CHW Certification Pathways

Work Experience Pathway

NOTICE - This pathway will end on [date] which is 10 years after the formal start of the CHW Certification Program. After that date, applicants will need to take another path to certification.  

Work Experience Pathway Application Details

• Work & Volunteer History
  • CHWs must show they have worked or volunteered at least 2,500 hours as a CHW in the past five years.
  • Hours can be spread out over the five years.
  • CHWs can combine hours from more than one job to meet the 2,500-hour requirement.
  • If you successfully completed a CHW basic training, you may count these training hours toward the 2,500-hour requirement.  
• Letter of Recommendation
  • This application must include at least one completed “Work Experience Pathway Recommendation for Certification Form” by a manager, instructor, or field supervisor. The person completing the form needs to indicate: 
    • The CHW core competencies the applicant used in their job. (This pathway requires at least 80% of the CHW core competencies to have been used satisfactorily in one or more jobs combined.)
    • Whether they recommend the CHW for certification. (This pathway requires at least one recommendation.) 
    • You can find a list of the core competencies here.  
• CHW Refresher Course
  • This pathway requires the CHW to complete the IDPH-approved CHW Refresher Course.
    • Access to this course will be provided once your application is reviewed.
    • Find out more details on the CHW Refresher Course here.
    • Once you are certified, this completed course will count as 20 hours of Category I continuing education credit toward the first renewal period.

Training Program Equivalence Pathway

NOTICE - This pathway will end on [date] which is two years after the formal start of the CHW Certification Program. After that date, applicants will need to take another path to certification.

Training Program Equivalence Pathway Application Details  

• CHW Basic Training Program Criteria
  • The course must have had at least a total of 80 classroom instruction hours.
  • The course must have had a field experience of at least 80 hours – or – the applicant completed at least 80 hours of supervised CHW work experience.  
• CHW Refresher Course
  • Depending on the number of hours and content of prior training, the CHW applicant may also be required to complete other training that fills gaps in required core competencies or classroom hours.
  • Gaps will be identified and shared with the applicant during the application review process.
  • Identified gaps will be filled using the IDPH-approved CHW Refresher Course, selected modules from this course, or another accredited course.  
• Letter of Recommendation
  • Applicants must include at least one completed “Recommendation for Certification Form” from a manager, instructor, or field supervisor.
  • This form will be available as part of the application.