Nationally Aligned Community Health Worker Certification - Center for Rural Health

Training Overview

NCHW training involves 12 days of instruction on the 11 nationally recognized CHW core competencies plus Mental Health First Aid and ACEs training. Students will utilize their provided textbook and workbook to complete assignments, take notes, and improve their understanding of the CHW role. Classes will start at 8am of the dates listed, and will end at 5pm EST. Training requires 160 total hours of dedication (100 hours of instruction, 50 hours of independent study and assignments, 10 hours of instructor coaching). To obtain certification, students should attend all 12 classes.

About CHWs

What is a Community Health Worker (CHW)?
CHWs are community members with training in health education, promotion, and social service navigation.

• A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
• A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.

What does a Community Health Worker do?

• Acts as bridge between health providers and patients
• Provides culturally appropriate health education and information
• Provides care coordination, case management, and system navigation 
• Provides coaching and social support 
• Advocates for individuals and communities 
• Builds individual and community capacity 
• Provides direct service (e.g. taking blood pressure, diabetic foot care, etc.)
• Implements individual and community assessments to determine needs and/or identify risks
• Conducts outreach, such as home visiting 

Common titles that CHWs go by

• Peer Support Specialist
• Community Health Advocate
• Community Outreach Worker
• Community Neighborhood Navigator
• Family Health Worker
• Outreach and Enrollment Worker
• Community Health Representative
• Recovery Coach
• Early Intervention Services (EIS) Worker
• Maternal Child Health Worker
• Patient Navigators
• Enrollment Specialists

Learn more about CHWs and why they're important: U.P. Community Health Town Hall Series - Community Health Workers

About NCHW Certification

What does NCHW certified mean?
NCHW certified means you have completed training in all nationally recognized core competencies:

• Communication Skills
• Interpersonal and Relationship-Building Skills
• Service Coordination and Navigation Skills
• Capacity Building Skills
• Advocacy Skills
• Education and Facilitation Skills
• Individual and Community Assessment Skills
• Outreach Skills
• Professional Skills and Conduct
• Evaluation and Research Skills
• Knowledge Base

Why train with us?
Successful completion of the program enhances your employability in the community health worker profession. Unlike other programs, the NCHW curriculum covers all 11 core competencies, plus Mental Health First Aid, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI).
This course also aligns with the standards of the C3 Project Core Competencies for Community Health Workers, as well as many state certification programs, and recognized best practices.