Initiation of a voluntary certification program for health education specialists

As health education has become a major strategy for addressing current health problems, the need for expertise in health education has increased. Today health education specialists work not only in health agencies and educational institutions but also in hospitals and other health and medical facilities, in businesses and industries, and in consulting firms. To promote quality assurance in the delivery of health education services to the public, the profession has launched a voluntary credentialing system for health education specialists. Seven areas of responsibilities and the competencies that they require have been delineated as generic to the practice of entry level health education specialists, regardless of the setting (for example, school, health agency, work site) where they work. The purposes and rationale for new National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc., are described as well as the benefits of certification for the profession. The events and accomplishments of the past decade that have provided the foundation for the newly established credentialing program for the health education profession are chronicled.