Question

1. Throughout this book you have been introduced to the work of health education specialists. This chapter focused on the different professional organizations of our profession. We also presented information on the NCHEC. We stated that being a member of a professional organization is different than becoming certified as a health education specialist. Compare and contrast what you see to be the benefits of membership in a professional organization and becoming a CHES or MCHES. Aside from the financial costs, do you see any drawbacks of membership and certification?

2. For a number of years, many practicing health education specialists have pushed for a single professional health education/promotion association that would bring together many of the existing associations (i.e., ACHA, ASHA, SOPHE) so that health education/ promotion would have a single professional association voice.

   Would you be in favor of or against combining all the health education/promotion professional associations into a single association? Defend your response. As part of your response, indicate what you think are the strengths and weaknesses of your position!

Answer 1

1. Many health education specialists are members of different professional organizations of health. National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) is a professional health education body for credentialing and maintains the highest competence level among health education professionals. CHES(Certified Health Education Specialist) and MCHES (Master Certified Health Education Specialist) are certifications offered to health education specialists by NCHEC. Being a member of a professional organization is different from becoming certified as a health education specialist. The benefits of membership in a professional organization are many compared to becoming a CHES or MCHES, but both come with a financial cost. Each member should abide by the rules and regulations of the professional organization. Memberships of professional organizations are given to professionals undergoing and after certification programs. These organizations provide members with up-to-date information and equip them to work more professionally and efficiently in any situation. These professionals come under the aegis of an organization and it's umbrella-organization and they can approach these organizations in times of any professional need. In the case of certifications, the program brings about a national standard for all health education professionals. Certification is an attestation for the skills and knowledge of health education specialists, which helps employers to select appropriate candidates. Certification does not give the professional an opportunity to approach the certifying authority for any professional need. A professional certificate does not give a person any up-to-date information in contrast to the professional organization membership.

2. Many professionals have been advocating the need for a single professional health education/promotion association that would bring together many of the existing associations (ACHA, ASHA, SOPHE) so that health education/ promotion would have a single voice. This would be the right approach to bring a positive change in the functioning of these associations. Each one of these associations has its own merits and demerits. When a national level association is formed from the amalgamation of these associations, all the merits can be merged and the demerits can be disregarded. This would result in better professionalism of the members well equipped to face any need-of-the-hour situation.