Would you like to become a public health educator? Public health educators play an important role in the public health sector by creating programs that prevent disease and help encourage the community to live a healthy life. Educators can play a role in teaching members of the community to make healthier lifestyle decisions or teach people how to live an active life. In addition to working directly with the public, an educator may also work in other settings like community centers and universities where they will conduct research to identify the risks in public health that should be targeted with the next initiative. If this sounds like a career that suits you, read on and learn about the steps to become a public health educator.
Getting the Formal Training You Need
If you would like to become a health educator, you need to start the process by enrolling in an accredited Bachelor’s degree program. Most employers offering entry-level public health educator positions will require candidates to possess a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or a related field. Other employers in public health who are looking for an upper-level educator that will have more responsibilities may require that you have a Master’s or MBA. This is a very common requirement if you are pursuing a job with a state or federal public agency. You should consider which path you would like to take to ensure that you have the educational background you need to be a health education specialist.
Getting Certified to Give Yourself Leverage
Some employers will prefer candidates be certified by a credentialing agency like the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. By taking the time to earn your Health Education certification through the commission, you can show employers that you have met qualifications of the agency and passed a series of examinations to show that you are a competent health educator. To get certified, you must submit an application to the NCHEC and all of the documentation that proves that you meet the credentialing requirements. By taking the time to earn this credential, you can show that you meet the national standard of practice to work in public health.
Getting Experience in Public Health
The next step to becoming an independent public health educator is to look for your first position in the field. You may need to work towards getting an entry-level position if you are not certified and if you do not possess an advanced degree. There are entry-level and training positions to choose from in health education with universities, health clinics, community centers, local government agencies and state agencies. Be sure that you look at the criteria for employment before you start sending out your resume.
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With government initiatives changing the healthcare sector, the demand for public health educators is on the rise. In fact, public health educator makes the list as the top 25 most in-demand jobs within the public health sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for health educators is projected to grow by 21 percent by the year 2022, which is much higher than the average growth reported in other industries. Now that you know that it is a stable field to enter, it is time to work towards your goal to become public health educator by finding the best degree program.