Laurie Weinreb-Welch and Kathleen Allison

Whitehall, PA. – April 1, 2011 Kathleen Allison, PhD, MPH and Laurie Weinreb-Welch, MPH are among the first group to earn the certification as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES). Dr. Kathleen Allison is Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at Lock Haven University. Ms. Weinreb-Welch is the Children, Youth and Family Living Education Agent for the Pennsylvania State Cooperative Extension-Clinton County.

The newly created advanced-level certification, MCHES, awarded by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc., (NCHEC) signifies that Dr. Allison and Ms. Weinreb-Welch have met the national standards for individual health education practitioners. The MCHES certification attests to the individual’s knowledge and understanding of the Health Education Areas of Responsibility at an advanced-level and assists employers in identifying qualified health education practitioners.

“NCHEC developed the advanced-level certification in response to recommendations from the profession that were supported by research indicating the presence of distinct levels of practice in the health education work setting,” said William Chen, Chair of NCHEC’s Board of Commissioners. “Congratulations to this very first class of MCHES.”

“The MCHES certification indicates advanced-level knowledge and skills and is a commitment to the advancement of the health education profession and continued professional development,” added Linda Lysoby, MS, CAE, MCHES, Executive Director of NCHEC. This has been a long awaited step in the field of health education, and it’s so exciting.

The MCHES credential indicates that an individual has met three components: academic and experience requirements, passing of a certification assessment, and compliance with ongoing continuing education requirements. The certification is voluntary, meaning that one chooses to earn this credential which is national in scope. The MCHES certification is based on generic Responsibilities, Competencies, and Sub-competencies that have been verified as necessary for advanced-level practice in health education by a national job analysis process, the most recent being the 2010 National Health Educator Job Analysis Project.

This achievement is considered a milestone in an individual’s professional development and a testament to the individual’s commitment to continuous improvement in the health education profession. For further information about NCHEC certifications, visit www.nchec.org or contact NCHEC at 888-624-3248 or nchec@nchec.org.