Community Health Worker (CHW) State Certification
What is CHW state certification?
CHW state certification was established by a bill (R380-350. Community Health Worker Certification). This bill provides the state certification and outlines certification requirements.
As you consider becoming a state certified CHW, please review the requirements. State certification is completely voluntary; it is not required to work as a CHW in Utah. Some employers, however, may require state certification to work as a CHW in their organization.
How to become a State Certified Community Health Worker
To become a State Certified CHW, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Complete the Utah Core Skills Training program
- Verify 300 hours of work experience serving communities
- Submit an application with required documentation
- Agree to abide by national and state standards of practice and ethics for community health workers
- Pay the $50.00 application fee
Required documentation to verify community involvement
To verify the 300 hours of community involvement, you must submit a portfolio (in PDF format) with the application. The following documents make up the portfolio and are required to apply for State Certification:
- Cover letter
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- This should include applicant’s full name and current contact information
2. Certificate of Completion of the Utah Core Skills Training program
3. Resume or curriculum vitae
4. Two (2) additional items of the following approved documents
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- Three (3) letters of recommendation;
- A summary sheet of research projects;
- A list and description of publications, presentations, reports, or projects authored by the applicant;
- A statement of professional experience by the applicant;
- A list of achievements and awards received by the applicant;
- A recent performance evaluation
You will be required to upload these documents with the application when prompted.
Fees
Application fee is $50.00 plus $2.00 handling fee.
Other requirements
- Adhere to the CHW Code of Ethics as outlined in SB104. (CHW Code of Ethics opens in a new tab)
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Re-certify every two (2) years with 15 continuing education units (CEUs) and pay $25.00 renewal fee.
What is a community health worker (CHW)?
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a trusted member of the community they serve. They are trained to provide education, guidance, and social support. CHWs also act as a liaison between health care providers, social services and other service providers.
CHWs share a connection with their communities because they understand the culture and language where they live and work. This makes them well-equipped to help people overcome barriers to healthcare and other services.
CHWs can hold many titles—promotor(a), patient advocate, health navigator, community health representative, peer health promoters, and peer health educators. CHWs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, libraries, and community-based organizations. They also work for government agencies or non-profit organizations.
For more information about CHWs and what CHWs do, visit the Utah Community Health Worker Association (UCHWA) at opens in a new tabhttps://www.uchwa.org/.
“A community health worker is an individual that works to improve social determinants of health and acts as an intermediary between a community and health services or social services. These public health professionals have the goal of: a) facilitating access to services b) improving the quality and cultural competence of service delivery; and c) increasing the health knowledge and self-sufficiency of an individual or a community through outreach, capacity building, community education, informal counseling, social support, and other similar activities.”
How to apply for a CHW State Certification
Please complete the online application form. To access the application, it will require that you create an account with a username and password.
Instructions to apply:
- Use a reliable email and contact information as this will be where we send the re-certification reminder when your certificate is about to expire.
- Be sure you have completed CHW Core Skills Training Program and have your Certificate ID.
- Have your verification documents ready to upload after filling out the application.