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From:
Chris Hafner-Eaton <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 26 May 2000 09:57:29 -0700
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To all who responded to my CHES post...I'm posting this because of the high
level of interest and because I believe it is relevant to the credentialling
discussion...

CHES is granted by the NCHEC (National Commission on Health Education
Credentialling 944 Marcon Blvd. St310, Alentown PA 18103  or call
1-888-624-3248).  It began in the mid 1980s (around the same time as the
IBCLC credential), when I was in my Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
MPH program at UCLA.  At that point, the faculty at UCLA considered it to be
an elitist move to try to lock out professionals with long time experience,
but no advanced degrees, from the field.  Unfortunately, I bought into this
fully, and didn't get grandmothered into the credential--I later had to sit
for the exam (a similar style board exam to the IBCLC).  After completing my
PhD in Health Services Research and Policy Analysis also from UCLA, I took a
tenure track position at OSU (which wanted faculty to have the CHES because
one member was on the NCHEC board).  So, I sat for the exam and passed.
I've since quit that job, but I'm glad I have the credential and will not it
lapse because it does carry weight in public health and in educational
fields.  It appears to be relatively unheard of in lactation circles though;
time will tell.

It is a similar set of requirements in terms of requiring BOTH education and
experience in the field (a relatively huge number if I recall).  There is a
stagered education vs experience provision to not penalize those who have
"worked their way up" but without Master's level or above degrees.   The
exam is MUCH broader than the IBCLC exam in that one needs to know about
general theory and practice of public health education in the community,
schools, one-on-one, mass media, etc. However, once certified, it would be
easy for an IBCLC to maintain. They require 75 hours of continuing ed over a
5 year period--much of which can overlap with the IBCLC.  In fact, I have an
easier time meeting my IBCLC credits and having them count as CHES, than the
other way around.  This is because almost all IBCLC CERPS are health
education related, but not all CHES CEs are lactation related.  Does that
make sense?  That is not to say it is difficult to fulfill the 75--there are
many opportunities by mail, at conferences, etc.  At the annual Am Public
Health Association conference alone, I rack up 25-30 hours of CHES, but many
folks do it solely by mail.

I do not sit on their board, so I'm not trying to plug this for that reason.
I do think there is a valid overlap and practice enrichement with both
credentials.  I am seeing more and more IBCLCs with MPH or MN degrees and I
think these folks could very easily turn around and become CHES certified.
Those with years of experience might look into it because of their
experience trade-off provision (not very common in certification programs).

I hope this helps and is clear.

Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC    [log in to unmask]
mom, wife, educator, lactation consultant, researcher, scientist, author,
organic gardener, photographer, lapidary creator, lousy cleaner.


----------
>From: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: CHES credential
>Date: Fri, May 26, 2000, 5:36 AM
>

> Hi Chris--
>
> I always enjoy your posts on LactNet!!
>
> What is a Certified Health Education Specialist?? Is it a masters credential
> or a certificate? What schools/programs provide this type of credential.
>
> My friend and I are both RN/BSNs who became certified first as childbirth
> educators then as IBCLCs. We both went on for MS, mine in Nursing and hers in
> Education. Both of us want to **TEACH**!! (whether patients, or nursing/med
> students) I also hold a Post Master's Certificate in Nursing Ed.
>
> If you have time, I would be very interested in info on the CHES credential.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kathy in NJ IBCLC RN C (Maternal-infant), APN C (Family Nurse Practitioner)
>  PhD student hoping to study labor and lactation issues
>

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