs and nonprofit organizations.
Graduates of this program have varied opportunities, including these positions:
- community health educator
- community outreach coordinator
- grant writer
- health program manager
- patient education coordinator
- prevention specialist
- program evaluator
- wellness coordinator
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
College of Health Solutions
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HLTHN 401AA
chs@asu.edu
602-496-3300
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
