OVERVIEW
What is a Public Health Educator?
Public health educators teach principles and practices that promote health and wellness. Their audiences can range from small communities and towns to larger regions and even entire nations. These instructors advocate for public health, informing individuals of various field-related policies and procedures. Many of these health education specialists collaborate with local or national committees or organizations to conduct research in public health.
Public health educators work in a number of settings, including hospitals, clinics, corporate environments, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Establishing public outreach and increasing public awareness of health issues are common goals of these professionals as they aim to teach people why public health matters and how to perpetuate good public health.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Public Health Educator Do?
No matter where they work, public health educators usually perform day-to-day duties such as the following:
- Participating in or leading programs that aim to solve local or national public health issues
- Lobbying policymakers for positive change in public health law
- Creating and presenting written and multimedia material
- Training community members in public health practices and health promotion
- Educating patients on health treatment and disease prevention
- Launching wellness programs for corporate or government employees
- Working to remove the social stigma from certain diagnoses, including mental health issues like depression
- Recording and analyzing health-related data on communities and populations for future programs
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Public Health Educator?
As you prepare for a career in public health education, first decide whether you’d like to practice generally or specialize in one or more areas like occupational health or nutrition. Next, gain the education and experience that can grant you the skills and knowledge to succeed. Consider the following steps:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in public health, health education, health and human services, or a similar subject. Most universities offer a variety of health education programs, so choose the one that best suits your goals.
- Earn a relevant master’s degree to qualify for higher-level positions or to increase your earning potential. You might opt to earn an online master’s degree to better fit your schedule.
- Gain work experience as a part- or full-time employee in a health services or health education position. Doing so can help you realize which skills will serve you best for your long-term career.
- Get certified. Some—but not all—employers may require you to be certified for a public health education role. The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) offers the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) certifications. Be sure to research whether getting certified is a prerequisite for the position you hope to apply for.
Best Degrees for a Public Health Educator
Health & Nursing
Health and Human Services – B.S.
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a...
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a difference for patients in a variety of ways.
- Time: 63% of students finish this program in 24 months
- Tuition: $4,210 per 6-month term
- Courses: 35 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Epidemiology
- Community and Public Health
- Cultural Awareness
- Pathophysiology
- Healthcare Values and Ethics
- Substance Abuse Support
This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also directly working with patients who need help.
Health & Nursing
Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) – B.S.
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added...
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:
- Time: The program is designed to be completed in 1 year.
- Tuition: $5,325 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 23 total courses in this program.
- Transfers: Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Healthcare Policy and Economics
- Information Technology in Nursing Practice
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Applied Healthcare Statistics
If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.
Health & Nursing
Nursing – Leadership & Management (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S.
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for...
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for additional career opportunities.
- Time: 61% of grads finish within 23 months
- Tuition: $5,035 per 6-month term
- Courses: 15 total courses in this program
This program is ideal for current RNs who have a BSN and are ready for the next step in their education.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:
- Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
- Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
How Much Does a Public Health Educator Make?
$59,990
The income that public health educators earn varies depending on their specific field and level of expertise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary in May 2022 for health education specialists was $59,990. The lowest 10% of these educators earned less than $37,140 while the highest 10% earned more than $106,210.
What Is the Job Outlook?
7%
The BLS states that employment of health education specialists is projected to grow by 7% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Around 6,600 openings for health education specialists are projected each year on average over the decade.Demand for public health educators and community health workers should remain high as long as there is a need for individual and community health education.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Public Health Educator Need?
Public health educators typically work around other people as they research, create instructional content, share knowledge, and complete other similar tasks. As such, they should acquire and practice a variety of skills, which may include:
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Public speaking
- Teaching and coaching
- Writing skills
- Critical thinking
- Leadership
- Basic understanding of data analysis
- Knowledge of common software applications like Excel
- Empathy
- Assertiveness
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