Health Educator

What does a Health Educator do?

Health educators work with individuals, organizations and communities to bring about behavioral and environmental changes that foster good health. They apply theories and principles of behavioral and social sciences to design, organize, implement, communicate and evaluate the effects of education programs and strategies related to health behaviors of individuals, families, organizations and communities.

What might a Health Educator do in a workday?

Health educators:

• assess the health needs of individuals or groups by collecting and analyzing information about health status, social and cultural environments, needs and interests, and available resources.
• provide individual health counseling and referrals.
• research, design and present health education programs to increase knowledge, modify attitudes and adopt healthy behaviors.
• develop educational curricula for a variety of settings and learners.
• facilitate discussion and decision-making within groups.
• serve as a resource for health information and as consultants for those requesting assistance in solving health-related problems.

Health educators may specialize according to a health concern, illness or work setting:

• Community public health educators focus on public health issues.
• School and college health educators teach health education courses and conduct health promotion campaigns.
• Patient and family health educators work primarily with other health care professionals in hospitals, clinics and health maintenance organizations.
• Work-site health educators and wellness directors plan and manage on-the-job health promotion programs.

Develop a Career as a Health Educator

Health educators may work alone, with groups of clients or with other health and human service professionals in health departments, community organizations, corporations, hospitals, schools and government agencies.

How much salary do Health Educator's make?

Annual Mean Wage
$57,630

How do I become a Health Educator?

Students interested in becoming health educators should take the most challenging high school courses available in English, science, speech and math. They should seek accredited undergraduate- (bachelor’s degree) and graduate-level programs in health education and public health.

Certified health education specialists also must pass a written exam. Special licensing is required for health educators who become classroom teachers.