| Course | HLTH 6005 Introduction to Health and Wellness Education Profession |
|---|---|
| Week | Week 3 |
| Paper type | Credential brief |
| Length | About 740 words, 5 pages |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Walden University |
| Program | MS in Health Education and Promotion |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for HLTH 6005 Week 3
The CHES Credential in One Brief: Who Is Eligible, What NCHEC Asks at Each Stage of the April 2027 Cycle, How the Credential Is Kept for Five Years and Where Every Figure Came From
Student Name
Walden University
HLTH 6005: Introduction to Health and Wellness Education Profession
Instructor Name
Month Day, Year
The CHES Credential in One Brief: Who Is Eligible, What NCHEC Asks at Each Stage of the April 2027 Cycle, How the Credential Is Kept for Five Years and Where Every Figure Came From
What the Credential Is
The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential is a voluntary national certification for health education specialists, issued by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). NCHEC also issues the MCHES, or Master Certified Health Education Specialist, for experienced practitioners. Both are earned by examination and kept current through continuing education. All figures below were retrieved from NCHEC's website on October 7, 2026; fees and dates change, so a reader should confirm them before applying.
Eligibility
NCHEC states that eligibility to sit for the CHES examination "is based exclusively on academic qualifications" (National Commission for Health Education Credentialing [NCHEC], n.d.-b). An applicant must hold a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution and meet one of two conditions:
1. A transcript showing a major explicitly in health education, such as community health education, public health education or school health education.
2. A transcript showing at least 25 semester credits, or 37 quarter hours, with a grade of C or better, in coursework addressing the profession's areas of responsibility.
For applicants using the second route, NCHEC offers guidance: at least 12 semester credits should come from process courses aligned with the areas of responsibility, no more than 9 from topic-focused courses and no more than 6 from other courses (NCHEC, n.d.-b). Applicants who are unsure can use an optional prescreening service before applying.
Application and Examination
The examination is offered twice a year. For the April 2027 cycle, registration runs from November 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027, and the examination window is April 22 to May 1, 2027 (NCHEC, n.d.-c).
The student fee applies only to applicants currently enrolled in 9 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter hours, at the time of application (NCHEC, n.d.-c). A student completing a master's degree who registers in the first month saves $135 compared with registering in the final month.
A reader preparing for the April 2027 window should note a change in content. NCHEC reports that the 2025 practice analysis, known as HESPA III 2025, identified nine areas of responsibility and will form the basis of the CHES and MCHES examinations beginning in 2027, replacing the eight areas from the 2020 analysis (NCHEC, n.d.-d). Study materials built on the older framework may not match the new examination.
Table 1
CHES Examination Fees for the April 2027 Cycle
| Registration period | Nonstudent fee | Student fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Early, November 1 to 30, 2026 | $300 | $250 | |
| Regular, December 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027 | $360 | $310 | |
| Late, February 1 to 28, 2027 | $435 | $385 | |
Source: NCHEC (n.d.-c). Fees include a $100 nonrefundable processing fee for applicants who are found ineligible or who withdraw.
Keeping the Credential
CHES certification runs in five-year cycles. To recertify, a CHES must earn 75 continuing education contact hours (CECH) in each cycle (NCHEC, n.d.-a):
1. At least 45 must be Category I hours, from activities preapproved by NCHEC and reported by the provider.
2. No more than 30 may be Category II hours, from activities related to the areas of responsibility but not preapproved, claimed by the specialist.
3. Five of the 75 must be continuing competency hours, earned either through a work performance assessment by a supervisor or client or through a preapproved Category I activity designated for competency.
A CHES who earns more than 75 hours in a cycle may carry up to 15 Category I hours into the next cycle (NCHEC, n.d.-a). A CHES who cannot earn enough hours may recertify by examination instead.
The Advanced Credential
The MCHES examination has both academic and experience requirements. A CHES qualifies after at least five continuous years in active status. A person who is not a CHES, or has held it for fewer than five years, needs a master's degree or higher with health education coursework and five years of documented work experience as a health education specialist; volunteer experience does not count (NCHEC, n.d.-e).
What a Reader Should Do This Month
A graduate student planning to sit in April 2027 should confirm eligibility now, using prescreening if the transcript is not explicitly in health education, and register during the early period in November to take the lowest fee. Study plans should follow the HESPA III 2025 areas of responsibility.
References
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. (n.d.-a). CHES recertification. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://www.nchec.org/ches-recertification
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. (n.d.-b). CHES exam eligibility. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://www.nchec.org/ches-exam-eligibility
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. (n.d.-c). CHES schedule and fees. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://www.nchec.org/ches-schedule-fees
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. (n.d.-d). Responsibilities and competencies. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://www.nchec.org/responsibilities--competencies
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. (n.d.-e). MCHES exam eligibility. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://www.nchec.org/mches-exam-eligibility
What the HLTH 6005 Week 3 instructions ask for
The third week asks students to convert a credential's published requirements into a short, practical brief. The prompt expects the issuing body named at the start, followed by eligibility, application and examination, and maintenance or recertification. Every requirement should be stated as the certifying body states it, without rounding or paraphrase that changes its meaning. Fees and dates should carry a citation and a retrieval date, because they change from cycle to cycle. Instructors look for a reader-oriented document: headings, short paragraphs and, where useful, a table, written for someone deciding what to do rather than studying the history of the credential. Many prompts also ask students to note anything a candidate should watch for, such as a change in the examination's content. A brief does not argue for or against certification; that belongs to a later assignment. Sources should be the credentialing body's own pages.
How the HLTH 6005 Week 3 example is put together
The brief opens by naming CHES and MCHES and the commission that issues them, with the retrieval date. The eligibility section quotes that eligibility rests on academic qualifications and lists the two routes, adding the commission's guidance on process, topic and other courses and the optional prescreening service. The application section gives the April 2027 registration and examination windows and a three-row fee table, then explains the student fee condition and the saving from early registration. A paragraph warns that the 2025 practice analysis will shape the 2027 examination. The maintenance section lists the three components of the 75-hour renewal requirement, the 15-hour rollover and recertification by examination. A short section covers MCHES routes for CHES holders and others. The brief closes with three actions a graduate student should take this month.
Where the marks sit in the HLTH 6005 Week 3 rubric
Credential briefs are usually graded on accuracy, completeness, usability and sourcing. Accuracy is checked against the credentialing body's pages, so a misstated credit count, fee or renewal rule costs credit directly. Completeness means covering eligibility, application, examination and maintenance, along with the advanced credential if the prompt mentions it. Usability rewards headings, short paragraphs and a table for figures that a reader would otherwise have to hunt for. Sourcing is commonly its own criterion: each figure should be traceable to a specific page, with a retrieval date because fees and dates change. Noting an upcoming change in examination content demonstrates attention to current information. The brief should stay descriptive rather than argumentative. APA mechanics include several undated pages from one organization with letter suffixes and retrieval dates.
HLTH 6005 Week 3 help from the desk
Credential briefs most often lose marks for figures that cannot be traced, such as a fee quoted from a classmate or an old study guide. Another frequent problem is paraphrasing eligibility in a way that changes it, for example saying any public health degree qualifies when the rule requires a health education major or specific coursework. Students also forget recertification, which is half of what a credential costs over a career. Before submitting, open each page you cite and check every number against it. Add a retrieval date to each reference. Use a table for fees and dates. Include renewal requirements and any change in examination content. End with steps a reader could take this month. A custom brief can cover a different credential, such as the community health worker certification in your state or the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.
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More HLTH 6005 papers and MS in Health Education and Promotion samples
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- HLTH 6005 Week 7: Scope of Practice Analysis
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- HLTH 6005 Week 10: Professional Development Plan
- HLTH 6005 Week 11: Professional Identity Synthesis
HLTH 6005 Week 3 questions, answered
Where can I find a free HLTH 6005 Week 3 sample paper?
A complete Week 3 brief on the CHES credential, covering eligibility, the April 2027 fees and recertification with five dated NCHEC sources, can be read here in full.
Who is eligible for the CHES exam in the HLTH 6005 Week 3 example?
Applicants need a bachelor's or higher degree plus either a major explicitly in health education or at least 25 semester credits of coursework addressing the areas of responsibility.
How much does the CHES exam cost?
For the April 2027 cycle, fees run from $250 for students registering early to $435 for nonstudents registering late, including a $100 nonrefundable portion if withdrawn or ineligible.
How is the CHES credential renewed?
By earning 75 continuing education hours every five years, at least 45 in preapproved Category I activities, no more than 30 in Category II and 5 in continuing competency.
What changes in the CHES exam in 2027?
Examinations from 2027 will be based on the HESPA III 2025 practice analysis, which identifies nine areas of responsibility instead of the eight used since 2022.