Tyler James, Ph.D., MCHES, postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Family Medicine, has received the designation of ‘High Scorer’ on the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) organization’s Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) exam.
The MCHES credential covers advanced-level competencies for health education specialists, specifically in the areas of leadership, management, and evaluation and research. In early August, the NCHEC announced that he received the highest score of all examinees who took the test in the month of April.
“I think this (credential) is important because just as a medical provider doesn’t want a non-provider who doesn’t understand clinical care workflow or processes making large recommendations, practicing health education specialists need to know that the recommendations they are receiving are relevant and implementable,” James said.
The new credential marks a continuation of learning for him. In 2017, he obtained the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) designation as a doctoral student at the University of Florida. He received his Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance, concentrating in Health Behavior, in the summer of 2021.
James, whose research focuses on applying quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods to questions of healthcare access, use and delivery among people with disabilities, said that the MCHES credential will benefit the research that he conducts.
“My early experiences in health education and promotion taught me quickly that research doesn’t matter if it’s doesn’t have an application to practice,” he said. “First, (the credential) lends me credibility among people who work in health education and promotion practice. Seeing that I have this credential lets them know that I understand the models and frameworks and methods they use in practice, and that I have, at minimum, academic background in their field.”
NCHEC officials recognize CHES® and MCHES® high scorers in their publications for individuals’ commitment to the health education and promotion profession. James is featured in the organization’s fall newsletter, which can be found here.
Established in 1988, the NCHEC is the only accredited U.S. certifying agency for the health education/promotion industry.
