Community Health Worker

Program Overview

Do you want to make a difference in the community?

What is a CHW?

A Community Health Worker (CHW) is defined by the American Public Health Association as “a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.”

Work Environment

Community Health Workers work collaboratively with patients to help them access essential community resources and resolve challenges they may face in the community. They may work in various settings like community health centers, non-profit organizations, public health clinics, private clinics, public housing organizations, hospitals, client’s homes, faith-based organizations, employer or sponsoring agencies, and etc.

Job Titles

Community Health Workers have many titles, depending on where they work, who they work for and what they do. In Ohio, CHWs are known by many titles which include but are not limited to:

Community Health Worker
Community Care Coordinator (Connector)
Community Health Advisor (Advocate, Educator, Promoter)
Community Resource Navigation Specialist
Community Health Representative
Community Integrator (Navigator)
Health Coach (Navigator)
Home Visitor
Lifestyle Change Worker
Maternal/Infant Health Outreach Specialist
Neighborhood Health Advisor
Outreach Worker/Specialist
Patient Navigator
Peer Counselor/Educator

Career Outlook

The overall job outlook for Community Health Workers is positive with continued growth.

The U.S. pay range for a Community Health Worker is $30,440 - $70,720.00 with Median Wages (2021) of $22.40 hourly, and $46,590 as the average annually (Source: National Center for O*NET Development. Ohio Wages: 21-1094.00 - Community Health Workers. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved April 19, 2022 from onetonline.org).

Certification Requirements

In order to obtain certification, students must complete 106 hours of classroom training, 130 hours of clinical/field service work, pass a successful background check clearance and complete an online Ohio Board of Nursing application ($35 fee). The background check fee and application fee is not included in program cost. The classroom training may be offered during the day, in the evenings or even on the weekends. Clinicals/field service work are available during the day mostly and limited availability in the evenings and weekends.

Target Audience

If you want to educate people about the importance and availability of healthcare services and work directly with people to address barriers to care, then you may want to be a Community Health Worker. Certification can help you find a career or get a promotion. Register for the next Community Health Worker class at Tri-C.

Refund Policy

A 100% refund is given if a completed withdrawal request is received before the class begins for open enrollment courses provided that you have not opened an account with our background check vendor, American Databank - Complio. In the event that you have opened an American Databank - Complio account, and request a withdrawal from the class before the first day of class, then only a 90% refund is given.

No refund is given after the class begins.

Earn As You Learn: Career Opportunities