My Health Education Career
Five years ago, I would have never thought I would have a master's degree and a professional certification in public health and health education. Absolutely not. But now, I'm on my way to getting a doctorate.
As of May 22, 2018, I am a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). This certification makes me a more competitive candidate in the field of public health. You are basically the "gold standard" in health education. You will immediately be put at the top of the list when being recruited for jobs. Most jobs I have looked at require a CHES certification nowadays. If you don't have one, having an MPH alone usually isn't enough, and I would suggest applying to take the exam.
My advice before taking the exam:
1. Take the exam while your are enrolled in school. It is cheaper. I spent $330 to take the exam. I was out of school and I registered late.
2. Register early. I paid a lot more money and I registered about 2 months in advance. You must also submit transcripts and other items to qualify for taking the exam. The list of requirements is on the website.
3. Study. I started studying about 5 months in advance. I would study each responsibility almost everyday. Don't cram for the exam. Cramming isn't a good method of studying. I would give yourself at least 2 months to study everything.
4. Buy the book offered by NCHEC. Spend the money on the book. You can buy an E-book which costs $55. I didn't bother with the competency book.
5. Be sure to take the exam at the back of the book. This will help you determine which responsibilities you need to focus on more than others.
6. Show up for the exam. You might be a little nervous, but if you studied, you will pass. Make sure to check your answers. Make sure to read all the answers before you select the right one.
I took the exam on April 28, 2018. I was notified of my results on May 22, 2018. I believe I was the last cycle to take the written exam. Now, they are starting to conduct the exams electronically. You might be able to receive your results immediately after submitting you exam, but I'm not sure.
After I passed my exam, I immediately added CHES after my MPH on my LinkedIn profile, email signature, and whatever else I could find. And you should too! You worked hard and paid a lot of money for those letters!
In my previous post, I mentioned that I was accepted into the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at Loma Linda University. I just finished my first quarter and will (hopefully) be able to write about my experience in the future. But for now, this is all I have.
As of May 22, 2018, I am a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). This certification makes me a more competitive candidate in the field of public health. You are basically the "gold standard" in health education. You will immediately be put at the top of the list when being recruited for jobs. Most jobs I have looked at require a CHES certification nowadays. If you don't have one, having an MPH alone usually isn't enough, and I would suggest applying to take the exam.
My advice before taking the exam:
1. Take the exam while your are enrolled in school. It is cheaper. I spent $330 to take the exam. I was out of school and I registered late.
2. Register early. I paid a lot more money and I registered about 2 months in advance. You must also submit transcripts and other items to qualify for taking the exam. The list of requirements is on the website.
3. Study. I started studying about 5 months in advance. I would study each responsibility almost everyday. Don't cram for the exam. Cramming isn't a good method of studying. I would give yourself at least 2 months to study everything.
4. Buy the book offered by NCHEC. Spend the money on the book. You can buy an E-book which costs $55. I didn't bother with the competency book.
5. Be sure to take the exam at the back of the book. This will help you determine which responsibilities you need to focus on more than others.
6. Show up for the exam. You might be a little nervous, but if you studied, you will pass. Make sure to check your answers. Make sure to read all the answers before you select the right one.
I took the exam on April 28, 2018. I was notified of my results on May 22, 2018. I believe I was the last cycle to take the written exam. Now, they are starting to conduct the exams electronically. You might be able to receive your results immediately after submitting you exam, but I'm not sure.
After I passed my exam, I immediately added CHES after my MPH on my LinkedIn profile, email signature, and whatever else I could find. And you should too! You worked hard and paid a lot of money for those letters!
In my previous post, I mentioned that I was accepted into the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at Loma Linda University. I just finished my first quarter and will (hopefully) be able to write about my experience in the future. But for now, this is all I have.
Comments
Post a Comment