Maintaining My CHES/ MCHES Certification:
Questions and Answers
What we’ll discuss:• The recertification process
and requirements for CHES and MCHES
• Where to find CEU’s
• Other resources for professional development
•Why CHES?
•How many CEU’s?
•What are the fees?
Congrats on your CHES/ MCHES!
Category I credits will be offered for this webinar.
Benefits of Certification
• Credentials• Jobs• Networking• Professional esteem
Certificate vs. Certification
Certificate• Non degree• Instruction and
training for specific skills
• Awards for participants who meet performance standards
• Examples:
Certification• Voluntary
process• Maintenance of
certification• Participant
meets particular knowledge competencies
• Time limitedICE resource: Defining Features of Quality Certification and Assessment –based Certificate Programs
Certificate vs. Certification
Certificate• Content validation• Provider conducts
training• Not time limited• Not requred to
engage in specific activities
Certification• Assessment of
individual• Provider is
independent from training program
• Required to engage in specific activities
ICE resource: Defining Features of Quality Certification and Assessment –based Certificate Programs
Why CHES/ MCHES?The CHES/ MCHES certification ensures the highest level of health education.
Maintenance of the certification is supported by continuing education.
•Why CHES?
•How many CEU’s?
•What are the fees?
Renewal and Recertifying• Renewal every year• Recertification every 5
years.• 75 hours of continuing
education• Annual Fee
Renewing and RecertifyingFEES:
Annual Renewal……..…...$55.00
Retired Renewal…..………$15.00
Recertification……..….…...$55.00
Late fees………….....up to $80.00
Reinstatement…..… up to$155.00
Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH)
• CECH are earned through participation in areas directly related to the Seven Areas of Responsibility
• Must develop or enhance skills
• Must be related to the individuals profession
Seven Areas of Responsibility
Seven Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialist - the broad entry-level skills necessary for
the practice of health education in all settings.
I: Assess needs, assets and capacity for health education
II: Plan health education
III: Implement health education
IV: Conduct evaluation and research related to health education
V: Administer and manage health education
VI: Serve as a health education resource person
VII: Communicate and advocate for health and health education
Recertification Requirements
• each CHES/MCHES must earn a total of 75 CECH every five years.
• CHES & MCHES are encouraged to accumulate a minimum of 15 CECH per year.
CHES/MCHES May earn CECH through:
Professional Meetings
Self Study
Academic Preparation
Professional Presentations
Professional Service
Creative endeavors
Advanced Professional
Practice Activities
Earning CECH• Each activity is worth a
specific number of CECH
• See Policies and Procedures Handbook for Renewal and Recertification
• http://www.nchec.org/_files/_items/nch-mr-tab7-80/docs/policy%20procedure%20handbook%20accepted%20changes%205-20-13.pdf
Recertification Requirements
Category I Category II
Events offered by providers Events offered by providers
Pre-approved by NCHEC Not pre-approved by NCHEC
Minimum 45 CECH Maximum 30 CECH
For CHES & MCHES:
For MCHES only:Required to earn 30 CECH directly related to the advanced-level Sub-
competencies from Category I and/or II
Category I
• Category I entry are opportunities that relate to one or more of the Areas of Responsibility and have been preapproved by NCHEC
• Category I advanced are CECH opportunities that relate to one or more of the advanced-level Sub-competencies and have been preapproved by NCHEC
• Offered by NCHEC designated providers
CATEGORY I
CATEGORY I• The designated provider
of Category I credits will report directly to NCHEC on a quarterly basis.
• CHES/MCHES should retain the certificate in their records.
• CHES/MCHES should not submit any Category I documentation to NCHEC unless requested.
• Category I CECH opportunities are listed on the NCHEC website
• nchec.org/ce/procal/
Continuing Education Activities
Category II• A maximum of 30
category II credits can be earned.
• Category II entry refers to CECH opportunities that relate to one or more of the Areas of Responsibility, but have not been preapproved by NCHEC (offered by non-designated providers).
Category II
• Category II advanced refers to one or more Areas of Responsibility and advanced-level Sub-competencies not preapproved by NCHEC or designated providers.
• Documentation is needed as evidence to support a CECH claim.
To submit Category II• record program information and how each activity relates to the Areas of Responsibility and/or advanced-level Sub-competencies.
• Submit Category II CECH Claim Form within 90 days following program completion.
Category II Form•Category II claim form sections to be completed
•Information Section•Activity •Area of Responsibility•Brief Description•Signature
•Category II Claim Form:http://www.nchec.org/_files/_items/nch-mr-tab6-78/docs/cat%20ii%20claim%20form%20with%20accepted%20changes%205-
20-13.pdf
Category II Claim Form
Category II for CHES/MCHES
• For CHES, CECH may not be claimed for activities, events or experiences that are part of daily job requirements.
• For MCHES, CECH may be claimed for work-related activities, events or experiences that relate to advanced-level Sub-competencies.
Appropriate Documentation for Activities
• Attendance at Professional Meetings• Certification of Attendance including
hours• Meeting schedule/agenda with attended
session highlighted
• Presentation at a Professional Meeting
• Program Announcement indicating duration
• Thank you letter indicating duration
• Academic Preparation • Copy of Transcript listing the course title
and number of credits earned
Appropriate Documentation for Activitied Cont’d
• Authoring a Thesis or Dissertation• Copy of title page, table of contents and letter of
acceptance by the university
• Sole Author of a Training Module or Course• Copy of title page, table of contents, and description of
content learning objectives
• Sole Developer of a Health Education Project• Copy of official copyright notice• Copy of product itself
Common Mistakes on Category II Forms
• On Category II claim forms
• Missing date• CECH claimed not listed
• Activity not chosen
• Incorrect Form
Common Mistakes Cont’d
• Area of Responsibility not chosen• No signature• More than one activity submitted on
Category II claim form• Documentation does not show
breakdown of hours despite certificate
CECH That Do Not Qualify
• You may not claim time for lunches or breaks, attending poster sessions, networking sessions, business meetings, or non-education periods.
• All authorship must involve substantive contributions and not mere proofreading.
• CECH may not be claimed for reprints, duplications, or revisions of the same article in different publications.
CECH Who Do Not Qualify Cont’d
• CHES/MCHES applying for CECH as a presenter cannot claim CECH for attending the presentation session
• For CHES, a mentor does not include
student interns and student teachers.• For MCHES serving as an
internship/practicum preceptor counts.
Carry Over of CECH• CHES/MCHES who have over 75
CECH at the end of the current 5-year certification cycle
• Carry over a maximum of 15 Category I CECH into the next 5-year certification cycle
• Category II hours are not eligible for carryover
• For MCHES, any advanced CECH will carry over as entry-level credits only.
• Category II hours are not eligible for carryover
Extension• Recertifying CHES/MCHES who have not
met the required 75 CECH may request an extension for a maximum of two years
• A letter of explanation must be submitted yearly
• Payment of the $55 annual fee must be paid
• Extensions are approved in one-year increments
• Extension status is granted for special circumstances including, but not limited to:
• Personal or family illness, graduate study, or foreign residency
Extension Status
• While on extension status, a CHES/MCHES:
-May continue to earn CECH
-Cannot hold any elective NCHEC office
-Cannot serve on planning committees as a CHES/MCHES representative
MCHES Recertification
• MCHES, who were previously active CHES, and have not met the required 30 advanced-level credits,
• can become a CHES if all requirements for the CHES certification are met
Recertification by Exam• To recertify by exam a
CHES/MCHES must:• Meet the eligibility to qualify for
the exam• Apply and pay fees using the
exam application form • Available through NCHEC or on
the Web site (www.nchec.org)
• Pass the CHES/MCHES examination
• Exams are scheduled in April and October
Lapsed CHES and MCHES• CHES/MCHES who are lapsed for renewal or
continuing education credits are not allowed to use the CHES/MCHES designation
Retired CHES/MCHES• Permanently retired CHES/MCHES from health
education and with active/good standing may apply for retired status
• If retired status is approved and awarded, the (Ret.) credential must be used after a person’s name
• Retired status is considered permanent status and no CECH requirements exist
Appeals Policy• An appeal is available to any
applicant or CHES/MCHES • To challenge decisions affecting
CHES/MCHES examination eligibility or
• CHES/MCHES status
• Individuals who do not file a request within the required time limit waive the right to appeal
Appeals
For More Information The Policies and Procedures Handbook
http://www.nchec.org/_files/_items/nch-mr-tab7-80/docs/policy%20procedure%20handbook%20accepted%20changes%205-20-13.pdf
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Commission for Health Education
Credentialing, Inc.
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Whitehall, PA 18052
Email us at: [email protected]
NCHEC.org