Apply for Community Health Worker Certification

A Community Health Worker is a public health worker who applies his or her unique understanding of the experience, language and culture of the populations he or she serves in order to carry out one or more of the following roles;

1. Providing culturally appropriate health education, information and outreach in community-based settings such as homes, schools, hospitals, clinics, shelters, local businesses and community centers;
2. Bridging or culturally mediating between individuals, families, communities and Health and Human Services, including actively building individual and community capacity;
3. Assuring that community members access the Health and Human Services they need;
4. Providing direct services, such as informal counseling on access to Health and Human Services, social support, care coordination and health screenings;
5. Advocating for individual, family and community needs pertaining to access to Health and Human Services;
6. Additional roles as may be identified by the Board that may emerge in the development of Community Health Worker practice.

Please visit Community Health Workers for more information.

Complete applications must include the following documents:

• Completed application
• Application fee amount of $35.00
• 2x2 passport style color photo
  • White or off-white background
• 3 professional references, using Reference Form (PDF) | (DOC)
  • Verification of 10 Core Competencies
• Signed and notarized Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form (PDF) | (DOCX)

Work Experience Pathway

• Once you have completed the required 4,000 hours of CHW work experience in the US, you may apply for a Massachusetts CHW certification via the Work Experience pathway.

Combined Training & Work Experience Pathway

• Once you have completed the required 2,000 hours of CHW work experience in the US and obtained certification from a Board Approved CHW Education Training Program, you may apply for a Massachusetts CHW certification via the Combined Training & Work Experience Pathway.

If applicable

• If you hold, or have ever held, any professional license in any other state or jurisdiction , you must request and submit a National Practitioner Data Bank-Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank Self-Query. To request a Self-Query, please contact the National Practitioner Data Bank. Include the original report with this application. Make a copy for your records.
  • Note A: If you don't hold and have never held any professional licenses in any other state or jurisdiction, you don't need to submit a National Practitioner Data Bank self-query
• Verification of licensure status from any state or jurisdiction in which you now or have previously held any professional license or board certification. The state or other jurisdictions must send verifications directly to the Board.

Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) | (DOC), and Fact Sheet (PDF) | (DOC) for detailed instructions.

• All requested information must be provided; failure to provide requested information may result in a delay in processing of application. We will return any incomplete applications.
• Do not leave blanks. If you are unable to provide the requested information, attach a separate sheet with an explanation.
• Keep a copy of your completed application for your records. The Board is not able to provide copies of your application. Employers may require that you provide them with a copy.
• To apply by paper, please reach out to the Board directly.