North Carolina Board of Registry for Health Education, Inc.
P.O. Box 15375
Winston-Salem, NC 27113-0375
Memorandum
To: Registered Health Educators
From: Alice Schenall, RHEd, President
North Carolina Board of Registry, Inc.
Subject: Status of the North Carolina Board of Registry for Health Education
Date: June 25, 2010
In June of 1980, the first health educators were registered in North Carolina. The North Carolina Board of Registry for Health Education was established to provide a registration process through which professionals with a health education degree could establish their competency in health education by maintaining continuing education in order to stay abreast of the profession. From the beginning, the Board of Registry has registered more than 500 health educators. In fact, NC was the first state in the country to initiate a credentialing process for health educators. We have a thirty-year history of which to be proud!
In the past three years the Board has thoroughly examined the purpose of the Registry and the registration process. Through regular and special meetings the Board has sought to clarify what the RHEd credential should mean to Registered Health Educators and what infrastructure was needed to support the Board and its responsibilities and activities.
There have been major changes in the profession of health education since 1980, including the preparation of health educators, the tremendous expansion of institutions which offer health education degrees, the evolution of the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential, and the unveiling of the new MCHES credential (advanced-level CHES). After much research and consultation it has become clear to the Board that the primary purpose of the Registry is now being met by other organizations such as the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC).
Recently, the process of identifying academic programs and degrees that comprise the core courses in health education has become more complicated and difficult. The names currently applied to health education coursework are varied and broad and no longer reveal the exact content of the course. Analyzing transcripts and making a fair and accurate determination of the eligibility of applicants have become increasingly challenging, requiring more manpower and resources.
At its meeting on June 4, 2010, after many months of careful discussion, debate and deliberation regarding various options, the Board reached the difficult decision to dissolve the North Carolina Board of Registry for Health Education, Inc. This was met with mixed emotions by board members, some of whom have been registered from the Registry’s inception. Therefore, the time to end the Board of Registry will be effective February 28, 2011. Currently Registered Health Educators may continue to use the RHEd credential until that date.
The Board will continue to meet to plan a smooth and responsible transition and exit strategy and will keep RHEds informed. In the meantime, if you have questions, you may contact me by e-mail alice.schenall@arealahec.org or at 252-972-6958 or Gretchen Bayne, Registrar, by e-mail gbayne@wfubmc.edu or at 336-713-8002.
The Board thanks you for your support over the years and for your commitment to maintaining high professional standards in health education by being a Registered Health Educator. Wishing you well in your continued professional development and in advancing the profession of health education!