Recertification

Recertifying as a Community Health Worker (CHW) is vital for building and maintaining trust within the communities served. By maintaining active certification, CHWs demonstrate a commitment to high standards of care and remain current with the latest practices. This dedication strengthens credibility with both community members and organizations, ensuring that trust remains at the heart of what makes CHWs essential.

The Renewal Process

Certification with the NCCHWA remains active for 3 years. To renew a certification, a specific number of Contact Hours must be completed.
"Contact Hours" are equivalent to the actual time spent committed to an approved activity. Example: Attending an Advocacy Coalition Meeting with NCCHWA for 1 hour earns 1 contact hour.
Submission Deadline: To be eligible for recertification, all hours and the formal application must be submitted within 60 days of the certification expiration date.

Recertification requires a combination of a minimum of 5 Contact Hours  in each of these categories.

Category I

Traditional Education

Definition

Planned, organized learning acts designed to maintain, improve, or expand knowledge and skills for the CHW to develop new knowledge and skills relevant to the C3 Project CHW Roles.

Examples

Trainings or webinars that build your skills and capacity as a CHW based on the C3 Project CHW Roles and Competencies Review Checklist.

Attendance at NC CHW Summit

Category II

Lived Experience & On the Job Training

Definition

Personal knowledge about the world is gained through direct, first-hand involvement in everyday events rather than through representations constructed by other people. It is also defined as the experiences of people on whom a social issue or combination of issues has had a direct impact.

Examples

Carrying out a hands on/lived experience that builds your skills and capacity as a CHW based on the C3 Project CHW Roles and Competencies Review Checklist.