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What does a Health Educator do?

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Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 3 min read

A health educator is a professional who helps people learn about and make healthy choices. They work in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, community organizations, and businesses. Health educators teach people about topics such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and disease prevention. They also develop and implement health education programs.

Health Educator job duties include:

  • Plan, implement, and evaluate health education programs
  • Develop educational materials and activities
  • Train program participants and staff
  • Conduct needs assessments
  • Develop evaluation tools and collect data
  • Analyze data to determine program effectiveness
  • Write reports and grant proposals
  • Serve as a resource to community members, health care providers, and other professionals
  • Advocate for public health policies that promote wellness

Health Educator Job Requirements

Health educators typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in health education, community health, public health, or a related field. Many states also require health educators to be certified. Certification requirements vary by state, but most include completing an accredited health education program and passing a written exam. Some states also require continuing education credits to maintain certification. Health educators typically have several years of experience working in the field before becoming certified.

Health Educator Skills

  • Communication
  • Writing
  • Public Speaking
  • Research
  • Organization
  • Planning
  • Time Management
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Cultural Competency
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Facilitation

Related: Top Health Educator Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become a Health Educator

There are many ways to become a health educator. One way is to earn a degree in health education, which can be done at the undergraduate or graduate level. Alternatively, many health educators have a background in another field such as nursing, public health, or psychology. Health educators typically need to have strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as knowledge of health promotion and education principles. Some states also require health educators to be certified.

Related: Health Educator Resume Example

Related: Health Educator Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Editorial staff

Photo of Brenna Goyette, Editor

Editor

Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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