text: Health Educator | Science & Engineering Career
  Help diabetics understand the importance of monitoring their blood-sugar levels. Create an anti-smoking commercial to prevent teens from smoking.
  Teach a class that shows new parents how to care for a baby. Design a poster that shows people the steps they can take to reduce their chances of catching the flu.
  Overview Have you ever heard the expression "Prevention is the best medicine"? Prevention is the fundamental work of all health educators. They attempt to prevent illnesses or diseases in individuals or entire communities through education about nutrition, exercise, or other habits and behaviors. Health educators present scientific information in ways that their audience can relate to, and are sensitive to cultural differences. They are the cornerstone of the public health system, improving health and saving thousands of lives by motivating changes in behavior.
  Key Requirements Ability to explain scientific ideas in everyday language, outstanding communication skills, is analytical, comfortable speaking to groups or to individuals, and sensitive to cultural differences
  Subjects to Study in High School Biology, chemistry, physics, algebra, geometry, algebra II, pre-calculus, English; if available, computer science, physiology, statistics, foreign languages, public speaking
  Read this interview to meet Kate Squire, a health educator who works to help pregnant women quit smoking.
  Read this interview to meet Frank GrayShield, a health educator for the National Institutes of Health who seeks to reduce cardiovascular disease among Native Americans and Alaskan Natives.
  A bachelor's degree is generally required for entry-level health educator positions, but some employers prefer a bachelor's degree and some related experience gained through an internship or volunteer work. A master's degree may be required for some positions and is usually required for advancement. In addition, some employers may require candidates to be Certified Health Education Specialists.
  Entry-level health educator positions generally require a bachelor's degree in health education. Over 250 colleges and universities offer bachelor's programs in health education or a similarly titled major. These programs teach students the theories of health education and develop the skills necessary to implement health education programs. Courses in psychology, human development, and a foreign language are helpful, and experience gained through an internship or other volunteer opportunities can make graduates more appealing to employers.
  Graduate health education programs are often offered under titles such as community health education, school health education, or health promotion and lead to a Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Education, or a Master of Public Health degree. Many students pursue their master's in health education after majoring or working in another related field, such as nursing or psychology. A master's degree is required for most health educator positions in public health.
  Once hired, on-the-job training for health educators varies greatly, depending on the type and size of employer. State and local public health departments and other larger offices may have a formal training program, while smaller health education offices and departments may train new employees through less formal means, such as mentoring or working with more experienced staff. Some employers may require and pay for educators to take continuing education courses to keep their skills up-to-date.
  Health educators spend much of their time working with people and must be comfortable working with both individuals and large groups. They need to be good communicators and comfortable speaking in public, as they may need to teach classes or give presentations. Health educators often work with a very diverse population, so they must be sensitive to cultural differences and open to working with people of varied backgrounds. Health educators often create new programs or materials so they should be creative and skilled writers.
  Watch this video where families enjoyed a morning of heart-healthy fun at the Ready, Set, Explore Hearts event at the Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center in York.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GTqLjoPyIk
  After assessing their audiences' needs, health educators must decide how to meet those needs. Health educators have a lot of options in putting together programs to that end. They may organize a lecture, class, demonstration or health screening, or create a video, pamphlet or brochure. Often, planning a program requires working with other people in a team or on a committee within the organization that employs them. Also, health educators must plan programs that are consistent with the goals and objectives of their employers. For example, many nonprofit organizations educate the public about just one disease or health issue and, therefore, limit their programs to cover topics related to that disease or issue.
  Although programming is a large part of their job, health educators also serve as a resource on health topics. This may include locating services, reference material, and other resources that may be useful to the community they serve, and referring individuals or groups to organizations or medical professionals.
  The basic goals and duties of health educators are the same, but their jobs vary greatly depending on the type of organization in which they work. Most health educators work in medical care settings, colleges and universities, schools, public health departments, nonprofit organizations, and private business.
  Health educators work in various environments, based on the industry in which they work. In public health, nonprofit organizations, business work sites, colleges and universities, and medical care settings, they primarily work in offices. However, they may spend a lot of time away from the office implementing and attending programs, meeting with community organizers, speaking with patients, or teaching classes. Health educators in schools spend the majority of their day in classrooms.
  Health educators generally work 40-hour weeks; however, when programs, events, or meetings are scheduled they may need to work evening or weekends.
  Companies That Hire Health Educators
  Do you have a specific question about a career as a Health Educator that isn't answered on this page? Post your question on the Science Buddies Ask an Expert Forum.
  SHAPE America: https://www.shapeamerica.org/
  Society for Public Health Education: https://www.sophe.org/
  The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.: https://www.nchec.org/
  Transforming Health, YouTube. (2013, February 11). Ready, Set, Explore... Hearts!. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Meet a Real Health Educator - Frank GrayShield AllHealthCare. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  AllHealthCare. (2009). Career Profile: Health Educator - Kate Squire. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  Sophe US, YouTube. (2010, December 22). Health Education Specialists: Promoting a Healthy World.
  You can find this page online at: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-engineering-careers/health/health-educator?class=AQVFOiVRyQEc3nv4Q_l5leSQrcSg4lMayHbSKRJpXYk13uTVRbu9YRCYACgFFqqmuQk5hJyQs98-d0PfD1fpKz0Y