Are you interested in working to promote and protect public health? Individuals who are interested in helping communities, individuals, and organizations with the promotion of health and well-being might consider choosing to pursue a career as a public health educator. This exciting field includes protecting individual human health through health education programs that include community health education, school health education, and environmental and occupational health. Public health educators and community health specialists work to develop health education materials to improve health outcomes. To get started in this interesting public health career, future professionals will need education, professional certifications, health education credentialing, and specific skills.
What does a Health Education Specialist do?
People working in health education and those working as certified health education specialists (CHES) assess health needs of individuals within the community. They work to develop programs, develop and distribute health education materials, and host public health events to teach people about any number of health topics. Health educators work to evaluate the effectiveness of programs that promote wellness, teach health classes, and develop and distribute health educational materials to the public. These community health workers help people access needed health services and information. A certified health education specialist works to promote health and protect public health through many avenues of health promotion and improved health resources.
A health education specialists teaches people about wellness-promoting behaviors. They work to develop meaningful strategies that aim to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Health education workers are advocates for community health needs in collaboration with healthcare providers and social service organizations. These health education specialists work to implement wellness strategies through collecting data and pinpointing barriers to better health with members of populations.
A Career in Public Health Education
An important part of the public health educator career is to coordinate ideas, programs, results, and information between health-related organizations, government agencies, and community groups. By working together with these types of groups, public health educators are able to support the overall well-being of individuals and groups within society. In addition to instruction, educators in public health might also manage community outreach programs, report findings between health groups, and supervise programs and research projects. Public health educators might work in classrooms and public schools, colleges and universities, health care facilities, government agencies, social work agencies, and community organizations.
Skills and Traits of a Public Health Educator
Health educators have the skills to promote wellness and healthy lifestyles. A health educator has skills to collect and evaluate data to determine the needs and health risks of the community in which they serve.
A health educator is a skilled communicator who can clearly convey health-related information in written and spoken scenarios, with the end goal of improving health outcomes. They may work to raise funding for programs, requiring them to write clear and convincing proposals.
Instructional and teaching skills of health education specialists help to reach the community on health-related issues. Good interpersonal skills aid in communicating important information to people from different backgrounds and cultures. Being a good listener with empathy helps these workers to respond to the needs of the people in the community in which they serve. Creatively solving problems also is a skill that can help health outcomes.
In addition to an understanding of society, people, and the communities around them, public health educators must have several other skills to be successful in the position. Some of the skills that an employer will look for include communication skills. Public health educators should be skilled in written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
Public health professionals should also develop skills in instruction, training, research, and analysis. On many occasions, public health educators will be observing, developing, implementing, assessing, altering, and analyzing possible public health programs. When not researching and analyzing, public health educators will be leading instruction in various areas to improve the health of a community.
Related Resource: Master’s in Public Health
Where might a health educator be employed?
Health educators, including those with the certified health education specialist (CHES) title, can work for a variety of employers. Health education specialists working in a healthcare facility may work with patients or their families. The certified health education specialist is qualified to teach patients about their health issue and treatment options. These health educators may also develop and administer surveys to help identify community health concerns and develop programs that meet the needs in the community. They may work in health promotion through organizing blood-pressure screenings, classes on car seat use, or any number of topics.
When working for a non-profit health promotion organization, health education specialists create programs and health education materials to promote health in the communities they serve. They may help organizations raise funding through grants aimed at promoting health and disease awareness. Health education specialists also work to educate policymakers about improving public health. A health educator can tailor health education programs to meet needs in the community.
When working in public health departments, certified health education specialists develop public health campaigns that focus on topics such as emergency preparedness, immunizations, healthy lifestyles, or proper nutrition. They may develop health promotion materials for use by community members. Some health education specialists collaborate with other health care professionals on statewide or local committees to create policies on health and wellness topics. They may also oversee grants and grant-funded programs to improve public health.
A health educator can create workplace health education programs or suggest modifications that focus on wellness or health-related issues. For example, they may develop incentives for employees to adopt healthy behaviors, such as controlling cholesterol, or recommend changes in the workplace to improve employee health, such as creating smoke-free areas.
Health education specialists and community health workers typically work full time and may need to work nights and weekends to attend health education programs, training programs, or meetings.
Degree Program Completion
For most public health educator positions, the minimum educational requirement is a bachelor’s degree. In the major area of undergraduate coursework, students complete credits in topics such as health policy, epidemiology, health promotion, global health perspectives, and social health determinants. Part of the degree is also a solid focus on communication, and some examples of courses that students will complete include public speaking, health risk communication, and health education delivery.
In addition to courses within the major, students will also complete a number of courses to build the skills necessary to research, analyze, develop, and assess programs in public health education. To build these skills, typical courses include biology, anthropology, health assessment, health psychology, sociology, and statistics.
Degree programs might include concentrations in specific areas. Common concentrations include holistic health, school health, and community health. These concentrations include additional coursework in health issues related to those specific groups.
Many health educators earn their master’s degree in public health (MPH). Concentrations for MPH degrees can include epidemiology, biostatistics, global health, nutrition, maternal and child health, and more. Some healthcare professionals such as nurses, doctors, or dietitians go on to earn their MPH degree.
Where can I find information on health education and health promotion programs?
Check out The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) to find the Health Education and Promotion Program Directory (HEPPD) . This centralized source of program information regarding undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in health education and promotion can help people find an accredited program to meet their educational needs.
Additional Professional Certifications
In addition to completion of a degree program, public health educators can obtain or may be required to obtain a number of different certifications. In some states, it might also be required for a public health educator to maintain state licensing. The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) offers health education credentialing such as the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Those holding their CHES credential also have continuing education requirements. Some states offer certification for community health workers, which may include completing an approved training program.
Many people look for a career in which they are able not only to earn a living, but also to help others and society in general. With the right skills, education, and certifications, a career as a public health educator can deliver these perks, offering benefits in one’s career as well as personal satisfaction.
How much can someone make as a health educator?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), in May 2021 the median pay for these workers is $48,860 per year. This means that half of all workers in the field make more, and half make less than this salary.
What is the employment outlook like for these workers in health education?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the projected percent change in employment from 2020 to 2030 is 17% for health educators and community health workers, which is much higher than the average 8% growth rate for all occupations during that time. Above average growth is expected for many jobs in the public health field over the next ten years. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an expected increase in jobs for public health related work. Employment pathways in public health include government, education, healthcare, managed care organizations, corporations and non-profit organizations.
Where do I find health educator job-related statistics regarding different areas of the country?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides occupation-specific statistics for the different geographic areas in the United States, and would be a good place to start a search for specific information.
Do health educators really make a difference in the world today?
Public Health initiatives and education have added 25 years to the life expectancy of people in the United States over the last 100 years. The Center for Disease Control (CDC.gov) reports that public health’s greatest health improvements in the last century include health education, improvements in workplace safety, infectious disease control, food safety, mother-baby health, decline in death from heart disease and stroke, motor vehicle safety, immunizations, family planning, fluoridated drinking water, and more. What role will health education and health initiatives play in this next century to make the world a healthier place to live and work in?
What are the professional organizations for public health educators?
The professional organization representing public health professionals around the world working to improve public health is The American Public Health Association (APHA). With a vision to “Create the healthiest nation in one generation” fueling their work, APHA focuses on the health of people and communities at large and on promoting scientifically based perspectives towards a healthier society. APHA is influential in federal policy and purposefully brings together members from all fields of public health with its nearly 150-year perspective. APHA’s mission is to improve the health of the public and achieve equity in health status. APHA’s values reflect their members’ beliefs–members drawn from all disciplines of public health and over 40 countries.
July 2022
By Carol Dolan BS RN BSN CDCES
Carol graduated with her BS in Nutrition from Montclair State University and her BSN in Nursing from Rowan University. She is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) currently working with adults and children living with diabetes in both outpatient and inpatient settings.