Occupation Profile for Health Educators

opportunity | video

Promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health by assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies and environments. May also serve as a resource to assist individuals, other professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

Signficant Points

  • 5 out of 10 health educators work in health care and social assistance and an additional 2 out of 10 work in State and local government.
  • A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for entry level jobs, but many employers prefer to hire workers with a master’s degree.
  • Rapid job growth is expected, but the relatively small number of jobs in this occupation will limit the number of job openings.
 

Tasks

  • Core — Document activities and record information, such as the numbers of applications completed, presentations conducted, and persons assisted.
  • Core — Develop and present health education and promotion programs, such as training workshops, conferences, and school or community presentations.
  • Core — Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with agencies and organizations interested in public health care.
  • Core — Prepare and distribute health education materials, including reports, bulletins, and visual aids such as films, videotapes, photographs, and posters.
  • Core — Develop operational plans and policies necessary to achieve health education objectives and services.

Activities

  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.