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Health Education Specialists

Health Education Specialists

Overview
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Examples

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $33K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $41K
Median Salary: $56K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $77K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $101K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Prepare and distribute health education materials, such as reports, bulletins, and visual aids, to address smoking, vaccines, and other public health concerns.

Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with agencies and organizations interested in public health care.

Maintain databases, mailing lists, telephone networks, and other information to facilitate the functioning of health education programs.

Document activities and record information, such as the numbers of applications completed, presentations conducted, and persons assisted.

Develop and present health education and promotion programs, such as training workshops, conferences, and school or community presentations.

Collaborate with health specialists and civic groups to determine community health needs and the availability of services and to develop goals for meeting needs.

Develop educational materials and programs for community agencies, local government, and state government.

Develop operational plans and policies necessary to achieve health education objectives and services.

Develop, conduct, or coordinate health needs assessments and other public health surveys.

Supervise professional and technical staff in implementing health programs, objectives, and goals.

Provide program information to the public by preparing and presenting press releases, conducting media campaigns, or maintaining program-related Web sites.

Develop and maintain health education libraries to provide resources for staff and community agencies.

Design and conduct evaluations and diagnostic studies to assess the quality and performance of health education programs.

Develop, prepare, and coordinate grant applications and grant-related activities to obtain funding for health education programs and related work.

Provide guidance to agencies and organizations on assessment of health education needs and on development and delivery of health education programs.

Design and administer training programs for new employees and continuing education for existing employees.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Analytical or scientific software
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epi Info
Computer based training software
Padlet
Customer relationship management CRM software
Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
Data base user interface and query software
Microsoft Access
Desktop publishing software
Microsoft Publisher
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Graphics or photo imaging software
Microsoft Visio
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Medical software
MEDITECH software
Multi-media educational software
Edpuzzle
Network conferencing software
LogMeIn GoToWebinar
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Web page creation and editing software
Facebook
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Audio and visual presentation and composing equipment
Overhead display projectors
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Desktop computers
Consumer electronics
Digital video disk DVD players
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Photocopying equipment
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
93%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training
91%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

English Language
85%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Clerical
82%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Psychology
73%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Mathematics
72%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Public Safety and Security
72%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Sociology and Anthropology
70%
Importance

Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Computers and Electronics
69%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Communications and Media
68%
Importance

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
83%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking
83%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing
83%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Learning Strategies
80%
Importance

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Active Learning
78%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Social Perceptiveness
78%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Critical Thinking
75%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension
75%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Coordination
73%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Instructing
68%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Top 10 Abilities
Oral Expression
85%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Speech Clarity
80%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Written Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Inductive Reasoning
78%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Problem Sensitivity
75%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Speech Recognition
75%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Deductive Reasoning
73%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Near Vision
73%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Top 10 Work Activities
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
96%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
95%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
94%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Getting Information
91%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
91%
Importance

Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
90%
Importance

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
89%
Importance

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Scheduling Work and Activities
89%
Importance

Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Training and Teaching Others
89%
Importance

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
88%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Detailed Work Activities

Provide educational materials to community members.

Develop working relationships with others to facilitate program activities.

Maintain social services program records.

Plan programs to address community health issues.

Present social services program information to the public.

Assess individual or community needs for educational or social services.

Collect information about community health needs.

Develop tools to diagnose or assess needs.

Supervise workers providing client or patient services.

Develop educational policies.

Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or educational programs.

Advise others on social or educational issues.

Develop educational programs.

Train staff members in social services skills.

Work Context
Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Structured versus Unstructured Work

To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment

How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?

Education
Majors
Major
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Public Health
Interests
Social
100%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Enterprising
62%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Artistic
48%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Investigative
48%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Conventional
39%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Realistic
24%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
96%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Cooperation
95%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Dependability
93%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail
90%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Concern for Others
89%
Importance

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Independence
88%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Adaptability/Flexibility
87%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Self Control
86%
Importance

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Achievement/Effort
85%
Importance

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Initiative
84%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Work Values
Relationships
100%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Independence
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Achievement
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions
67%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Recognition
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Support
34%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.