HESPA III
What are the HESPA III (2025) Takeaways? The health education profession is entering an important transition period with several key updates related to the Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis 2025 (HESPA III 2025) certification exams, and contin- uing education. Most notably, the profession now recognizes Nine Areas of Responsibility, reflecting the updated competency framework established through HESPA III. These revisions are designed to better align professional practice, academic preparation, and continuing education with the evolving needs of the field.
I. ASSESSMENT II. PLANNING III. IMPLEMENTATION IV. EVALUATION
V. RESEARCH VI. ADVOCACY VII. COMMUNICATIONS VIII. ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT IX. ETHICS, LEADERSHIP, AND PROFESSIONALISM To support professionals, educators, and academic programs in understanding the updated framework, the HESPA III publication is available for purchase in both hard copy and eBook formats. The framework serves as an important resource for curriculum planning, exam preparation, and professional development.
THE NINE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Changes to the CHES® and MCHES® Examinations Candidates preparing for certification should also note that Fall 2026 will be thefinal testing administration based on HESPA II competencies. Beginning in Spring 2027, both the CHES® and MCHES® examinations will transition to the HESPA III framework. In addition to the updated content outline, both examinations will move to a 175-question format. To assist candidates during this transition, a new companion guide and test preparation app are currently in development and are anticipated for release in November 2026. These resources are intended to provide updated study support aligned with the revised Areas of Responsibility and Competencies. Changes to Continuing Education HESPA III isn’t only an exam content update, but it also influences continuing education (CE). NCHEC’s CE providers are already beginning to shift offerings to align with the updated Areas of Responsibility, and this will happen in phases, so the field has time to adjust. By 2027, CE is expected to be fully aligned under HESPA III, helping create consistency across professional preparation, CE, and the CHES® and MCHES® exams. NCHEC’s CE providers are also preparing for implementation. Beginning in 2027, providers will begin aligning CE activities and offerings with the HESPA III framework to ensure consistency across professional development opportunities and certification maintenance requirements.
These updates represent an important step forward in strengthening the profession’s competency-based foundation and ensuring that credentialed health education specialists remain prepared to address current and emerging public health challenges.
A Competency-Based Framework for Health Education Specialists - 2025 is available for purchase in the NCHEC bookstore in book print and ebook formats.
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