CHES

The CHES® examination is developed and administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). It is a competency-based, entry-level exam that measures the knowledge and skills health education specialists need in practice. Its content comes from the most recent U.S. practice analysis of the profession, the Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis (HESPA II), which organizes the work of health education specialists into eight Areas of Responsibility and their entry-level competencies and sub-competencies.

Exam Pattern

The CHES exam is a computer-based test of 165 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer options. 150 questions are scored, and 15 are unscored pilot questions that NCHEC is evaluating for future forms. Pilot questions are mixed in with scored questions and look exactly like them, so treat every question as if it counts.

You have 3 hours. The exam is delivered in blocks: Block 1 contains questions 1–83, which you can review and change until you leave the block; an optional 10-minute break follows, and its time is deducted from your total testing time; Block 2 contains questions 84–165. Once you start the second block, you cannot return to the first. You may test at a PSI test center or by live remote proctoring from home or another private location.

Because you cannot return to questions 1–83 after the break, finish every item in the first block and use any time left in that block to review your flagged questions before you move on.

The Eight Areas of Responsibility

Every question is written to one of the eight Areas of Responsibility. The share of items from each Area changes from one exam form to the next, so prepare for all eight. The chart shows the range reported for two recent forms, and each bar spans the lowest and highest share observed.

AreaofResponsibility	WhatItCovers
1 AssessmentofNeedsandCapacity .	Planningandconductingneedsandcapacityassessments collectingandanalyzing ,
	primaryandsecondarydata andidentifyingpriorities ,
2 Planning .	Engagingprioritypopulationsandpartners developinggoalsandobjectives , ,
	selecting theory-based strategies and planning for implementation ,
3 Implementation .	Coordinatingthelogisticsofdelivery trainingfacilitators deliveringprogramswith , ,
	fidelity andmonitoringimplementation ,
4 EvaluationandResearch .	Designingevaluationandresearchplans collectingandanalyzingdata interpreting , ,
	results andapplyingfindings ,
5 Advocacy .	Identifyingpolicyneeds engagingcoalitionsandstakeholders andadvocatingfor , ,
	healthandfortheprofession
6 Communication .	Assessingaudiences developingandtailoringmessages usingappropriate , ,
	channels andevaluatingcommunication ,
7 LeadershipandManagement .	Managingfinancial human andtechnologicalresources leadingteams building , , , ,
	partnerships andsustainingprograms ,
8 EthicsandProfessionalism .	Practicingethically servingasanauthoritativeresource engaginginprofessional , ,
	development andpromotingtheprofession ,

Scoring and Passing Requirements

The CHES exam is criterion-referenced: your result depends on your own performance, never on how other candidates score. NCHEC sets the passing point with the modified Angoff method, in which subject-matter experts judge how a just- qualified health education specialist would perform on each item. Scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 800, and the passing score is 600. There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question.

You receive a provisional pass or fail result when you finish the exam. The official score report follows after NCHEC completes its review of how every item performed. The report also rates your performance in each Area of Responsibility as proficient, moderately proficient, or below proficient; these Area ratings are diagnostic only, because pass or fail is based on your score on the exam as a whole.

Exam at a Glance

ExamAspect	Details
Credential	Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) an entry-level certification ,
Administeredby	NationalCommissionforHealthEducationCredentialing(NCHEC)
Format	Computer-based; four-option multiple-choice questions
Questions	165total:150scoredand15unscoredpilotquestions
Time	3 hours including an optional 10 -minute break taken from the testing time ,
Examwindows	Twiceayear inAprilandOctober ,
Delivery	PSItestcentersorliveremoteproctoring intheUnitedStatesandinternationally ,

ExamAspect	Details
Scoring	Criterion-referenced; scaled scores from 200 to 800 with a passing score of 600; no penalty for
	guessing
Fees	Earlybird$300($250student)·Regular$360($310student)·Final$435($385student)
Maintenance	75continuingeducationcontacthours(CECH)everyfiveyears atleast45ofthemCategoryI plus , ,
	anannualrenewalfee

The current exam is built on the eight HESPA II Areas of Responsibility. NCHEC and SOPHE have completed a newer practice analysis, HESPA III, which organizes practice into nine Areas of Responsibility (it separates evaluation and research and joins leadership with ethics and professionalism), and NCHEC is revising the CHES exam to reflect it. The version you take depends on your exam window, so confirm the current content outline on nchec.org when you apply.

Eligibility and Registration

To sit for the CHES exam, you need a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited institution and either a major in health education (or a similarly titled field) or at least 25 semester credits (37 quarter hours) of coursework, with a grade of C or better, that specifically prepares you in the Areas of Responsibility. Students who will graduate within 90 days of an exam date may apply early by submitting a current transcript and verification from a faculty member.

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Degree and qualifying

Submit transcripts and

Eligibility is verified

Test center or remote

April or October window

coursework

fee by the deadline

proctoring

Fees depend on when you apply: early bird applications cost the least, followed by regular and final (late) deadlines. Discounted student rates require enrollment in at least 9 semester credits (12 quarter hours) when you apply. A $100 processing fee is not refunded if you are found ineligible or withdraw.

Maintaining the Credential

CHES certification runs in five-year cycles. To recertify, you earn 75 continuing education contact hours (CECH) during the cycle, with at least 45 hours in Category I (activities offered by NCHEC-designated or pre-approved providers) and no more than 30 hours in Category II, and you pay an annual renewal fee. Certified specialists also agree to follow the Code of Ethics for the Health Education Profession.