Designated Providers
NCHEC awards 'Designated Provider' status to organizations approved to offer continuing education activities for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®). As a national, credentialing organization whose mission is to improve the quality of health education practice for health education specialists, NCHEC seeks to promote scientific, ethical, and state-of-the-art programs of professional preparation and continuing education. The term NCHEC uses to indicate health education continuing education credit that addresses the Areas of Responsibility and Competencies for Health Education Specialists is Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH).
NCHEC encourages CHES®/MCHES® to pursue continuing education in all of the Areas of Responsibility and Competencies for Health Education Specialists, as competence in all Areas is essential to successful health education practice. Continuing education experiences may include seminars, conferences, workshops, academic courses, satellite instruction, training programs, and directed self-study programs.
If your organization currently or is considering offering professional development opportunities of interest to health education professionals, you may want to consider becoming a designated CECH provider. The benefits of becoming such a provider include:
- Increasing the visibility of your organization by attracting more health education professionals to your activities
- Elevating your organization's credibility by being a nationally recognized provider of continuing education for health education specialists
- Enhancing the health education profession by providing a valuable service to your community
Template: Provider Reporting Form
Provider Reporting Form Directions
Designated Provider Options for Organizations
The Single Event Provider application is for organizations who plan to offer only a few programs per year that address the Areas of Responsibility and Competencies for Health Education Specialists, or you want approval for only one activity (even if it will be offered more than once in a year), consider applying to become a Single Event Provider. This application is for organizations that have a CHES® or MCHES® on their planning committee.
The Universal Provider application is used instead of a Single Event Provider application when an applicant organization does not have an active CHES®/MCHES® on their planning committee. Instead of the CHES®/MCHES®, they must show documentation that they are an approved provider of continuing education credits for another health profession. This will result in approval as a Single Event Provider.
The Multiple Event Provider Application is for organizations that plan to offer several continuing education activities that address the Areas of Responsibility and Competencies for Health Education Specialists, Multiple Event providers are approved for either two or four years. Multiple Event Providers must have at least one CHES®/MCHES® on their planning committee to be eligible.
The Annual Event Provider Application is for organizations that have sponsored a regional or national annual meeting or conference for at least five consecutive years. Annual Event providers must have at least two CHES®/MCHES® on their planning committee to be eligible.