Certification Program
CHW Certification
Make a real difference! Get certified as a CHW and coordinate care for people who face barriers to good health outcomes.
How do you become a Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)?
HCAN delivers an approved training program that gives you skills to provide community-based care coordination to those most at risk for poor health outcomes.
Training and Certification
The CHW Certification program includes 100 hours of in-person classroom training (full attendance required), which addresses:
- Health core competencies
- Social services resources knowledge
- Communication skills
- Advocacy information
- CPR certification
- Mental Health First Aid
- Lifespan development
- Basic CHW skills
The Ohio Board of Nursing also requires students to complete 130 hours of a community-based practicum at a local hospital, health care provider, or nonprofit organization. HCAN helps students secure placement and complete their practicums.
After completing classroom and practicum training, students can apply to the Ohio Board of Nursing for a certificate to practice as a CHW.
Requirements to obtain certificate from the Ohio Board of Nursing:
- Ohio resident
- $260 non-refundable course application fee
- Completed physical and updated immunization, including TB testing
- Copy of high school diploma or GED documentation
- Copy of government-issued photo identification (to verify age of 18+ years)
- 75 percent competency level in each skill evaluation
- Acceptable BCI (civilian) and FBI (federal) criminal records check (not included in the cost of tuition) before participating in the community-based practicum
Program Dates
HCAN offers the CHW Certification Program throughout the year.
Spring Session: February 23, 2026 - June 19, 2026
Fall Session: August 24, 2026 - December 14, 2026
Please contact Ella Thomas at ethomas@healthcareaccessnow.org or 513-993-7280 for more information.
Additional Certification
You can choose to get certified in CPR for $90 while you train to become a CHW. Tell us you’d like to become CPR certified in your application to participate.
Tuition Assistance
Employed in the health care industry? Check with your employer to see if they will cover some (or all) of the cost of tuition.
Those who do not receive employer-sponsored tuition assistance may be eligible for Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds through the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.
Please contact us to start the WIOA application process.
WIOA qualification criteria:
- 18+ years old, eligible to work in the U.S., registered for Selective Service (if applicable)
- Dislocated workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own
- Youth 14-24 with special conditions, including low-income, pregnant, or a parent
Scholarships
There are limited scholarships available for the Community Health Worker Certification Program. Please contact Shinese Moye (contact information listed below) for more information about available scholarships.
Contribute to the HCAN CHW Certification Program Scholarship Fund here.
Please contact Ella Thomas at ethomas@healthcareaccessnow.org or 513-993-7280 for more information about available scholarships.
Fee & Tuition
The total cost of tuition for HCAN’s CHW Certification Training Program is $4,455. This includes your application fee.
You may qualify for a scholarship or tuition assistance.
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Pay online: Application Fee and Tuition Payment
Use the drop-down menu below to select a full or partial payment through PayPal. (You do not need a PayPal account to make the payment. Major credit cards are accepted.) Click on Add to Cart once you’ve made your selection.
You may also add on options to participate in Mental Health First Aid or CPR trainings using the drop-down menu.
You can pay for more than one student. Make sure to list all student names and adjust the quantity at check-out.
We also accept cashier or company checks (but not personal checks).
Make the check out to Health Care Access Now and mail to: Health Care Access Now, 2602 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45206.
To learn more contact Ella Thomas at ethomas@healthcareaccessnow.org or 513-993-7280
Application
PROGRAM APPLICATION: Online Application – Community Health Worker Certification Program
Questions?
To learn more about the Community Health Worker Certification Program please contact Ella Thomas at ethomas@healthcareaccessnow.org or 513-993-7280
