If you need help studying for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free CHES practice exam!
What’s on the CHES Exam?
How to Register
CHES Exam Scores
Retaking the Exam
FAQs
CHES Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the CHES exam, you need to have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution. You’ll also have to meet one of the requirements below:
- You have to major in health education.
- You have to have at least 25 semester hours or 37 quarter hours of coursework that specifically covers the Eight Areas of Responsibility and Competency for Health Education Specialists.
If you meet these requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the CHES Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 165 multiple-choice questions total, but only 150 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 20 unscored questions on the CHES exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
The exam is split into the following eight sections:
- Assessment of Needs and Capacity (17%)
- Planning (14%)
- Implementation (15%)
- Evaluation and Research (12%)
- Advocacy (12%)
- Communication (12%)
- Leadership and Management (6%)
- Ethics and Professionalism (12%)
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam.
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application via NCHEC’s website, or you can fill one out and send it through the mail. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
The fees for the CHST exam depend on your student status and time of registration:
CHES Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
CHES Exam Scores
The exam is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the exam is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test during the next available testing window.
FAQs
Is the CHES exam difficult?
The exam is considered to be somewhat difficult.
How many questions are on the CHES exam?
The exam contains 165 questions.
What is the time limit for the CHES exam?
The time limit is 3 hours.
How much does it cost to take the CHES exam?
The testing fee differs depending on your student status and date of registration.