Illinois Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification Program

Welcome to your one-stop resource for certification, training alignment, and employer support across Illinois.
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What is a Community Health Worker?

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trusted public health professionals who have a deep understanding of the communities they serve. They connect people to health and social services, provide education and support, and help improve care by bridging gaps in access, culture, and communication.

In Illinois, CHWs go by many titles — from outreach worker to care coordinator — but they all share the same mission: to strengthen community health from the inside out.

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What would you like to Do Today?

This site is designed to guide you through the voluntary CHW certification process and connect you to the tools and information you need, no matter your role in the CHW ecosystem.

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Community Health Worker

CHW CertificationRenew CHW CertificationContinuing EducationRecord Continuing Education Credits
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Training Programs

Training Program CertificationRenew Training Program CertificationProgram CurriculumTraining Program Toolkit
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General Resources

CHW RegistryTraining Program Registry

No matter your role, this site is your starting point

Whether you're:

  • Aspiring Community Health Workers
  • Currently practicing CHWs
  • Instructors or leaders of CHW training program

you’ll find the information and support you need to move forward. Creating an account gives you access to the CHW Certification application, tools, resources, and updates tailored to your role.

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Quick Facts

1,300+ CHWs Employed

As of 2023, over 1,300 Community Health Workers are employed across Illinois.

13% Job Growth Expected

CHW employment in Illinois is projected to grow 13% from 2023 to 2033 — faster than average.

51,030 Median Salary

The median annual wage for 
CHWs in Illinois was $51,030 as of 
May 2024.

Active in 81% of Counties

CHW programs are active in 83 of Illinois' 102 counties, with the highest concentrations in Cook and DuPage.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

No. Illinois does not have a statewide test for CHW certification. Instead, IDPH-certified CHW training programs will assess student competencies during the training program.

Right now, there are no fees to apply for CHW certification. If you choose the Certified Training Program Pathway, the program may charge a fee, but some programs are free. To renew your certification, you need to take continuing education courses. Some of these courses may have a fee.

The Certified Training Program Registry is a database of IDPH-certified CHW training programs and apprenticeships in Illinois. [You can find the Certified Training Program Registry here.] You can use this database to search by location and determine if a program is in person, online, or both. For more details about a training program, contact them directly.

 

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Our team will contact you and send more information about our program and the opportunities available to you here.

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