Make a real difference! Get certified as a CHW and coordinate care for people who face barriers to good health outcomes.

How do you become a Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)?

HCAN delivers an approved training program that gives you skills to provide community-based care coordination to those most at risk for poor health outcomes. Check out our Program Brochure for more information.

Training and Certification

The CHW Certification program includes 100 hours of in-person classroom training (full attendance required), which addresses:

  • Health core competencies
  • Social services resources knowledge
  • Communication skills
  • Advocacy information
  • CPR certification
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Lifespan development
  • Basic CHW skills

The Ohio Board of Nursing also requires students to complete 130 hours of a community-based practicum at a local hospital, health care provider, or nonprofit organization. HCAN helps students secure placement and complete their practicums.

After completing classroom and practicum training, students can apply to the Ohio Board of Nursing for a certificate to practice as a CHW.

Requirements to obtain certificate from the Ohio Board of Nursing:

  • Ohio resident
  • $250 non-refundable course application fee
  • Completed physical and updated immunization, including TB testing
  • Copy of high school diploma or GED documentation
  • Copy of government-issued photo identification (to verify age of 18+ years)
  • 75 percent competency level in each skill evaluation
  • Acceptable BCI (civilian) and FBI (federal) criminal records check (not included in the cost of tuition) before participating in the community-based practicum

HCAN offers the CHW Certification Program throughout the year. Next session is starting March 17,2025 for the Spring Cohort.

Option 1: 3-Week Session

Course description: The class will meet Monday-Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm (this is didactic only).

This class is offered in the summer only.

Option 2:  13-Week Session

Course description: This class will meet 1 day a week for 13 weeks.

Wednesday Only 9:30am – 6:00pm

Option 3: 16-Week Session

Course description: This is our traditional class structure. We will meet twice a week either on Mon/Fri or Tue/Thurs for 16 weeks.

Class times varies from: Morning hours 9:00am-1:00pm

                                          Midday hours 1:30pm-5:00pm

                                          Evening hours 5:00pm-9:00pm

You can choose to get certified in CPR for $90 while you train to become a CHW. Tell us you’d like to become CPR certified in your application to participate.

Employed in the health care industry? Check with your employer to see if they will cover some (or all) of the cost of tuition.

Those who do not receive employer-sponsored tuition assistance may be eligible for Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds through the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. Please contact us to start the WIOA application process.

WIOA qualification criteria:

  • 18+ years old, eligible to work in the U.S., registered for Selective Service (if applicable)
  • Dislocated workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own
  • Youth 14-24 with special conditions, including low-income, pregnant, or a parent

There are limited scholarships available for the Community Health Worker Certification Program. Please contact Shinese Moye (contact information listed below) for more information about available scholarships.

Contribute to the HCAN CHW Certification Program Scholarship Fund, here.

The total cost of tuition for HCAN’s CHW Certification Training Program is $4,455. This includes your application fee.

We also accept cashier or company checks (but not personal checks).

Make the check out to Health Care Access Now and mail to: Health Care Access Now, 2602 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45206.

PROGRAM APPLICATION:  Online Application – Community Health Worker Certification Program

Questions?

To learn more about the Community Health Worker Certification Program please contact Shinese Moye at 513-722-5267 or smoye@healthcareaccessnow.org.