Community Health Workers

Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs.

On the job, you would:

Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
Identify or contact members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups, such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Health education specialists collect and evaluate data to determine the needs of the people they serve.

Communication skills. Health education specialists must be able to clearly convey information in health-related materials and in written proposals for programs and funding.

Instructional skills. Health education specialists lead programs, teach classes, and facilitate discussion with clients and families.

Interpersonal skills. Health education specialists interact with many people from a variety of backgrounds. They must be good listeners and be empathetic in responding to the needs of the people they serve.

Problem-solving skills. Health education specialists must think creatively about improving the health of the community. In addition, they may need to solve problems that arise in planning programs, such as budget constraints or resistance from the community they are serving.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		93%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		93%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		90%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		88%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		88%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		87%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		86%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		85%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		83%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		83%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		82%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		81%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		81%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		77%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		76%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		72%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		100%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		83%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		83%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		58%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		56%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		56%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		81%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		78%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		72%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		69%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		69%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		69%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		69%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		66%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		66%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		63%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		56%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		56%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		61%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
		57%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		57%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		57%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		55%	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
		55%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		54%	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
		54%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		54%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		54%	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
		52%	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
		52%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		52%	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Provide basic health care services.

Advise clients or community groups on health issues.

Advise others on social or educational issues.

Advise clients or community groups on health issues.

Advocate for individual or community needs.

Develop working relationships with others to facilitate program activities.

Visit individuals in their homes to provide support or information.

Monitor clients to evaluate treatment progress.

Confer with clients to discuss treatment plans or progress.

Provide educational materials to community members.

Assess individual or community needs for educational or social services.

Interpret cultural or religious information for others.

Maintain client records.

Monitor nutrition related activities of individuals or groups.

Provide basic health care services.

Refer clients to community or social service programs.

Teach life skills or strategies to clients or their families.

Lead classes or community events.

Provide educational materials to community members.

Help clients get needed services or resources.

Collect information about community health needs.

Plan programs to address community health issues.

Recommend legal actions.

Transport clients to appointments.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		94%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		94%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		90%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		84%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		80%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		77%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		76%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		74%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		73%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		72%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		72%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		71%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		71%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		67%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		64%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		61%	Public Speaking - How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job?
		61%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		60%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		56%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		55%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		53%	Exposed to Disease or Infections - How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
		52%	Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		97%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		94%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		94%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		92%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		91%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		88%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		88%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		85%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		85%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		84%	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
		84%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		82%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		78%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		77%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		77%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		75%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		75%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		73%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		71%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		70%	Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
		70%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		67%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		67%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		67%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		67%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		67%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		66%	Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
		61%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		61%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		61%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		60%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		58%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		57%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		54%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		53%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

What Health Education Specialists Do

Health educators and community health workers educate people about the availability of healthcare services.

Health education specialists teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop strategies to improve the well-being of individuals and communities.

Duties

Health education specialists typically do the following:

Assess the health needs of individuals and communities
Develop programs, materials, and events to teach people about health topics, such as managing existing conditions
Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and educational materials
Help people find health services or information
Provide training programs for community health workers or other healthcare providers
Supervise staff who implement health education programs
Collect and analyze data to learn about a particular community and improve programs and services
Advocate for improved health resources and policies that promote health

Health education specialists have different duties depending on where they work. The following are descriptions of duties for health education specialists, by work setting:

In healthcare facilities, health education specialists may work one-on-one with patients or their families. They teach patients about their diagnoses and treatment options. They also lead efforts to develop and administer surveys for identifying health concerns in the community and to develop programs that meet those needs. For example, they may help to organize blood-pressure screenings or classes on proper installation of car seats. Health education specialists also create programs to train medical staff to interact more effectively with patients.
In nonprofits, health education specialists create programs and materials about health issues in the community they serve. They help organizations obtain funding, such as through grants for promoting health and disease awareness. They also educate policymakers about ways to improve public health. In nonprofits that focus on a particular disease or audience, health education specialists tailor programs to meet those needs.
In public health departments, health education specialists develop public health campaigns on topics such as emergency preparedness, immunizations, or proper nutrition. They also develop materials for use in the community and by public health officials. Some health education specialists collaborate with other workers, such as on statewide or local committees, to create public policies on health and wellness topics. They may also oversee grants and grant-funded programs to improve the public health.

Health education specialists create workplace programs or suggest modifications that focus on wellness. 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.

For information about workers who promote wellness and coordinate care for different populations, see the profile on community health workers. For information about workers who teach health classes in middle and high schools, see the profiles on middle school teachers and high school teachers.

Work Environment

Health education specialists held about 60,400 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of health education specialists were as follows:

Government	26%
Ambulatory healthcare services	17
Hospitals; state, local, and private	17
Social assistance	9
Educational services; state, local, and private	6

Although most health education specialists work in offices, they may spend a lot of time away from their desks to carry out programs or attend meetings.

Work Schedules

Most health education specialists are employed full time. They may need to work nights and weekends to attend programs or meetings.

Getting Started

Education:

52%

Bachelor's Degree

23%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

How to Become a Health Education Specialist

Health educators need at least a bachelor’s degree.

Health education specialists typically need at least bachelor’s degree. Some employers require or prefer that health education specialists be certified.

Education

Health education specialists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in health education or health promotion. Employers may accept a variety of other majors, including business, social science, and healthcare and related fields. Students may gain additional knowledge and skills through an internship.

Some health education specialist positions require candidates to have a master’s or doctoral degree. Graduate program fields of degree may include community health education, school health education, public health education, or health promotion. Applicants to these master’s degree programs generally do not need a specific undergraduate major.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Employers may require or prefer that health education specialists obtain certification, such as the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. or the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) credential offered by the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education.

Job Outlook

Employment of health education specialists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 6,600 openings for health education specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

An emphasis on promoting healthy behaviors is expected to increase demand for these specialists over the decade.

Governments, healthcare providers, and social services providers want to find ways to improve the quality of care and health outcomes while reducing costs. This objective should increase demand for health education specialists to teach people about health and wellness, which in turn helps to prevent costly diseases and medical procedures.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about health education specialists, visit

Society for Public Health Education

American Public Health Association

For more information about credentials for health education specialists, visit

Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education

National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of health education specialists.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Dietitians and Nutritionists	Dietitians and nutritionists plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to help people lead healthy lives.	Bachelor's degree	$66,450
Epidemiologists	Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury.	Master's degree	$78,520
High School Teachers	High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.	Bachelor's degree	$62,360
Middle School Teachers	Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades.	Bachelor's degree	$61,810
Postsecondary Teachers	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.	See How to Become One	$80,840
School and Career Counselors and Advisors	School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.	Master's degree	$60,140
Social and Human Service Assistants	Social and human service assistants provide client services in a variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.	High school diploma or equivalent	$38,520
Social Workers	Social workers help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.	See How to Become One	$55,350
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people on a range of issues, such as those relating to alcoholism, addictions, or depression.	Bachelor's degree	$49,710
Marriage and Family Therapists	Marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome problems with family and other relationships.	Master's degree	$56,570

Community Health Workers

What they do: