Individuals interested in helping promote good health and wellness in their communities often wonder, “How do I become a public health educator?” Public health educators gain as much information as possible about health education and their communities and spend their time educating the public on important health issues. This is a position that requires a bachelor’s degree at the very least as well as experience in public health. Here is an overview of public health educators, what they do and how to become one.
What is a Public Health Educator?
A public health educator is what its title implies. They’re trained professionals who educate the public about behaviors and lifestyles that promote wellness. They collect data, evaluate health issues, and create and implement strategies to improve the health of people and communities. Public health educators also help people learn to manage existing illnesses. They act as advocates for better healthcare and improved policies that promote healthy living.
They may work independently, for a government agency or work exclusively in schools. Regardless of where they’re employed, they still have the task of educating the public on healthy living and potential health risks in the community. The current measles epidemic is an example of the type of work the public health educator performs. This individual gathers data on those who were immunized versus those that were not as well as areas where it’s become a problem and ways to remedy the situation and promote healthier living for everyone in the community.
How to I Become a Public Health Educator?
To become a public health educator, an individual must have at least a bachelor’s degree in health promotion or health education. Public health education offers various areas of specialization, including environmental health, intellectual health, social health, emotional health and physical health. The public health educator program includes coursework, clinical education and an internship to gain practical experience in the field.
Some employers may require the candidate to hold the Certified Health Education Specialist certification, which is offered through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. To be eligible for the CHES credential, the candidate must have at least a bachelor’s degree with a major in a health education-related field.
Certified Health Education Specialists with at least five years’ experience can earn the credential of Master Certified Health Education Specialist according to HumanServicesEdu.org. Depending on the employer and position, some public health educators may be required to have a graduate degree.
Career Outlook
With the increase in illnesses and communicable diseases in recent years has put a demand for more public health educators. The rising cost of healthcare has also produced a need for public health educators to help keep healthcare costs down. Health educators and community health workers should see job growth of 16 percent during the 2016-2026 decade according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Health educators earned an average annual wage of $59,660 with wages ranging from $32,030 to $98,530.
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Public health educators are valuable in any community because the public relies on them to be aware of health needs and what the public needs to do to keep the community as healthy as possible. Working as a public health educator is not just an important career but also one that can be very gratifying and rewarding.