How to Become a Public Health Educator

Become a health educator
Public health educators play a significant role in healthcare, 努力在疾病发生之前进行预防,并帮助人们管理现有的健康状况. 那些以健康教育为事业的人有一个共同的热情:通过促进健康的选择和生活方式来帮助他们的社区.

虽然公共卫生教育工作者的工作可以在世界各地产生影响, 美国确实需要这类专业人士. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 到2032年,美国健康教育工作者的就业增长预计将增长7%, more than double the growth for all occupations.

If you are interested in promoting health living, you will find information on becoming a health educator below, including:


What Is a Public Health Educator?

公共卫生教育工作者——也被称为健康教育工作者或健康教育专家——是向人们传授健康知识和最佳健康生活方式的合格专业人士. 健康教育者通常首先评估一个社区的健康需求,然后通过教育和宣传来解决这些需求.

Public health educators can wear a number of titles, including:

  • Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships
  • Employee Wellness Program Administrator
  • School Nutrition Educator
  • Health Department Planner
  • Infection Prevention Manager
  • Health Education Specialist

Find more similar job titles here.


What Does a Public Health Educator Do?

公共卫生教育工作者的平均工作时间取决于他们的专业领域和工作地点. While some may work for non-profit organizations, 其他公共健康教育专家可能在医院工作, clinics, government offices, colleges or universities, insurance companies, other businesses, and more.

健康教育工作者的一般职责包括:

  • Assessing community needs for health education.
  • Serving as a health information resource.
  • Maintaining public health programs within a community.
  • 审查人口健康教育的现有研究,并根据需要更新方案.
  • 制定战略和计划,使公共卫生知识在社区内始终可用.
  • 举办讲座和论坛,教育公众健康的生活方式.
    Advocating for health and health promotion policies.

公共卫生教育工作者通过多种方式将这些责任付诸实践. For example, 健康教育工作者可能会在大流行期间发起戴口罩的宣传活动, 为高中生创建和实施电子烟和吸烟预防计划, 或者教育政客们食物沙漠对贫困社区的影响,目的是激发真正的改变.


Skills Needed to Become a Public Health Educator

成为一名公共卫生教育工作者是改变人们生活的好方法. Along with the right education and credentials, 某些特征和技能最能支持这类工作, including:

Communication Skills -公共卫生教育工作者不断与公众分享他们的知识和科学发现. 良好的沟通技巧是在该领域取得成功的关键.

Social Skills -卫生教育工作者经常接触到形形色色的社区. 扎实的社交技能和文化能力可以帮助你与更广泛的人分享知识.

Organization Skills -健康教育工作者通常有多个项目和公共项目需要管理和维护. 组织能力在这些项目的维护中是至关重要的.

Leadership Abilities -作为健康习惯的榜样和正念生活方式的倡导者, 公共卫生教育工作者在以身作则时是最有效的.

Analytical Approach -公共卫生教育工作者是科学和批判性思维的倡导者,以帮助支持健康的生活决定. 能够分析地处理这些程序可以确保适当的协议是合理的.


Steps to Becoming a Public Health Educator

Here is the typical path for how to be a health educator.


Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree

Most, if not all, 健康教育工作者的就业机会要求至少有四年的公共卫生学士学位. 你也可以选择一门辅修来补充你的学士学位, such as healthcare administration or gerontology.

To become a health educator, most will earn a bachelor's degree in public health to attain an entry-level position, but to advance their careers and earning potential, many will continue to graduate school to earn a masters in public health. (公共卫生硕士也是医疗保健专业人员的一个很好的选择, social services, government, 甚至是执法人员,他们想在简历上加上公共卫生经验,以扩大他们的职业机会.)


Step 2: Seek Hands-On Experience

通常需要在学士或硕士公共卫生项目, 实习和实地机会让有抱负的公共卫生教育工作者在开始职业生涯之前获得必要的经验.


Step 3: Become a Certified Health Education Specialist

After gaining experience and earning a degree in public health, it is time to put your skills to the test. 虽然成为一名公共卫生教育者并不总是需要认证, 获得认证将帮助你在其他求职者中脱颖而出,并且可能是某些职位的要求. How to become a certified health educator? You must pass the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.


Step 4: Let the Job Hunt Begin

Once you have accomplished the necessary education, experience, and credentials, let the job hunt begin. 不同地区的各种组织都受益于健康教育工作者, the job prospects in the field are optimistic and promising.


Step 5: Maximize Health-Related Opportunities

随着我们继续了解更多有关我们健康的最佳做法,公共卫生领域正在不断扩大. 公共卫生教育工作者应通过参加继续教育来保持他们对健康促进战略的了解, attending seminars, volunteering, and speaking at community forums. 作为一名积极主动的健康教育者,是打造一份强有力的公共卫生专业简历和最大化职业发展机会的关键一步.


Begin a Career in Public Health Education with GMercyU!

公共卫生教育是一个理想的职业选择,对于那些想与他人分享他们对健康生活的热爱的人来说. Start by earning a Bachelor of Public Health degree at GMercyU. Already have a bachelor’s degree? Advance your career in the field of public health with a Master of Public Health. GMercyU的任何一个学位都会让你准备好开始一个有价值和充实的职业生涯,改善你的生活.