Licensure/Certification Certification as a school health teacher follows the state teacher certification requirements. If a health education degree is not from a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) approved college program, alternative teaching certification programs are available. National certification is voluntary. Graduates of health education programs are eligible to take a certifying exam offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. To be eligible for the certification examination, the candidate must hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited institution with a major in health education, community/public health, school health education, or another related field. Undergraduate students who show proof of anticipated graduation within six months are also eligible to sit for the exam. Once the degree is completed and the exam passed, the CHES designation can be used. Certification renewal is required every year along with a submission of the continuing education hours completed that year. Recertification occurs every five years, at which time all of the required continuing education hours are due. State certification is also voluntary. The Florida Association of Professional Health Educators is responsible for registration and certification of health educators at the state level. Salary The salary depends on the location and type of health education provided. The average hourly wage for a health educator in Florida was $19.47 in 2006. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, on average, health educators earn $20.89/hour (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211091.html). Health educators with master's or doctoral degrees may earn more depending on the experience and type of employment setting. Educational Programs Certificate University of North Florida Bachelor's Degree Florida International University Florida State University University of Florida University of North Florida University of West Florida Master's Degree Florida International University Florida State University Nova Southeastern University University of Florida University of Miami University of North Florida University of South Florida University of West Florida Doctor of Philosophy University of Florida University of South Florida Professional Associations American Association for Health Education American Public Health Association American School Health Association

Health educators provide information that may prevent diseases and/or promote health to educate the public and targeted populations on optimizing individual and public health. They focus largely on improvement of individual lifestyles and health behaviors, which include nutrition, exercise, smoking, stress, substance abuse, accidents, pollution, teenage pregnancy, and AIDS.

Health educators begin the educational process with a needs assessment of the individual or community, followed by planning, implementation, dissemination, and evaluation of specific educational programs. Health educators also coordinate health education services, develop educational materials and programs, and do research. The goals of health educators are to help prevent disease and promote health by increasing knowledge, modifying attitudes, and changing behavior. Health educators must like to help people and have patience, tact, organizational skills, along with a strong interest in society and the ability to communicate with their target audience effectively.

Areas of Specialization
Health educators may specialize in the following categories: public or community health (organizing community coalitions to solve public health problems), school and college health (teaching school health education and often counseling students), patient health (working with other health care professionals in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, and wellness and health promotion (planning and managing health promotion programs for employees in work settings, health fitness centers, and hospitals).

Work Environment
Health educators work in schools and colleges, public health agencies, voluntary health agencies, social service agencies, long term care facilities, community organizations, government agencies, hospitals/clinics, wellness centers, and corporations.

Job Outlook
The number of health educators employed in Florida in 2006 was 2,256. It is projected that in 2014 there will be 2,758. This represents an annual average growth rate of 2.8 percent. The need for health educators will increase as the population and the average life expectancy increases.

Length of Training/Requirements
Health educators must earn a baccalaureate degree in health education. Public health educators and school health educators usually have a master's or doctoral degree. Training programs are available at both undergraduate and graduate levels in Florida. The undergraduate curriculum includes core courses in anatomy and physiology, human growth and development, medical terminology, personal and family health, mental and emotional health, physical fitness, epidemiology and research, community and environmental health, nutrition, substance use and abuse prevention, human sexuality, foundations of health education, health issues in different populations, methods and materials in health education, and a full-time internship. The graduate curriculum includes core courses in philosophies, theories, and principles of health education, epidemiology, advanced methods in health education, organization and administration of health education programs, research methods, program planning and evaluation procedure in health education, and an internship. On average, it takes two years to complete a master's degree and five years to complete a doctoral degree.

Advancement
Experienced health educators may advance to jobs as directors or supervisors of health education or health promotion departments and other health-related agencies. Those with an advanced degree such as an MPH can be involved in research and doctoral degree health educators can also teach in universities and be involved in research.