Health Educators

Health educators are defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as healthcare workers who:

“Teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities.”

The BLS describes different roles of health educators, including identifying the needs of people and communities they serve, assisting people in adopting healthy behaviors, developing programs and materials, collecting and analyzing data, and health promotion. Health educators often provide services to address the needs of populations with low health literacy. The BLS also describes the differences between health educators and community health workers.

Resources to Learn More

Health Educators
Website
The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for health educators and community health workers.
Organization(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics

Lay Health Educator Manual
Document
Guide for implementing lay health educator interventions and training educators for settings and program models to promote exercise in rural settings. Manual includes policies and procedures, change models, sample forms, and information about exercise.
Organization(s): MaineGeneral Health
Date: 2005

Health Education Specialist
Website
Information on health educator roles and career outlook.
Organization(s): Society for Public Health Education