NCCA Accreditation
The CHES® and MCHES® certification programs have met rigorous standards set by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The CHES® certification program has been NCCA accredited since 2008 and the MCHES® certification program since 2013. The NCCA was developed, in order to “ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public through the accreditation of a variety of certification programs/organizations that assess professional competence”. The NCCA standards require demonstration of a valid and reliable process for the following:
- Development of the certification program
- Program implementation
- Program maintenance
- Governance of program rules and regulations
The NCHEC leadership has made a commitment to align with NCCA standards in the development and ongoing implementation of the health education certifications specifically by conducting a job/practice analysis periodically. The CHES® and MCHES® credentials are among the over 315 NCCA accredited programs for 130 organizations including but not limited to:
- Nursing
- Counseling
- Respiratory therapy
International Accreditation
From 2015 to 2025, the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) maintained accreditation as a Personnel Certification Body by the International Accreditation Service (IAS), a leading global accreditation authority. This accreditation served as a global benchmark for excellence in personnel certification, affirming NCHEC’s dedication to high-quality, reliable, and consistent credentialing practices.
IAS accreditation provided valuable external validation that NCHEC’s policies and procedures aligned with rigorous international standards for certifying agencies. Throughout our years of recognition, NCHEC remained committed to upholding these standards in the service of our profession and the public good. In 2025, following a strategic review, NCHEC’s Board of Commissioners made the decision to conclude our formal participation in IAS accreditation. This decision reflects our evolving priorities and a continued focus on advancing certification programs that are responsive to the dynamic needs of the health education and promotion workforce within the United States.
NCHEC remains firmly committed to maintaining the highest levels of integrity, quality, and relevance in our CHES® and MCHES® certification programs. As we move forward, we will continue to uphold nationally recognized standards of excellence that support and strengthen the professional practice of health education specialists across all settings.